Geospatial analysis and GIS mapping plan

Before mapping, define the decisions the map should inform. Always check disclosure protection and publication scope when handling personal addresses or small-area data.

When to use this worksheet and what completion involves Fictional completed example

EvalCompass Worksheet

Geospatial analysis and GIS mapping plan

Method: Geospatial Analysis and GIS Mapping

Before mapping, define the decisions the map should inform. Always check disclosure protection and publication scope when handling personal addresses or small-area data.

Basic information

Record the analytical purpose and target area.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Program name: Community consultation (fictional)
Target area: Districts A and B
Question for the map: Which district has lower reach per eligible person?
Analyst: Analyst A
Data management lead: Data manager B

Reason for this entry: Distinguish uses of counts and rates.

Program name

Target area

Question for the map

Analyst

Data management lead

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Record the analytical purpose and target area.

Distinguish uses of counts and rates.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Follow each field’s heading to record the program name, focus, period, and other details. Leave undecided matters clearly marked as unresolved.

Read the full fictional example

Data used

Organize location data and contextual characteristics.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Dataset	Location data type	Aggregation unit	Characteristics	Personal information risks
Use totals by district	District code	District	User count and period	Inference from small cells
Eligible population totals	District code	Same district boundaries	Eligible count and reference date	Take care when combining with use data.

Reason for this entry: The design does not map personal addresses.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Dataset	Location data type	Aggregation unit	Characteristics	Personal information risks

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Organize location data and contextual characteristics.

The design does not map personal addresses.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Analysis plan

Record maps and indicators to produce.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Analysis or map	Purpose	Required data	Normalization and aggregation	Output format
Choropleth map of use rates	Compare reach across areas.	User and eligible counts	Users / eligible population × 100. Check the denominator's reference date.	Aggregated map and source table
Proportional symbols for user counts	Understand consultation volume.	User count	Remove duplicate individuals.	Separate map

Reason for this entry: Choose displays according to the quantity to show.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Analysis or map	Purpose	Required data	Normalization and aggregation	Output format

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Record maps and indicators to produce.

Choose displays according to the quantity to show.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Publication and disclosure protection policy

Describe how much of the map can be published.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Do not publish addresses below district level. Agree how to handle small cells with data management staff, and check inference from combinations with other published tables. Add cautions to rates with small denominators.

Reason for this entry: Consider the publication context as well as fixed counts when deciding on disclosure protection.

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Describe how much of the map can be published.

Consider the publication context as well as fixed counts when deciding on disclosure protection.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Use the example as a reference and record what you have established about your own program. Distinguish assumptions and unchecked matters from confirmed facts.

Read the full fictional example

Completion check

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

☑ Checked: Considered indicators normalized by population or eligible counts
☐ Not checked: Checked location accuracy and missingness
☐ Not checked: Checked personal information and re-identification risks
☑ Checked: A policy ensures map limitations and interpretation are explained

Reason for this entry: Location missingness and re-identification checks follow receipt of actual data.

Considered indicators normalized by population or eligible counts
Checked location accuracy and missingness
Checked personal information and re-identification risks
A policy ensures map limitations and interpretation are explained

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Location missingness and re-identification checks follow receipt of actual data.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Read each item and check those you have confirmed. Do not use the fictional example’s checkbox states as findings about your own program.

Read the full fictional example

Before writing, check when to use the worksheet and what completion involves

Geospatial analysis and GIS mapping plan is a worksheet for applying Geospatial Analysis and GIS Mapping in meetings or individual work. For the overall duration of the method, use “Planning example, not a universal standard duration: a few days–3 weeks, including data preparation, geocoding and visualization” as a reference, adjusting for scale and resources. Fill in what you know provisionally and leave unresolved matters as questions to check next.

When this worksheet is useful

When examining the distribution of service users, facilities, support centers or community resources
When evaluating area differences or places not reached
When examining spatial bias in local government, health, education, disaster prevention or community welfare programs

Participants and preparation

Evaluators, GIS or data staff, field managers and personal information managers. Basic QGIS or similar skills are useful.

