Rebecca, Author at ZeeMaps Blog

Traffic Map: Overlay Google Traffic on your maps

Posted on January 26, 2018 | by Rebecca | Leave a Comment

If you are a paid user, ZeeMaps allows you to create a traffic map with real-time overlay of Google traffic information. So This means you can access all the functionality you need in one place and makes plotting your or your team’s routes even easier.
(To get up to speed with using Google Maps on your computer, phone or tablet, read this useful support article).

Traffic Map Setting

To access this feature, go to ‘Map’ then ‘Settings’ in your map menu. Select ‘Map Display’ from the tabs on the left-hand side of the page. Check the box that says ‘Overlay real-time traffic’ and save changes.

Real-time traffic information

Your map will now show real-time traffic as a colored overlay. Green represents a normal speed of traffic, yellow represents slower than normal traffic, red indicates congestion, and dark red indicates stop and go traffic. You will also see construction works, accidents and road closures marked on the map. As you can see, central London is not moving very quickly…

Central London traffic map shows heavy traffic — Central London traffic map

Once you have checked the ‘Overlay real-time traffic’ box and saved changes, as above, you can easily switch the traffic information on and off by clicking on the car icon on the top right-hand side of your map.

The easiest way to plot locations

A lot of companies use ZeeMaps to plot locations for their staff members on a daily basis – pizza delivery companies and glass repair companies are just two examples. And then our users requested this traffic map management add-on, so we added the feature. We really do listen to your comments and feedback! We want to ensure that ZeeMaps is as user-friendly as possible and has all the functionality users need.
Now, a pizza delivery company can mark locations for each driver and check the traffic along the way. They can find an alternative route to avoid heavy traffic, and give customers a realistic delivery time slot.

Spatial Data Aggregation

Posted on September 8, 2017 | by Rebecca | 1 Comment

Use highlighted regions and data uploads in ZeeMaps to conduct quick spatial data aggregation. For example, you can analyze data for the different territories you have marked on your map.

Spatial Regions Highlighting

You can highlight areas on your map by zip codes, counties, cities, states or geometrical areas. Such as, circles and rectangles. An area of interest will often comprise of several smaller areas. For example, a sales territory map might divide the country into several regions, each containing multiple states.
The fastest way to highlight large number of US zip code areas or counties on your map is by uploading a spreadsheet with address and color information.

This is far quicker than highlighting regions on your map one at a time. This blog post explains how to do that. When you upload a spreadsheet to highlight zip codes or counties, your spreadsheet can contain additional columns of spatial data that will be taken as “fields” for that zip code or county.
For other areas like US States, or countries, you’ll need to highlight the areas using the Additions -> Highlight Regions menu on your map, and then upload your data using the Additions -> Add (Upload) Multiple markers, separately.

Spatial Data Analysis

Now that you have different territories marked on your map, you can access the spatial aggregate data feature.
As an example, we are using the map of Las Vegas zip codes divided into five colored regions. Each highlighted zip code has population fields that describe populations in 2011 and 2012, and the median income. The map is shown below. Click on any of the highlighted zip code to see the details for that zip code.

When visiting the map on the ZeeMaps site, we select ‘View’ and ‘Aggregate data by region’ from your map menu.

Spatial Data Aggregate Map Menu

In the resulting dialog, choose your field values and whether you’d like to see results presented as sum, average or count.

Spatial Aggregate of Marker Field Data — Edit Marker Field Data

Hit ‘Submit’ to see your aggregate data results that will give you the sum of populations for 2011 and 2012, and the average of the median income in each of the five colored regions that we have defined on the map.

Aggregated spatial data results

This example shows the 2011 and 2012 population and median household incomes for zip codes in Las Vegas, NV. ZeeMaps allows you to define your own marker fields, so you can perform this spatial analysis on any of your fields.
At present, you can only spatially aggregate marker data by highlighted colours. In the future, we will be extending this so you can also aggregate data by geographical areas, e.g., get spatial analysis by countries, states, and so forth.
If you’d like to try out the aggregate spatial data by regions feature, you can use this sample map – the zip codes in Las Vegas, NV that we’ve been using as an example in this post. Let us know what you think.

