How to Create and Use Radius and Drive Time Buffers

Video on creating buffers from a point and filtering data within them

Intro:

This video will show you how to create radius and drivetime buffer from your pin locations.
In this how to video we will cover:
- Radius Buffers
- Drive time Buffers
- Filtering from these buffers
- Deleting Buffers

Why Use Radius and Drive time buffers:

A buffer map can be useful for scenario and recruitment planning and territory designing.
Creating a buffer from all locations is a great way to visualize, understand and communicate your coverage (or gaps in your coverage) for your business.
Key uses for distance radius maps are but not limited to:
Analyzing your sales or service territories to improve efficiency.
Identifying new locations for offices or franchises.
Mapping all of your property locations to understand adjacency.

Creating your Radius Buffer:

To create your radius buffer:
Select the point you wish to add a radius buffer to.
When the data window appears select the buffer option and choose radius.

The radius buffer window will then appear from here you can select the following:

Select whether you want to create a radius buffer from just the select point or all the points in the selected dataset.

Set your distance criteria such as miles, kilometers, feet etc.
You can add up to 3 radii by selecting add radius

Once all chosen radius distances are inputted select done.
Your radius buffers will appear on your map.

Creating your Drive Time Buffer Map:

To create your drive time buffers, select the point you wish to add a drivetime buffer to.
When the data window appears select the buffer option and choose drive time

The drive time window will then appear from here you can select the following:

Select whether you want to create a drive time buffer from just the select point or all the points in the selected dataset.
Set your max drive time allowance (you can set to a maximum of 120 minutes)
You can add up to 3 drive time buffers by selecting add drive time.

Once all chosen drive time distances are inputted select done.
Your drive time buffers will then appear on your map.

Filtering from Radius and drive time buffers:

To see what data points are located within your radius and drive time buffers you can observe the following steps.

Filtering a single buffer:

Click on the buffer you wish to see your filters data for.

Click on filter and then chose the dataset you wish to filter.
Your map and table will then be filtered to only show the points within this buffer.
If filtering from a radius buffer your dataset will include a column showing the distance to the radius buffer center point.
If you filter your data to that within a drivetime buffer you have the option to add columns for the drivetime and distance to the buffer center point.

Filtering multiple buffers:

To see the filtered results of multiple buffers at the same time you can run radius or drivetime analysis against your center points dataset and the point dataset to want to analyze.

Saving Buffer Datasets:

You can save your buffers as a separate dataset by selecting the buffer dataset in your control panel and selecting save dataset to library
You will then be prompted to give your new dataset a name and if you would like to add it to your map.

Your buffers will then be saved as their own dataset.

Deleting Buffers:

You can delete buffers in two ways:

To delete a single buffer, you can click on the buffer, when the information box appears click on the trash can icon to delete the buffer.

To delete all buffers at the same time, go to the buffer dataset in your control panel and click on the gear icon and select remove. This will delete the entire buffer dataset from your map.

Finish

Thank you for watching our how-to video. If you have any questions, you can contact us by emailing help@espatial.com or by selecting the chat button to the bottom left-hand corner of your screen when on our website or logged into eSpatial.