Data Visualization in Environmental Public Health: From Data to Insight
Figure 6 Graduated Symbol Map Example: Inspection Scores by Food Establishment
Graduated Symbol Maps If the goal is to compare rates, percentages, or other normalized measures across geographic areas, choropleth maps are often the most appropriate choice. When the goal is to show the magnitude of counts or totals while preserving geographic context, graduated symbol maps could be the better option. The choice should reflect the question being asked, the data's characteristics, the geographic units, and the intended audience. Graduated symbol maps vary symbol size based on the magnitude of a value. Because the symbols are placed at their geographic locations, this type of map preserves spatial context while making it easy to compare magnitude differences. Examples include: • Number of complaints by community • Number of inspections by district
• Number of facilities by city These maps allow viewers to compare values while maintaining geographic context.
Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2026 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved. Data: King County Food Establishment Inspections, 2022–2025 Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap
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