Chart Indicators

After a successful simulation run, a selection of indicators (e.g. derived variables) for that run are available to visualize as charts if your simulation was configured to export pre-defined charts prior to the run. Charts can be viewed and managed using the chart dashboard. To open the chart dashboard click on the chart icon at the top right hand side of UrbanCanvas.

The content and layout of charts created from simulation runs is controlled by your specific model implementation and configuration. Chart data and basic layout cannot be modified from within UrbanCanvas. All model types (e.g. Block, Zone, Parcel) can have a customized list of charts autogenerated. However, due to the Block model’s use of standardized data there are a set of default pre-selected charts available here. Parcel and zone model chart indicators can vary widely based on the type of base data utilized. Parcel and zone model indicators can be fully customized depending on the customization of your model system and the data utilized.

Examples of Plotly charts

An example of an Altair chart

Note

If you do not see a pre-calculated indicator you require, you can request new indicators to be added to the next version by submitting a feature request as long as your model base data supports the calculation of the indicator.

Calculation of Indicators

Indicator variables are auto-generated upon completion of each simulation run and can be visualized in charts. All indicators are calculated at the base data level of geography (e.g. Census block, parcel or zone) and are typically summed or averaged to larger geographies.

UrbanCanvas currently supports rendering of charts directly exported from Python using either the declarative statistical visualization libraries: 1) Altair or 2) Plotly. Plotly charts are fully interactive in UrbanCanvas, however Altair charts are not interactive and are static. See the chart dashboard for more information on chart interactivity.

Note

The types of indicators exported at the end of the simulation will be dependent upon your needs determined through your model development consulting contract and can be customized. The indicators displayed in this section are for example only.

Chart Metadata

Charts automatically generated by simulation runs will be given the following default metadata properties:

Chart records will be given names as configured by your specific model implementation but will typically be the same name as the chart title defined by Altair or Plotly. Charts will be tagged with the unique identifier number of the simulation run (e.g. Run 32) that generated it which allows for easy data management and filtering from within the chart dashboard. Charts will not have created by information and will be shown as created by N/A. Charts will have a created on timestamp that reflects when the chart was exported to UrbanCanvas.

Block model chart examples

Indicators can be fully customized depending on the customization of your model system and the data utilized. This list is intended as a example of indicators that can be generated and is not exhaustive.

Block model indicator chart examples

Chart Name
Total Jobs by Sector
Top Ten Blocks: Population per Acre
Top Ten Blocks: Jobs per Acre
Top Ten Blocks: Jobs
Top Ten Blocks: Households per Acre
Top Ten Blocks: Households
Top Ten Blocks: Dwelling Units per Acre
Top Ten Blocks: Dwelling Units
Household Tenure
Histogram: Residential units within 3km on street network (natural log)
Histogram: Residential Values
Histogram: Residential Rents
Histogram: Population within 1.5km on street network (natural log)
Histogram: Jobs within 5km on street network (natural log)
Histogram: Jobs within 20km on street network (natural log)
Census Tract Scatterplot: Total Jobs vs. Total Households
Census Tract Scatterplot: Total Jobs vs. Total Workers
Census Tract Scatterplot: Total Households vs. Total Dwelling Units
Census Tract Scatterplot: Mean Number of Jobs within 20km on street network (natural log) vs. Total Households
Census Tract Scatterplot: Mean Income vs. Mean Housing Value
Census Tract Scatterplot: Mean Households per Acre vs. Mean Housing Value
By County: Total Workers
By County: Total Population
By County: Total Jobs by Sector
By County: Total Jobs
By County: Total Households
By County: Total Dwelling Units
By County: Share of growth from base year to forecast year
By County: Mean Household Size
By County: Mean Household Income
By County: Household Tenure
By County: Growth from base year to forecast year
By County: Average Rent
By County: Average Population per Acre
By County: Average Jobs per Acre
By County: Average Housing Value
By County: Average Households per Acre
By County: Average Dwelling Units per Acre

Parcel and Zone model chart examples

Parcel and zone model indicators can be fully customized depending on the customization of your model system and the data utilized.