US state map using extended colors

We encourage you to read this blog post fully, as there is a link to a free US State Map at the end!
ZeeMaps has more than doubled the colors available to users with an Enterprise Plan. It means you can group markers into 75 different colors instead of just 32. This comes in handy when you are coloring a US state map, or other maps with multiple regions. The six palettes contain shades from teal to princess perfume, sunglow to cyber grape.
You can view the different color palettes in the tabs at the top of this page. All ZeeMaps users have access to the Classic palette. Only users who have signed up for the Enterprise plan have access to the next five palettes (Red; Yellow-Orange; Green; Blue; and Violet).

Color your US state map with extended color palettes
Color your US state map with extended color palettes

Use the extended palette on your US state map

To use the extended palette, you must set it up for each map. How? Go to Map > Settings and select the ‘Markers Display’ tab. Set the option for ‘Use Extended 75 Colors’ and hit ‘Save Changes.’ This will enable you to see the extended colors on that particular map.
For additions, go to Additions > Add Marker (Simple) or Add Marker (Detailed). Whether you select Simple or Detailed, both will show the color options based on the map settings. With extended colors, you’ll be able to chose from among 75 colors.

Upload a spreadsheet with multiple colors

To upload a spreadsheet with multiple colors, set a column for ‘Color’ or ‘Category’ on your spreadsheet. If you use ‘Color’, choose the color names listed on this page. If you set a column for ‘Category’, you can specify different values in the rows and ZeeMaps will assign a different color to each different value –  starting with the shade that you select for ‘Default Color.’ Once you have finished your spreadsheet, go to Additions > Add (Upload) Multiple Markers.
As an illustration, we will use the following spreadsheet to create a multi-colored US state map:

Spreadsheet for US State Map
Spreadsheet for US state map

US State Map with 50 Colors

Based on a well known mathematical four color theorem, you need only four different colors for coloring a map, in order that no two adjacent regions have the same color. Although it is technically feasible to limit ourselves to four colors, that is not necessarily appealing  – especially if different shades are used to indicate variations in some indicator, e.g., population density. Here’s an interactive map that we created with 50 colors for US states.

You can use the ZeeMaps Print or Share capability to get an image of your map. In the Print or Share menu, select the option for PDF/PNG Image. In the resulting dialog, use the setting ‘US Map’ for Geography and make sure it is a ‘Simple’ US map and not a ‘Colored’ one.

US State Map
US state map with extended colors

We are giving away a high-resolution poster-sized image of this US state map, so if you like what you see you can download it here for free. This image was created with ZeeMaps, by setting the size of the image to poster and resolution to 300 DPI.
We hope you enjoy using your more colorful ZeeMaps!
 
 

Spatial Data Aggregation

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

Spatial Data Aggregate Map Menu

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
Spatial Aggregation Data Results


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

Free maps are changing

When ZeeMaps started out in August of 2005, we wanted to keep things free of charge as much as possible. We’ve done pretty well with this, but the time has come where we have no choice but to make some changes. We have grown and there are thousands of maps being created each day. Whilst this is great news, it makes it impractical for us to keep offering a free service when we have to pay for the maps on a per-visit basis. That’s why we are changing the way in which our free maps can be viewed.

100 views on free maps

Therefore, as of 1st April 2018, ZeeMaps will limit the number of views on free maps to 100. (Free maps means maps that are not owned by an active paid plan). When you reach 100 views, your map will ‘freeze’ and it can only be unfrozen by upgrading to a paid subscription plan.

How to upgrade your account 

If you are currently on the Basic (free) plan and want uninterrupted service, please upgrade to a paid plan before April 1st. To upgrade your account, first click the ‘Sign-In’ link on the top right of the homepage and enter your login information. Next, click on your name/email in the top right-hand corner and select ‘Account’.

Free Maps Account Management
Free Maps Account Management

 
The tabs at the top of your account page allow you to manage and upgrade your subscriptions; manage users; and manage the cards you use to pay – among other things.
If you created a free map without registering, you’ll have to Sign-Up in order to upgrade your account. Select the ‘Sign-Up’ link on the top right of the homepage to get started, then follow the instructions from there.
Contact us if you have any questions or need any assistance – we’re always happy to help. And thanks for your patience and understanding.

Traffic Map: Overlay Google Traffic on your maps

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.

Overlay real-time traffic map settings
Overlay real-time traffic settings

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.

Traffic Map: Toggle Switch
Traffic Map: Toggle Switch
Car icon
Car Icon

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.

Garage sales are easy with map marker features

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’.
Copy/move a marker to plan garage sales
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.
Enable marker additions to plan a garage sale
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.’

Add to all my maps to plan a garage sale

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.