Conectar una Fuente de Datos desde Google Sheets en Looker Studio

Geographic data visualization is a powerful tool for analyzing information with spatial components. Mastering map creation in platforms such as Looker Studio can transform the way we present location-related data, allowing us to discover patterns and trends that would otherwise go unnoticed.

How do I create map charts in Looker Studio?

Map charts are a special category of visualizations that require specific configurations to function properly. Unlike other types of charts, they require fields with explicit geographic information that the system can recognize and represent spatially.

In Looker Studio, we find two main categories of maps:

• Google Maps
• Traditional geographic maps

The fundamental requirement for both types is to have a location type dimension field. This can be presented in different formats:

• Full addresses
• Coordinates (latitude/longitude)
• Names of cities, countries or regions

It is important to note that a simple text field containing place names (such as "Branch Center") will not work correctly if it is not configured as geographic data.

How to import and configure geographic data?

To work with maps, we first need data with geographic components. In the example, we use a dataset containing Colombian cities where Freshmark products originate.

The import process may vary depending on the source:

1. For local files: select "upload a file from my computer".
2. For Drive spreadsheets: select "Google spreadsheets" and use the URL.

Important: If you use a Google Drive URL, make sure that the document is publicly shared so that Looker can access it.

Once the dataset is imported, we may encounter a common problem: even if we drag a field containing city names, the map may not display all locations correctly.

How to solve problems with map display?

The most frequent error occurs when Looker does not recognize our field as geographic information. This is evident when:

• Only one location appears on the map (in the example, only Bogota).
• The zoom area shows "missing" in options
• The letters "ABC" appear next to the field name, indicating that it is a text field.

The solution is to set the data type correctly:

1. Go to "Resources" > "Manage added data sources".
2. Edit the dataset
3. Change the data type of the field (city, in this case) to "Geographic information".
4. Specify the appropriate geographic level (city, country, region, etc.).

Once this configuration is done, the map will correctly display all the locations contained in our dataset, allowing us to visualize the spatial distribution of our data.

What customization options are offered by Looker maps?

After correctly configuring our geographic data, we can take advantage of several options to customize our maps:

• Zoom level: we can adjust it to focus on a specific area (like Colombia in the example).
• Geographic data types: Looker allows to work with different levels:
  • Countries
  • Regions/departments/provinces
  • Cities
  • Specific addresses
  • Postal codes
  • Coordinates (latitude/longitude)

These options allow us to create visualizations that perfectly fit our analytical needs, whether we are analyzing global, national or local data.

How to experiment and improve our mapping skills?

To master map creation in Looker Studio, it is recommended to:

1. Create practice datasets: you can use artificial intelligence tools to generate datasets with varied geographic information.
2. Experiment with different levels: try visualizations at country, region and city level.
3. Combine with metrics: add measures such as sales, population or any other relevant variable to enrich your maps.

Constant practice will allow you to discover the possibilities that maps offer to communicate complex information in a visual and intuitive way.

Visualizing geographic data is a valuable skill in modern data analysis. Mastering the creation of maps in Looker Studio will allow you to present spatial information effectively and discover patterns that might go unnoticed in other types of visualizations, so dare to experiment with your own data and share your creations!