Proportional symbol maps: What they are and how to make one

Proportional symbol maps are a powerful tool for visualizing data by representing values with varying symbol sizes, which makes patterns and comparisons more intuitive at a glance. Unlike choropleth maps that use color to differentiate data across regions, proportional symbol maps use size to represent data values directly at specific locations, thereby reducing geographic bias and improving clarity. These maps are particularly useful for applications such as tracking wildfire intensity, analyzing transportation safety, exploring insurance risk, and assessing public school distribution. The platform Felt facilitates the creation of these maps through a user-friendly process, allowing users to upload data, adjust symbol styles, and customize map interactivity. By providing features like size range visualization and legend customization, Felt enables users to build clear, precise, and interactive maps that can be easily interpreted and used for decision-making across various fields.