How to build a high concentrations map

Where is this concentrated?

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High concentrations map

Data allows us to see and quantify where things are happening. When creating maps about behaviors among the population, we tend to see patterns based on where most people live. Overcome this by showing the value as a percentage of the total. For example, this map shows us where people speak Spanish at home, based on data from the American Community Survey. To identify concentrations of Spanish speakers, use an Arcade expression, much like a Microsoft Excel formula. 

Key steps

  • Add data and a basemap from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World

    Open the “Dark Grey Canvas” basemap. From Living Atlas, add “Firefly Imagery” as a layer. Move it to the basemap with 50 percent transparency. Then, add the “2016 ACS Language Spoken at Home Tract” layer from Living Atlas.
    Explore ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World

  • Calculate the percent of total by creating an Arcade expression

    Write an Arcade expression to calculate a percentage of total, using the equation (value/total)*100.
    Learn more about Arcade expressions

  • Map by size and use the “Firefly” point symbol

    Use the “Counts and Amounts (Size)” style and choose a “Firefly” symbol for your point. Set the smallest circle value to the average value to highlight areas that have an above average number of Spanish speakers.
    Make your map shine with “Firefly”

  • Use transparency to emphasize areas of concentration

    Using Arcade expressions, you can set the map’s transparency based on a value in the actual data. To do this, use the same values as you did for size, and make the highest value have no transparency.
    See more tricks for making maps
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