A map with points is a great way to show a variety of information about specific locations. Unlike region maps, which display area-wide information in a single map area, point maps use latitude and longitude coordinates to show specific locations.

To plot point data on a map, you need to add the relevant column bindings and map projection. You also need to select options that are specific to the data in your spreadsheet. For example, if your location data contains addresses and latitude and longitude coordinates in separate columns, you can specify the entire address as the latitude and longitude for each point.

Adding points and setting them on a map is quick and easy. Start by searching for a place on the web or in your ArcGIS Pro app.

When you find the location, tap the green marker to add it to the map. You can then name the map and share it with others, or save it to your map library for later use.

You can edit the appearance of your points by adjusting their color, line or border weight and transparency. You can also use images or video links to add an extra touch to your map.

Circles, Spikes and Arrows

Our Projection map template allows you to add a variety of symbols to visualize your points. These can be circles, spikes or arrows, each of which provides its own unique visual effect.

In addition to circles, spikes and arrows, you can also create shapes on your map by connecting points to one another. This method is similar to creating markers on a map, but it requires more precision in your design.

Shapes can have different heights and widths, and you can adjust their position in the map by dragging the map around. You can also change the appearance of a shape by adjusting its size and fill.

If you want to plot negative values on your map, you must use arrows instead of points. This is because arrows are more vertical than points, which means they can appear downwards on a map.

For the best results, we recommend using equal area map projections to create density maps. This will prevent the dots from appearing disproportionately close together and will result in a more realistic view of your data.

Choosing the right projection is critical to accurately displaying your map on a screen. You can learn more about the differences between the main projections, and how they affect your map’s appearance, in our help doc on Map Projections.

In our Projection Map template, you can set the point range for each of your regions by entering a number in the Size Range parameter. This range represents the smallest and largest point sizes on your map, measured in pixels.

This parameter can be adjusted so that all the points in a region will be displayed at once, or you can set the minimum and maximum size for each region separately.