To add custom background images, such as floor plans or non-standard geographic areas, on Power BI map visual, you should use the Shape Map or the Scatter Chart visual. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to do it properly:
- Prepare Your Background Image:
Import a high-quality image that is custom-scanned as a floor plan/geographic area and saved in standard file formats like PNG or JPEG. Note: If the image is representative of a certain scale or location, it should have its measurements, not along with the coordinate system used for aligning it accurately.
- Add Coordinates for Placement:
Define the X and Y coordinates for elements on the image. For example, if it's a floor plan, map out the X and Y locations for key points such as rooms or areas. You may use this to create a table with these coordinates and corresponding labels.
- Load Data into Power BI:
Import your dataset containing the coordinates and labels into Power BI. If the image requires scaling, make sure to scale your coordinate system to the dimensions of the image.
Insert the Visual and Configure It
To get the Scatter Chart visual:
Drag the X and Y coordinates to the appropriate axes fields.
Place any categorical or numerical fields (such as Room Name or Number of People) in the Legend or Values field to give them added context.
Format, Plot Area, then upload the custom image under Background.
Adjust the transparency and scaling so the data points fit well with the image.
In the case of geographic areas, import the custom GeoJSON file using the Shape Map visual, making sure that your data regions correspond to the areas defined.
Fine-tune and Validate
Test what happens when you use slicers or filters to work with the image.
Check the alignment collaboratively by visualizing points in the image and comparing them with the actual layout of the image.
Wait to change or redefine the ax's ranges and scale until the visual is right and intuitive. Align your data carefully with the custom image to ensure that you create an effective, appealing Power BI report for non-standard maps or layouts.