To learn more about aggregating data click here

Garage sales are easy with map marker features

Posted on July 30, 2017 | by Rebecca | 3 Comments

There are some ZeeMaps features that are particularly useful for people organising garage sales, yard sales or even estate sales. One such feature allows you to copy or move a marker from your map to others that you own. And if you are a paid user, you can also add a marker to all your maps at once.
To access the copy/move feature, click on a marker on one of your maps. An information box with details of your marker will appear and you’ll see five icons in the bottom right corner. If you hover over the third icon which looks like two pages, it says ‘Copy/Move’.

When you click on this icon, you’ll be taken to a ‘Select a Map’ window. Choose the one or more you want from the dropdown list of all your maps and select ‘Copy’ or ‘Move’. Your marker will be copied or moved to the map or maps you requested.
To add a marker to all your maps at once, you must be a paid user. To enable this feature, go to your sign-in information on the top right of the page. Select ‘Account’ from the dropdown and then the ‘Settings’ tab. Tick the box that says ‘Enable marker additions to all maps at once.’ Click on the Save button at the top of the page to save these settings.

Open one of your maps, and select ‘Additions.’ Whether you choose ‘Add Marker – Simple’ or ‘Add Marker – Detailed’, the ‘Add Entry’ information box will appear. At the bottom there is a checkbox where you can choose ‘Add to all my maps.’

Planning garage sales more effectively

The copy/move feature and the ability to add a marker to all your maps at once make it easier to organise community garage sales or yard sales. A customer had this to say on our testimonials page: “Thank you sooo much! I love this software! I am so glad I found you! I am telling all my friends who have to map garage sales for their communities. What a time saver!”
We’ve heard that the copy/move feature is also really useful for sales teams. Each salesperson is given a map with their own leads and customers, but when customers need to be assigned to a different team member, this feature allows that to happen easily.
Similarly, we have many people using ZeeMaps to plot locations for each staff member on a daily basis – to mark where roofs need repair or broken glass needs fixing, for example. If a staff member is running late or gets sick, their locations can quickly be transferred to another map.

My Maps Merge and Switch between Maps

Posted on July 14, 2017 | by Rebecca | Leave a Comment

ZeeMaps allows you to merge maps (two or more) and easily switch between maps you’re working on.

Merge my maps

To merge maps, you have to be a paid user. You won’t be able to take the following steps if you’re on the Basic plan, which is free. Please check pricing information here.
When you merge maps you create a new map that contains all the points, highlighted regions, legends, connections and annotations that each of the original maps contain.
To do this, click on the ‘My Maps’ link on the homepage. Alternatively, you can hover over your sign-in details at the top right of the page and select the ‘My Maps’ menu option from there. Select two or more maps by clicking anywhere in a map row except the map name. Once they are highlighted, go to ‘Map Operations’ and select ‘Merge’.

You’ll be asked for a title and a description of the new merged map, and whether you’d like to proceed.
Once the new map is created, you can access it in ‘My Maps’ and print it or use it on websites, blogs or social media platforms. You can also save your new map as a PDF, PNG or CSV file.
The new merged map exists in addition to the originals, so you can still access your original maps. However, changes to the originals do not reflect in the merged map.

Switch between maps

You don’t have to be a paid user to switch between maps and it’s a feature that makes ZeeMaps even smoother to use. You can only switch between maps that you own. You can check what you’ve got by looking in ‘My Maps’.
If you are working in one map and would like to switch to another of your maps, go to ‘Map’ on the left of the menu bar and select ‘Switch Map’.

You’ll then be taken to a ‘Select a Map’ window where you can see all your maps and you can choose the one you want from the dropdown list.
This is a useful feature if you are working on store location maps or customer maps for example, and want to ensure they are consistent in appearance (marker color, annotation style, etc.)

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Admin Password		Again
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