The benchmark comparisons workflow allows you to compare locations, such as trade areas, using variables and site attributes that you select. To compare features on the map, specify the comparison properties:
- Variables (such as population) and site attributes (such as square footage) for comparison across the input features
- Statistics, such as mean or median
- Comparison method
- Neighboring geographies to include in the analysis
The comparison displays on the map as color-coded polygons and in the Results pane at the bottom of the window.
Potential applications
The following are potential applications of the benchmark comparisons workflow:
| Application | Description | Examples of data used |
|---|---|---|
Analyze site performance | A grocery store chain has recently expanded by adding five locations across a region. After a year's time, one of the locations is far less successful than the others. The data analysts are curious to uncover reasons why. They ask questions such as: How does the store statistically compare to their best site? Are all stores relatively equal in demographic criteria? How far from the statistical average across the market is the underachieving store? |
|
Allocate emergency response resources | A state-level aid organization wants to better understand counties in need of the most assistance in the case of natural disasters. The organization runs a benchmark comparison of all counties in the state, using variables that indicate high numbers of children and the elderly. Understanding these demographics helps the organization prioritize aid to areas that have vulnerable populations. |
|
Run the benchmark comparisons workflow
To run a benchmark comparison, you must have locations on the map to compare. For example, you can generate rings around points, create drive-time or walk-time areas, or draw geographic boundaries. Once these locations are saved in a layer in the project, you can compare them using the benchmark comparisons workflow by doing the following:
- On the Analysis tab, click Business Analysis to open the gallery, and click Benchmark Comparisons
.The Benchmark Comparisons Properties pane appears.
- Use the Input Features drop-down list to select the layer containing the locations you want to compare.
- Use the Name Field drop-down list to choose a name for the comparison locations.
Select the field from the locations layer that best identifies the locations. For example, you can choose the field that contains the names of the facilities or retail stores.
- On the Sites tab
, for Variables, click Add 
to open the data browser and add the variables to use for the comparison and click OK. Optionally, click Save List to name and save the variables you selected for future use.From the data browser, you can search and browse for data by category, from custom data, saved variable lists, and from data you have saved as favorites. Once the workflow is run, the input features are enriched using the variables selected.
- Optionally, use the check boxes in the Site Attributes field to select site-specific attributes, such as the area of the polygons or other numeric data, to include in the comparison.
Note:
Site attributes can include both numeric and text fields. Only numeric fields are used for comparing sites and setting a benchmark.
- On the Comparison Methods tab , set any the following parameters:
- In the Statistics section, use the check boxes to enable statistical measures: Mean, Median, and Standard deviation. The mean and median measures can be used as the benchmark values in the Above and below benchmark comparison method.
- In the Method section, use the drop-down menu to set the comparison method. For more information, see the Comparison methods section below.
- In the Style section, refine symbology settings. For more information, see the Style options section below.
- Expand the Neighboring geographies section and select additional comparison geographies, such as the states containing the locations, to include along with the locations in the layer. Use the Filter menu
to refine the sites used to include or exclude neighboring geographies.Standard geography polygons that intersect centroids of the input features are included in the Results pane and enriched with the variables you selected.
- Click Apply.
The comparison is run for the input features, which are now locked from further modification. The results are displayed in the following places:
Location Description The Contents pane
- A layer is created in the project, which is a copy of the boundary layer with _ComparisonsLayer appended to the name. The geographies in the new layer include the variables you added, visible in the attribute table.
- The results are listed under the comparison layer. You can open them at any time by right-clicking the results under the comparison layer in the Contents pane and clicking Open .
On the map
The comparison layer appears on the map, symbolized according to the comparison method and style options you selected.
In the Results pane
The Results pane appears, displaying the results in summary, histogram, scatterplot, and table views.
Note:
Click Reset to discard all parameter changes made since the last time the Apply button was clicked.Comparison methods
The Method drop-down menu provides options for color-coding and grouping the values in the analysis. The comparison methods are described below.
| Comparison method | Description |
|---|---|
High to low | This option displays the range of values for a selected variable or attribute, from highest to lowest. |
Top and bottom | This option highlights the top and bottom ranked values. It uses either Rank or Percentile, and you can define the Top and Bottom values. |
Above and below benchmark | This option indicates whether each feature's value is above or below the benchmark value for a selected variable. Select a benchmark and set the difference type as either Percentage or Raw value. |
Style options
Style options available depend on the comparison method selected for the analysis. These options apply corresponding symbology changes to both polygons on the map and indicators in the Results pane. To adjust the symbology, use any of the following options:
- Color scheme—Select a gradient for displaying the results. This option is available for the High to low and Above and below benchmark methods.
