We’re excited to share the latest enhancements to the Azure Maps visual in Power BI, designed to make your data visualization even more powerful and user-friendly. This month, we’ve introduced three major improvements to reference layers that will transform how you use Azure Maps in Power BI.

Reference layers in Azure Maps allow you to overlay additional data on your maps, providing richer context and deeper insights. Whether you’re visualizing sales territories, delivery routes, or demographic data, reference layers help you see patterns and relationships more clearly. They can be used to highlight specific areas, show changes over time, or compare different datasets on the same map.

CSV File Support

Now you can use GeoJSON in CSV files as data sources for your reference layers, making it easier to integrate data from a variety of sources without needing to convert them to other formats.

If you have existing data in CSV format, you no longer need to spend time converting it to other spatial files. Simply upload your CSV file, and your reference layer is ready to go!

Enhanced Customization

Customize the appearance of points, lines, and polygons directly within Power BI’s formatting pane.

Previously, you had to define colors and widths within your reference layer files, adding complexity. Now, you can easily adjust these settings in Power BI, saving time and reducing errors. This means your maps can be tailored to fit your branding or specific visualization needs with just a few clicks.

Dynamic URL Sources

Use conditional formatting to provide dynamic URLs for your reference layers, allowing them to change based on data conditions.

This feature is perfect for scenarios where your reference layers need to be dynamic, such as visualizing different data sets based on user selections. For example, you can switch reference layers to show different product performance across regions depending on the selected category, providing more interactive and insightful visualizations.

These improvements make Azure Maps even more versatile and powerful, helping you create compelling and informative visualizations with ease. We’re continually working to enhance the Azure Maps visual in Power BI, and we’d love to hear your feedback on these new features. Stay tuned for more updates!

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