Challenge #6: Spatial Route

[Laurap1228]

Number 6 done!

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[estherb47]

Another fun one

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[DE0413]

This challenge is definitely beyond my knowledge base as I have not worked with spatial tools.  Are there tutorials that would help a beginner to develop competency with these spatial tools?

[SeanAdams]

Hey @DE0413,

There are a few resources that you can look to:

• @JoeM has a training session on some of the tools here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Live-Training/Live-Training-Spatial-Analytics-for-Beginners/td-p/43...
• @MattD has a tool mastery entry that covers Trade Area - and in the process you can see some of the other tools in use: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Knowledge-Base/Tool-Mastery-Trade-Area/ta-p/47031
• Additional training here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9gBTYebeME & here: http://www.alteryx.com/resources/spatial-analytics-using-alteryx
• There are a couple of interesting videos on Youtube (just search for "Alteryx Spatial")

The other thing you can do is break down spatial into some of the core concepts and expiriment / play:

• Core concepts: spatial analysis uses a set of unique spatial objects that you can think of as 3 things: areas (think of the area covered by your hand of you put it over a piece of a map); points (like a dot on a map - called Centroids); and paths (a line from A to B; and from B to C - essentially lines connecting points)
• The tools then tie back to this:
  • If you have a longitude / lattitude; you can create points using "Create Points"
  • Once you have points - you can compare them using Distance
  • you can turn points into areas in a few ways - for example either using poly-build (connect the points I stopped on my road-trip, and tell me the area of the country I covered); or using Trade Area (given 10 points on a map, what would that look like if I put a circle around each to cover an area around those points)
  • Spatial info is super helpful 'cause it tells you more about either your points or your paths or areas (centroids; polygons or areas)
  • Once you have an area defined - you may want to make it bigger; smooth out some of the edges; create some extra space etc (Buffer; Smooth; Gerneralise)
  • Spatial Match is then used for comparison of spatial objects
  • Spatial process is used for finding overlaps / intersections etc of the objects
  • And finally the piece that took me a while to understand is that you can also use some of the regular tools on spatial objects - like the Summarize tool has some spatial capabilites too.

This should get you started and allow you to play with the core tools, and possibly to learn through experimentation.

Cheers

Sean

[DE0413]

Thank you so much Sean!  I will be sure to check these out.

[DE0413]

Hi Sean,

If I'm not able to access the TomTom maps in my Alteryx application, should I assume my license did not include it?

[Phil_L57]

Also had different output, same as solution though

[LordNeilLord]

Spatial tools are my favourite

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[KOBoyle]

Solution attached.  This was my first exposure to the spatial tools.  I was able to get all but the route lines on my own.  The solution was very informative.

Ken

[A_Twa]

As others have noted, I get different results when compared to the output, but since the official solution and I agree, I calling this one done!  ;)