{"id":2836552,"date":"2025-07-02T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2836552"},"modified":"2025-07-02T05:41:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T12:41:48","slug":"storytelling-with-tracks","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/mapping\/storytelling-with-tracks","title":{"rendered":"Storytelling with tracks"},"author":129801,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[738191,22941,37121],"tags":[398132,26451,24921,27881],"industry":[],"product":[36831,380802,36611,36601],"class_list":["post-2836552","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-developers","category-mapping","category-real-time","tag-arcgis-storymaps","tag-cartography","tag-javascript","tag-storytelling","product-js-api-arcgis","product-arcgis-storymaps","product-story-maps","product-developers"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":129801,"user_firstname":"Warren","user_lastname":"Davison","nickname":"Warren Davison","user_nicename":"wdavison","display_name":"Warren Davison","user_email":"wdavison@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/warrenrdavison.wixsite.com\/maps","user_registered":"2020-11-18 21:21:08","user_description":"I specialize in creating engaging maps and graphics that tell immersive, place-based stories. Based in Kitchener, Canada, I work with Esri\u2019s StoryMaps team, where I enjoy sharing the creative process behind each project. When I'm not exploring vectors and pixels, you\u2019ll likely find me cycling around town with my kids along for the ride.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Learn how visualizing time-enabled data as tracks can reveal movement patterns and unlock powerful storytelling with maps.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

From storms and wildlife to vessels and buses, in the age of interconnected sensors and real-time data, there is rarely a shortage of datasets to map. However, mapping these datasets presents unique challenges.<\/p>\n

While we often think of a storm or a bus as a singular feature on a map, the data we collect about them can consist of a series of observations over time \u2014 snapshots of changing positions, conditions, or measurements. These observations of a single storm or bus may number in the hundreds or even thousands. Multiply that across a season of storms or a fleet of buses, and any meaningful patterns can get lost in the noise.<\/p>\n

While the sheer number of observations may appear to make these datasets unintelligible, time is the key. A storm, a bus, or any other subject can only be in one location and have one set of attributes at a time. In this way, the timestamp serves to connect the observations, tracing the spatial and temporal path of the data.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2851172,"id":2851172,"title":"TrackBlogGraphic","filename":"TrackBlogGraphic.gif","filesize":8050901,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/mapping\/storytelling-with-tracks\/trackbloggraphic","alt":"An animation of hurricane tracks represented by a sequence of disconnected points. The animation then crossfades to a visualization of those same points but as connected tracks in order to illustrate the impact of track visualizations.","author":"129801","description":"","caption":"Visualizing observations as a connected track makes it much more intuitive for viewers to discern related observations and their connection to the tracked subject.","name":"trackbloggraphic","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2836552,"date":"2025-06-24 17:50:54","modified":"2025-06-30 14:04:32","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1146,"height":631,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":255,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":423,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","large-width":1146,"large-height":631,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","1536x1536-width":1146,"1536x1536-height":631,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","2048x2048-width":1146,"2048x2048-height":631,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic-826x455.gif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":455,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TrackBlogGraphic.gif","wide_image-width":1146,"wide_image-height":631}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Telling stories with tracks<\/h1>\n

Spatially, this observation data traces the breadcrumb trail of a subject and can be used to tell a compelling story. Movement plays a central role in many spatial narratives \u2014 whether it\u2019s the migration of wildlife, the path of a storm, or the ascent of a mountain. When visualized on a map, these journeys become powerful storytelling elements. Mapping movement not only shows where something went, but also invites curiosity: Where did this start? Why did it take this direction? What happened here?<\/p>\n

As the map evolves alongside the narrative, the path provides a visual throughline. It creates continuity from one moment to the next, helping to create a more cinematic and immersive experience.<\/p>\n

A good example of this is the story Animals on the move<\/em><\/a>, which explores the incredible movements of wildlife by following the GPS-tracked journeys of three different animals. Visualizing their movements as animated tracks not only reveals their impressive migrations, but it also brings their stories to life. Readers can follow along as the animals graze in valleys, soar over wetlands, or navigate vessel traffic \u2014 experiencing their journeys step by step. This immersive perspective not only builds empathy, but highlights the real-world pressures wildlife face. By tracing their paths, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the habitats they rely on and the importance of protecting migration corridors and critical ecosystems.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2847422,"id":2847422,"title":"","filename":"Whale.gif","filesize":1900534,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/mapping\/storytelling-with-tracks\/whale","alt":"An animation following the path of a whale as it navigates the waters off the coast of Chile. As the track follows the whale it erratically seems to bounce around between the major lanes of vessel traffic.","author":"129801","description":"","caption":"Visualizing time-based movement data can help to reveal the intricacies of movement and behavior.","name":"whale","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2836552,"date":"2025-06-23 16:54:05","modified":"2025-06-30 14:09:19","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1440,"height":810,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","large-width":1440,"large-height":810,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","1536x1536-width":1440,"1536x1536-height":810,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","2048x2048-width":1440,"2048x2048-height":810,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale-826x465.gif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Whale.gif","wide_image-width":1440,"wide_image-height":810}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

These kinds of narrative journeys are made possible by time-based visualizations. As we\u2019ve documented before<\/a>, these can provide a deeper understanding of a wide range of topics and datasets. This is especially true when working with movement data. Whether historical or streaming in real-time, visualizing movement over time reveals where and how something changed, telling a story: where something started, where it went, and how it changed along the way.<\/p>\n

Choreographing these timestamped observations as a track makes these stories clearer and more intuitive. Linking individual observations \u2014 such as those representing a storm, vehicle, or animal \u2014 into a continuous line helps visually reconstruct the journey. Suddenly, scattered points become a clear path.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

That path does more than just show location. It communicates motion, direction, and behavior. Did it take a direct route or double back on itself? Did it pause often or move without stopping? These patterns, hard to detect in raw point data, become instantly legible when rendered as a track.<\/p>\n

Tracking your own data<\/h1>\n

The ability to visualize time-enabled data as tracks is supported directly within the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript<\/a> (JS Maps SDK). This new capability uses a timestamp and a track ID field in your point layer to dynamically render them as the vertices of a line, all without tedious pre-processing.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"storymap","title":"Visualize historical track data","description":"

This sample demonstrates how to visualize historical hurricane locations as tracks (beta) in a GeoJSONLayer.<\/p>\n","static":false,"storymap_url":"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/sample-code\/layers-geojson-trackinfo\/live\/<\/a>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

In addition to a timestamp, each observation must belong to a track as identified by a unique ID. This track ID is used to group observations related to each instance of a subject, whether that be a storm, vehicle, or wildlife.<\/p>\n

Layer.timeInfo = {\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 startField: \u201ctimestamp\u201d,\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 trackIdField: \u201cstorm_id\u201d\r\n\r\n};<\/pre>\n
When configuring the track visualization, several components make up the visual, including:<\/p>\n