POIs (Points of interest)

Color

Most POI layers can default to No column (single symbol). If there is a useful column for categorical display, assign colors from the selections below.

Oak	Orange	Lime	Azure	Indigo	Yellow	Pink
156350	FF7F0E	BDDC5F	1F77B4	1B2D77	F9D749	E377C2

Red	Plum	Seafoam	Dusk	Purple	Sky	Green
E13A3B	6A1D4B	50BDB0	7B87B0	9467BD	A5DCF8	44A644

When assigning colors, use discretion for POIs that have a logical thematic color. For example, cooling centers may be azure, and grocery stores may be green.

Avoid using columns such as ObjectId or Address as the default display column, as they are relatively uninformative.

A stroke color may not be necessary if POI fill colors have sufficient contrast to the underlying map. As more POI fill colors are used, the need for a shared stroke color becomes more likely — simply apply a white or black stroke, depending on which contrasts better against the underlying map.

Density

Too many POIs can easily clutter a map. Consider the two maps of Phoenix below.

On the left, the POI density is too high, and the points begin to obstruct the underlying choropleth ramp. On the right, the POI density is much lower and the boundaries of the underlying choropleth ramp are still easily discernible, allowing for a more useful and visually pleasing map.

Hierarchy

The simplest method to establish hierarchy between multiple POI layers is to vary color and size. Brighter colors and bigger radii draw the eye to certain POIs over others.

You may also choose to add a radial highlight to emphasize certain POIs. The highlight color should be bright or match the POI fill. In the example below, POIs in vulnerable areas are given a yellow highlight.

Buffers

Buffers around POIs may be used to highlight areas of interest. Buffer colors should be translucent so the underlying map features are still visible. In the example below, a 20-mile radial buffer draws focus to the surrounding region of two pharmacies.