Explore SparkMap’s Map Room Tools

Our Map Room is equipped with a robust suite of tools built to help you learn more about your areas of interest, create effective visuals, and extract data from your maps. Check out descriptions of each Map Room Tool below.

Map Tools

Footprint Tools

Data Tools

Section 1 – Map Tools

The Measure Tool helps you measure distance between geographic coordinates, path lengths, and area sizes at the click of a button.  Learn more by checking out our tutorial, How to Use the Measure Tool.

An image showing the Measure Tool in the SparkMap Map Room. The area measurement feature is shown in a tool pane on the left side with a map of Missouri on the right side. A polygon selecting a portion of the state of Missouri is displayed on the map.
Map Room’s Measure Tool

The Draw Graphics Tool allows you to draw points, lines, and polygons in the color of your choice, on the surface of your map. Your markups remain visible when you download or share your map, making it easy to highlight specific information for presentations. Learn more by reading our tutorial, How to Use the Draw Graphics Tool.

A map of mid-Missouri with a red circle around the city of a Columbia and a yellow arrow pointing to the circle.
Draw Graphics in Map Room

The Mask Tool allows you to hide or lighten sections of your map, making it easier to highlight data of interest. Learn more by checking out our tutorial, How to Use the Mask Tool.

A map of Jackson County, Missouri with the surrounding areas subdued so that Jackson County stands out on the map.
Mask Layer Tool in Map Room

The Swipe Layer Tool allows you to swap between two data layers by “swiping” a bar across your map. This tool is particularly useful for showing off changes in data over time.  

Need help using the Swipe Layer Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Swipe Layer Tool.  

A map of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin showing the map room's swipe tool, with older data to the left of the swipe bar and newer data to the right.
Swipe Layer Tool in Map Room

The Walk Score Tool allows you to learn more about an area’s walkability at the click of a button. After selecting the Walk Score Tool, click any area on your map to learn its walk score.  

To learn more about Walk Scores, check out https://www.walkscore.com.  

An image showing the output table from the Walk Scores tool in the Map Room. The table shows a walk score of 99 out of 100, as well as the latitude and longitude of the location, and a brief description.
Walk Score in Map Room

Section 2 – Footprint Tools

Use the Vulnerable Populations Footprint Tool (VPF) to display a map layer pinpointing populations in your community vulnerable to health-related disparities. The VPF also generates downloadable, location-specific reports.

Learn more about the Vulnerable Populations Footprint tool by checking out our Vulnerable Populations Footprint Tool tutorial.  

An image showing the Vulnerable Populations Footprint Tool (VPF) in the Map Room, with the tool menu on the left and the resulting map on the right side of the image.
Vulnerable Populations Footprint Tool

Use the Location Opportunity Footprint Tool (LOFT) to display a map layer highlighting your area’s affordability, job opportunities, and school systems. The LOFT also generates downloadable, location-specific reports.

Need help using the Location Opportunity Footprint Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Location Opportunity Footprint Tool.

An image showing the Location Opportunity Footprint Tool (LOFT) in the Map Room, with the tool menu on the left and the resulting map on the right side of the image.
Location Opportunity Footprint Tool in Map Room

Use the COVID-19 Vulnerability Footprint Tool to generate a map layer highlighting your area’s population density, age ranges, and insurance access, three factors significantly impacting community vulnerability to COVID-19 outbreaks. The tool also generates downloadable, location-specific reports.

Need help using the COVID-19 Vulnerability Footprint Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the COVID-19 Vulnerability Footprint Tool.

An image showing the COVID-19 Vulnerability Footprint Tool in the Map Room, with the tool menu on the left and the resulting map on the right side of the image.
COVID-19 Vulnerability Tool in Map Room

Section 3 – Data Tools

Use the Query Data Tool to identify geographic areas that meet, exceed, or fall below data thresholds of your choosing.  In addition, the Query Data Tool serves as a means of converting Map Room data into tabular form, downloadable as a .csv file.

Need help using the Query Data Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Query Data Tool.  

An image showing the Query Data Tool in the Map Room, with the tool menu on the left and the resulting map on the right side of the image.
Query Data tool in Map Room

Capture the data from a section of your map using Use the Select Data Tool. Then convert Map Room data into tabular form, downloadable as a .csv file.

Need help using the Select Data Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Select Data Tool.

An image showing the Select Data Tool in the Map Room, with the tool menu on the left and the resulting map on the right side of the image.
Select Data Tool in Map Room

Available to Pro and Premium Subscribers, the Data Upload Tool allows you to upload your own data into the Map Room. This tool is compatible with CSV, KML, KMZ, or compressed Esri shapefile (.zip file). 

Need help using the Data Upload Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Data Upload Tool.

An image showing the Data Upload Tool in the Map Room.
Data Upload Tool in Map Room

All mapmakers have the option of saving their maps using the Map Room’s Save Map Tool.

Need help using the Save Map Tool? Check out our tutorial, How to Use the Save Map Tool. (Link Required)

An image showing the Save Map Tool in the Map Room.
Save Map Tool in Map Room