- Top and Bottom colors—Select colors for displaying the top and bottom results. This option is available for the Top and bottom method.
- Top and Bottom numbers—Select a top and bottom number of geographies to display. This option is available for the Top and bottom method.
- Outline—Select the color and width of the polygon outlines.
- Map variable—Select which variable to display on the map.
Explore the results
The benchmark comparisons results are displayed on the Results pane. To learn more about the calculation methods available in the pane, visit Results pane reference.
Note:
You can reopen the benchmark comparisons workflow pane from the Results pane table by clicking Properties 
.
Explore the Results pane by doing any of the following:
- Click Summary
to view a summary of the results.Depending on the number and type of variables you mapped, the summary includes the count of areas and descriptive statistics for the data distribution. If you select features on the map or in the table, the Statistics card updates to provide descriptive statistics for both the selected features and the entire dataset. Click Results Settings
to change the variable used in the summary. - Click Histogram
to view the results in a histogram. To explore the histogram, do any of the following:- Select locations on the map by selecting items in the histogram. Click Select interaction mode
to choose which shape to use for selecting (rectangle, polygon, or hand-drawn shape). - Click Results Settings . To modify the histogram settings, do any of the following:
- For maps containing multiple variables, choose the variable or measurement to display in the histogram using the Fields drop-down list.
- Modify the method for selecting subsets within the histogram using the options on the Subset Selection Method menu:
- Percentage—Set lines at a specified upper and lower percent value. For example, this option can be set to the upper and lower 10 percent, which is the same as the 10th and 90th percentiles.
- Standard deviation—Set lines at a specified standard deviation. For example, this option can be set to 1 standard deviation above and below the mean.
- Outliers—Set lines to the values that represent 1.5 times the interquartile range (IQR). For example, if the Q3 value is 10 and the Q1 value is 4, the IQR is 6. The lines will be set at 9 below Q1 and 9 above Q3. Any values outside of these lines may indicate that the values are outliers.
- In the Bins section, use the Color and Count menus to define the color and number of data groupings in the histogram.
- Select subsets of features on the map by using the following options:
- Select Lower Subset
—Features in the lower subset are selected. - Select Upper Subset
—Features in the upper subset are selected. - Select Outer Subsets
—Features in both the lower and upper subsets are selected. - Select Middle Subset
—Features in between the lower and upper subsets are selected.
- Select Lower Subset
- Select locations on the map by selecting items in the histogram. Click Select interaction mode
- Click Scatterplot
to view the results in a scatterplot. To explore the scatterplot, do any of the following:- Select locations on the map by selecting items in the scatterplot. Click Select interaction mode to choose which shape to use for selecting (rectangle, polygon, or hand-drawn shape).
- Click Zoom Mode
and zoom in or out of the scatterplot. Click Reset Navigation 
to return to the default scatterplot view. - Click the Results Settings button and do any of the following:
- Click Bubble chart or Scatterplot to switch between chart styles.
- Use the X-axis, Y-axis, and Dot size drop-down lists to choose the variables used in the chart.
- Click the Show regression line toggle button to turn the regression line on or off.
- Select locations on the map by selecting items in the scatterplot. Click Select interaction mode
- Click Table
to view the results in a table. To explore the table, do any of the following:- Click an item in the table and the corresponding area is highlighted on the map. Click Clear Selection to remove the highlighting.
- View the variable and measurement values for each feature, as well as the feature's comparison indicator:
- For the High to low method, the indicator provides the rank of each feature for each variable or measurement.
- For the Top and bottom method, the indicator provides the rank for the top and bottom features. For example, 65 of 66 means the feature is the second-to-last feature for the indicated variable.
- For the Above and below benchmark method, the indicator provides the difference, and the degree of difference, from the benchmark value.
- Click Transpose Table
to switch the table's rows and columns. - Click Export to Excel
to export the data from the suitability analysis to an Excel worksheet.