Flow maps show the movement of some phenomenon, normally goods or people, from one place to another. Lines used to symbolize the flow are typically varied in width to represent differences in the quantity of the flow. In broad terms there are three main types of linear flow map: radial, network and distributive. Radial flow maps have a spoke-like pattern because the features and places are mapped in nodal form with one place being a common origin or destination. Network flow maps are used to show interconnectivity between places and are usually based on transportation or communication linkages. Distributive flow maps typically show the distribution of commodities or some other flow that diffuses from origins to multiple destinations. An additional type of flow can be mapped using vectors, usually represented by arrows, to show direction and magnitude. These vector-based flow maps show flow for many points within an area. In this presentation, learn how you can make all these types of flow maps using ArcGIS. Using a variety of examples, we explore ArcGIS’s capabilities to map flow in both static and dynamic displays.

1. Mapping Flow Data
Aileen Buckley, PhD
Esri - Redlands

2. • Flow maps - show the movement of some phenomenon,
normally goods or people, from one place to another.
Lines are used to symbolize the flow, typically varied in
width to represent differences in the quantity of the flow
Flow Maps
http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2011/09/06/creating-radial-flow-maps-with-arcgis/

3. • Network flow maps - show interconnectivity between
places and are usually based on transportation or
communication linkages
• Radial flow maps - have a spoke-like pattern because the
features and places are mapped in nodal form with one
place being a common origin or destination
• Distributive flow maps - show the distribution of
commodities or some other flow that diffuses from one or
only a few origins to multiple destinations
• (Point) vector flow maps – show phenomena that change
continuously and smoothly over space and time using
Euclidean vectors (point locations with magnitude and
direction)
Types of flow maps
http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2011/09/06/creating-radial-flow-maps-with-arcgis/

4. Network Flow
Highway Traffic in Oregon
Atlas of Oregon, 2001, page 106

5. Atlas of Oregon, 2001, page 106

6. Radial Flow
Travel by Facebook Users
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonbruner/2012/06/05/four-facebook-visualizations-that-illustrate-the-
social-networks-reach-and-diversity

7. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonbruner/2012/06/05/four-facebook-visualizations-that-illustrate-the-
social-networks-reach-and-diversity/

8. Distributive Flow
British Coal Exports - Minard
http://norsemathology.org/longa/tufte/Cartographia.htm

9. Distributive Flow
British Coal Exports - Esri
http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=3bb350838ee044979d1f583b116cb8c1

10. (Point) Vector Flow
QSCAT High-Resolution Hurricane Analysis
http://www.cora.nwra.com/~morzel/qscat.hurricane.hires.html

11. Animated Displays
Wind Map During Hurricane Sandy
http://hint.fm/wind/

12. Animated Displays
European Airspace Returning to Use After Iceland Volcano Eruption, 2010
http://vimeo.com/11205494

13. Distributive Flow
River Flow - http://demox/demotest/demo.cfm?demo_id=537
http://maps.esri.com/sldemos/flow/default.html