Bring the materials used for decisions, existing data, and differing stakeholder views to help complete the worksheet.

Suggested order

1. Basic informationRecord the analytical purpose and target area.
2. Data usedOrganize location data and contextual characteristics.
3. Analysis planRecord maps and indicators to produce.
4. Publication and disclosure protection policyDescribe how much of the map can be published.
5. Completion check

Signs the worksheet is ready for review

Service reach map
Area use rate and resource allocation analysis
Unreached areas and possible improvements

Cautions for review

Producing an attractive map without answering evaluation questions
Do not confuse counts with population-based reach rates. Choose counts, rates or density according to the purpose, and specify denominators and coverage.
Creating re-identification risks by displaying detailed personal addresses

Read a completed fictional example (your entries will not change)

Fictional example; not actual results

A fictional illustrative example with invented eligible and user populations for 2 districts.

Basic information

Program name: Community consultation (fictional)
Target area: Districts A and B
Question for the map: Which district has lower reach per eligible person?
Analyst: Analyst A
Data management lead: Data manager B

Reason for this entry: Distinguish uses of counts and rates.

Data used

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Dataset	Location data type	Aggregation unit	Characteristics	Personal information risks
Use totals by district	District code	District	User count and period	Inference from small cells
Eligible population totals	District code	Same district boundaries	Eligible count and reference date	Take care when combining with use data.

Reason for this entry: The design does not map personal addresses.

Analysis plan

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Analysis or map	Purpose	Required data	Normalization and aggregation	Output format
Choropleth map of use rates	Compare reach across areas.	User and eligible counts	Users / eligible population × 100. Check the denominator's reference date.	Aggregated map and source table
Proportional symbols for user counts	Understand consultation volume.	User count	Remove duplicate individuals.	Separate map

Reason for this entry: Choose displays according to the quantity to show.

Publication and disclosure protection policy

Reason for this entry: Consider the publication context as well as fixed counts when deciding on disclosure protection.

Completion check

☑ Checked: Considered indicators normalized by population or eligible counts
☐ Not checked: Checked location accuracy and missingness
☐ Not checked: Checked personal information and re-identification risks
☑ Checked: A policy ensures map limitations and interpretation are explained

Reason for this entry: Location missingness and re-identification checks follow receipt of actual data.

Common errors in judgment

Assuming areas with more cases have better access

How to revise: Also check eligible populations, needs and transport conditions.

Reason: A larger population alone can increase counts.

Publishing address points directly

How to revise: Define aggregation and disclosure protection units first.

Reason: Support use and characteristics may become linked to individuals.

Editorial and checking information

Content updated: 2026-09-13Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)No documented human reviewIncludes fictional examplesEditorial policy and scope of checking Cite this page Report a correction

References and checked sections

Normalization for choropleth maps
Heather Smith／Esri · 2025
Section consulted
Video #1: Choropleth maps versus graduated symbols; Video #2; Video #3
How it relates to the text
Distinguish map counts from rates and consider identification risks from publishing location data.
Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)
Technical Note on the inclusion of hard-to-reach populations and children in evaluations
Sofiya Yuvshanova／UNICEF ECARO · 2025
Section consulted
Executive summary; Table 2: Dimensions of equity-focused evaluations
How it relates to the text
Distinguish map counts from rates and consider identification risks from publishing location data.
Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)

How to cite this page

EvalCompass Editorial Team. “Geospatial analysis and GIS mapping plan”. EvalCompass, updated 2026-09-13. https://evalcompass.jun-nakatani.com/en/worksheets/geospatial-analysis/

Add the date you accessed the page. Text created by this site is available under CC BY 4.0. Quotations, external materials, and bundled fonts have their own terms of use. When reusing content, credit the source, link to the license, and indicate any changes.

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Change history

2026-09-13 — Checked sources for definitions and applicability conditions, and added fictional examples, reasons for judgments and examples for every worksheet field. Revised unverified claims about history and adoption. Also reviewed existing procedures and cautions, and adjusted fixed participant counts and thresholds and generalizations about institutions.