Guides: Online Mapping Tools: PolicyMap

About PolicyMap

PolicyMap offers easy-to-use online mapping with data on demographics, real estate, health, jobs and more in communities across the US. PolicyMap is a product of The Reinvestment Fund, located in Philadelphia, PA.

_______________________________________

Advantages:

Ability to create points of interest
Ability to query data
Guided tutorials
One-stop shop for an array of demographic and socioeconomic indicators
Wide variety of data sets

Disadvantages:

Difficulty downloading data (pressing "Download" only gives you a spreadsheet, to export your map as an image you must press "Print")
Not all data are available at all geographic levels, so you have to look closely at data availability.

_______________________________________

PolicyMap Tutorial
For a complete walkthrough of all features and functions on PolicyMap.
PolicyMap FAQ
More general information about PolicyMap. Includes information on data, citation, how to add legends, and more.

Adding Data to PolicyMap

You can add point data to PolicyMap using the "My Data" tab, either by adding individual points or by uploading a .csv spreadsheet (you can upload your own .csv files or ones you've downloaded from open data sites). Open Data in the United States links to government sources for data by city, county, and state. To find open data on a city, county, or state of interest, you can also Google "[place] open data," and you'll often find a site for that entity with data organized by theme, for example, Open Data Philly.

PolicyMap News Blog Feed

Using PolicyMap

Screenshot of Franklin catalog entry "Policy map" Access PolicyMap via Penn Libraries

Access PolicyMap through the Penn Libraries website by clicking on the "Connect to resource" link located in the "Online" box on the right side of your screen.

You will then be asked to enter your PennKey and password.

PolicyMap Quick Start Guide (PDF)

An overview of searching for specific addresses, locations or census tracts, finding and adding data to your map, using the identify tool to see the data behind the map, and using the features loaded into the legend. The video below provides a visual walkthrough of what's in the PDF. More help is provided through the PolicyMap Primer and tutorials.

Using the PolicyMap Spreadsheet Data Loader

An overview of loading additional data into PolicyMap as well as which data formats the program supports. The video below provides a visual walkthrough of what's in the PDF.

PolicyMap Practice

Exercise: Mapping Homeownership in Philadelphia by Zip Code

An overview of/guide to how to use the "3-Layer Map" feature in PolicyMap to represent the intersection of multiple demographic variables in a particular location (in this case Philadelphia, Pa).

Which Philadelphia zip codes have a significant rate of homeownership, as well as low-income adult workers? PolicyMap can help find this information for you. Open an internet browser and navigate to PolicyMap through Penn Libraries, then maximize your browser window. Select "3-Layer Maps" from the top buttons. Set the location to Philadelphia, PA (City) by typing "Philadelphia" in the Location search box at the top of the map. Select Housing>Homeowners>Number of Homeowners>All from the menu at the top of the map. Adjust the lower end of the slider to 25% (this gets rid of outlying information that could skew your results). Click on "Edit layer" and change "Shade by" to "Zip Code." Click on "Edit layer" again to minimize the menu after editing. To add another layer to the map all you have to do is choose your next variable. In this case, select Economy> Local Residents - Workforce Characteristics> By Earnings and Education > Less than $15,000. Adjust the lower end of slider to 25%, and click on "Edit layer" and change "Shade by" to "Zip Code," as in steps 5 and 6. Select Economy>Local Residents - Workforce Characteristics>By Demographics>Workers By Age> 30- 54 years old. Adjust the lower end of the slider to 50%, and click on "Edit layer" and change "Shade by" to "Zip Code." Click on the print icon in the upper-right hand corner of the page to export or print an image of your map. Note: this is the only way to download an image file of the map you just made. However if you would like to download a spreadsheet of your data, press the downward facing arrow two buttons to the right of the print icon and then hit the orange "Download" button. a. Enter a Filename that will be saved initially to a space shared by the entire Penn community, so give it a name that will be easy for you to identify (but don't use your full name). b. Adjust the text size, paper orientation, format, enter a title, or add printer margins. c. Then click the orange "Export" button in the upper left.

Exercise
Click here to download the PolicyMap exercise.

How to Cite

Chicago

Report:

PolicyMap. Title of report. permalink URL (date accessed).

Example:

PolicyMap. HMDA Report of County:Philadelphia. http://upenn.policymap.com/report_generate?type=d&area=predefined&pid=548016 (accessed Jul 27 13:58:03 EST 2010).

Map:

Title of map, dates. PolicyMap, permalink URL (based on data from <identify data source>; date accessed).

Total number of aggravated assaults reported per 100,000 people in 2009. PolicyMap,upenn.policymap.com (based on data from Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports; accessed Jul 27 17:16:03 EST 2010).

MLA

Report:

PolicyMap. Title of report. permalink URL (date accessed).

Example:
PolicyMap. HMDA Report of County:Philadelphia. http://upenn.policymap.com/report_generate?type=d&area=predefined&pid=548016 (accessed Jul 27 13:58:03 EST 2010).

Map:

Title of map, dates. PolicyMap, permalink URL (based on data from <identify data source>; date accessed).

Total number of aggravated assaults reported per 100,000 people in 2009. PolicyMap, upenn.policymap.com (based on data from Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports; accessed Jul 27 17:16:03 EST 2010).

Creating an account

You can now create a personal account on PolicyMap to save your work.

Click the "Create an Account" button.
Using any email, set up an account.
Activate your account.

This account allows you to save maps and datasets onto PolicyMap's server for either public, private, or collaborative use.

Be warned: This feature is relatively new and saving maps can be difficult. Any shared map cannot contain data that is not available for public use.