Introduction
- Power BI Route Map Visual is used to define the track of traveling objects on a map.
- We can achieve this visualization by connecting the data containing fields like date time, latitude and longitude of the route, start and destination location and route sequence.
- Using this feature, we can also define the status of traveling objects like truck or car, its completed route, and pending route as well.
Where to use Route Map Visual in Power BI Report
- If you are designing an analytical report for traveling, delivery, or transportation kinds of subjects, you will have to consider the following points for insights.
- How many orders are delivered successfully?
- What is the status of dispatched or On-the-way orders?
- Where are delivery vehicles right now?
This kind of insights we can show on the map in a user-friendly way using the Route Map Visual.
- This visual can be useful in explaining the route using animation as well.
Example
Connect Data to visual
You will need the data in the following format.
| Latitude | Longitude | Status | TrackID | DateTime |
| 32.71094 | -117.00174 | Completed | 1 | 01/17/2018 10:00:00 |
| 32.71165 | -117.00172 | Completed | 2 | 01/17/2018 10:00:05 |
| 32.71192 | -117.00171 | Completed | 3 | 01/17/2018 10:00:10 |
| 32.71241 | -117.0017 | Completed | 4 | 01/17/2018 10:00:15 |
| 32.7135 | -117.00166 | Completed | 5 | 01/17/2018 10:00:20 |
| 32.71484 | -117.00162 | Completed | 6 | 01/17/2018 10:00:25 |
| 32.71484 | -117.00162 | Completed | 7 | 01/17/2018 10:00:30 |
| 32.71484 | -117.00225 | Completed | 8 | 01/17/2018 10:00:35 |
| 32.71484 | -117.00265 | Completed | 9 | 01/17/2018 10:00:40 |
| 32.71481 | -117.00522 | Completed | 10 | 01/17/2018 10:00:45 |
| 32.71481 | -117.00565 | Completed | 11 | 01/17/2018 10:00:50 |
| 32.7148 | -117.00592 | Completed | 12 | 01/17/2018 10:00:55 |
| 32.7148 | -117.0064 | Completed | 13 | 01/17/2018 10:01:00 |
| 32.7148 | -117.00743 | Completed | 14 | 01/17/2018 10:01:05 |
| 32.7148 | -117.00761 | Completed | 15 | 01/17/2018 10:01:10 |
| 32.71479 | -117.00806 | Completed | 16 | 01/17/2018 10:01:15 |
| 32.7148 | -117.00896 | Pending | 17 | 01/17/2018 10:01:20 |
| 32.71479 | -117.00954 | Pending | 18 | 01/17/2018 10:01:25 |
| 32.71478 | -117.01013 | Pending | 19 | 01/17/2018 10:01:30 |
| 32.71478 | -117.01066 | Pending | 21 | 01/17/2018 10:01:40 |
Connecting data
If you are familiar with Power BI with excel, you know what to do. Just create such kind of data for demos in an excel sheet. Connect this excel sheet to Power BI as data source.
Download Route Map Custom Visual
Either downloading .pbiviz file from app source or importing visual from the store within Power BI desktop, you can make this visual available for using the same.
Designing
Now, you are ready to use this visual to design report.
Visual parameters
Just drag and drop above columns in following options respectively,
- Timestamp: DateTime
- Latitude: Latitude
- Longitude: Longitude
- Segment: Status
- Color Legend: TrackID
In Glyphs section, make “End” parameter ON, also choose “Icon” parameter as Custom Image, add “Image URL” as your image URL, and then make “Specify” parameter ON with “Pending” option OFF and “Completed” option ON.
Now, get ready to see the magic.
You are done
In the below image, the circle is a starting point of the route, truck icon specifies the current location of the truck, and after truck icon, the pending route is getting displayed. Pretty readable.
![MAP]()
Practical Use
Delivery Management System
If you are designing an application for the delivery management system, then you can build this Power BI report using:
- Read location inputs from IoT Hub using schedule refresh, say after every 15 minutes.
- Draw this kind of visual in Power BI report
- Embed Power BI report in your web application