Visualizing Spatial Data with Shape Maps in Power BI

If you know me, you know I love building maps in Power BI. For the longest time I struggled to figure out how exactly to do this beyond just using the default Map tool. When building custom maps you often need to use external tools. Today I am going to show you how to use Mapshaper & the BC Data Catalogue to map your data at the health authority level.

This is my step by step guide for using Shape Maps in Power BI:

Step #1: Go to the BC Data Catalogue and search up the “Health Authority Boundaries” data.

Click on the custom download option.

Step #2: Download the data in the GeoJSON form

Step #3: Retrieve the data from the link sent to you in your email

Step #4: Open up the ZIP folder and make sure to grab the file that is in the GeoJSON type

Step#5: Got to Mapshaper.org to convert your GeoJSON file to the TopoJSON type

Step #6: You should see the Health Authority boundaries load, now Export your data

Step #7: Click on the Shape Map visual.

You will have to fill in the Location* information as well as the Color Saturation field.

**Make sure your Location corresponds to the HA Names — you may need to click on the Map Keys option to find out how to organize your data. (See below)

Step #8: You should now see your map visualized with the color gradient associated with minimum(lighter color) to maximum(darker color) values.

Step #9: Final Touches

**I used data on UPCC distribution across BC by Health Authority.

Happy Mapping!