How to Use the Data Upload Tool
Learn step by step how to upload your own data SparkMap’s Map Room. Pro and Premium SparkMap Subscribers can use the Data Upload Tool. Want to learn more about subscription options? Visit our Pricing Page.
Prepare Your Data
Upload Your Data
Edit Your Map Settings
Compare & Share Data
Step 1 – Prepare Your Data
Prepare your data in a CSV, KML, KMZ, or compressed ESRI Shapefile (.zip). Please limit the file size to 50MB. Label all columns of your files.
Press the “Add Data” button in the Map Room, then, select “Upload Data” (Figure 1).
Step 2 – Upload Your Data
Before you upload data, you must accept CARES’ terms and conditions that you will not upload personally identifiable information. Then, drop or click to select a file from your device (Figure 2).
Once the data uploads, the interface will prompt you to choose your geography type and the appropriate column in your file where the geography data is located. The options you have to choose from will depend on the data you uploaded. Note that the data categories from your uploaded file have integrated into the tool. After setting your geography type and column, click the “Process Data” button at the bottom of the Upload Data interface.
Step 3 – Edit Your Map Settings
After your data is finished processing, you will have the option to edit your data by clicking the “Edit Your New Data” button (Figure 3).
Clicking on “Manage Layer” allows you to edit the layer’s name, data category, and description. To confirm any changes, be sure to click the “Update Button” before proceeding.
You can change the map symbols and colors to fit your needs under “Layer Design.”
Next, change which attributes to show in pop ups and rename their labels by selecting the “Data Display” button.
Lastly, you can export the data as a JSON or CSV file from the interface by clicking the “Export Data” button.
Once you are done editing your map layer, you can press “Add Data” to add any of SparkMap’s 30,000+ layers alongside your data (Figure 4). Creating multilayer maps is a great way to add context to your data visualizations.
You can also share the map with your custom layer. Click the share button on the bottom left side of the Map Room interface, and you can choose to share via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or as a shortlink (Figure 5).
