It can’t be understated how important Polygons and Polylines are when creating data-rich and informational map visuals. They do sound similar, polylines and polygons, and they are very similar in their construction but they do serve different purposes.
In this post, you’ll learn about polygons and polylines. We’ll also cover when to use them and why they create incredibly effective data visualizations.
What Are Polylines?
A polyline is a sequence of line segments connected end to end, but critically, the ends do not touch. Polylines always describe a sequence of connected coordinates. Maps typically display polylines to illustrate rivers, roads, trails, and similar features.
When to Use Map Polylines
While polylines might sound simple, they can serve a variety of functions. Common ways to use polylines can include:
- Representing Map-Based Directions: Polylines can display a visual path outputted from directions for navigation purposes.
- Displaying Customized Map Overlays: The versatility of polylines makes them great for visualizing and updating customized overlays created from a series of connected line segments.
- Showing Linear Data: When you need effective data visualizations for pipelines, railroad tracks, or a similar path, polylines work as great aids for several reasons, such as:
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- They provide a clear way to represent linear paths and are easily adjusted to fit different scales and map projections.
- They are compatible with GIS (Geographic Information Systems), meaning overlaying them on maps is simple.
- They are also useful for discerning analyses like route optimization and distance calculation.
What Are Polygons?
While still a set of lines, polygons are closed constructs with at least three vertices where both ends are connected, which defines a shape. Like polylines, a series of coordinates define the connected points of lines, but to make a Polyline a Polygon, the start coordinate must match the end coordinate. A polygon always defines an enclosed region and allows for fast visualization of geographic areas or boundaries.
When to Use Map Polygons
Polygons serve to clearly define an enclosed area when used with map platform coordinates. Common uses of polygons may include:
- Geofencing: Location-based services such as streaming platforms and social media often use polygons to define allowed and non-allowed zones.
- Highlighting: Geospatial applications often use polygons to differentiate one area from another based on data.
- Spatial Analysis: Polygons are also useful for urban planning, studies, and marketing to analyze data and obtain incredibly valuable insights.
Using Polygons and Polylines Together
Some projects may require using map polygons and polylines simultaneously for effective data visualization. Here are several examples of situations when polylines and polygons make great combinations.
- Geofencing Flight Paths: Earlier, we mentioned that polygons work well for geofencing. However, you can also add polylines in Azure Maps for complex geofencing projects. For example, polygons can define regions of interest. You can then use polylines to create routes or pathways within geofenced areas, such as for flight routes that avoid areas marked as no-fly zones.
- Sales or Service Areas: Routes are vitally important for many companies, including those employing field salespeople or service technicians. In this situation, a polygon can display a salesperson or service professional’s working area by city, district, county, or something similar. Polylines can define the most efficient routes or directions to the next sales or service appointment.
- Finding Points of Interest: People often use map platforms to create effective data visualizations that help with planning upcoming vacations. In this case, someone could use isochrone polygons to show how far they could travel each day and mark points of interest, including parks, hotels, restaurants or shopping centers. Then, they can use polylines to create trail paths or driving routes that lead them to each place of interest they want to visit on their trip.
Adding Polylines and Polygons for Effective Data Visualizations
Azure Maps is designed to work seamlessly with geocoordinate polygons and polylines. Whether you need to mark routes with lines or areas with shapes, the Azure Maps platform makes both options possible.
Bring your data to Azure Maps
Azure Maps lets you import datasets, creating polygons based on your company or project’s geographic data. You can add one or multiple polygon layers. It’s also possible to use line layers with map polygons, often used for outline rendering and easier-to-see borders.
This maps platform also enables you to fill polygons based on your chosen colors or patterns. The pattern feature is helpful when working with multiple polygons requiring distinct separations.
Customize your data on an Azure Map
Adding line layers is also possible by using Azure Maps. This platform also lets you add symbols along your polylines, such as creating polylines with arrows indicating directions. Another helpful Azure Maps feature is adding single color or stroke gradients to polylines.
Polygons and polylines are important tools to use for effective data visualization. Azure Maps is a developer-friendly mapping platform that lets you add polygons and polylines to an Azure Map with ease. With impressive customization, layering, and fill options, you can create beautiful and accurate maps for all users. Start building for free today!
