Create polygons for point features based on ZIP codes in ArcGIS Online Map Viewer

Summary

In ArcGIS Online Map Viewer, polygons based on ZIP codes from a CSV file can be created to display the distribution pattern of point features. For example, creating soil maps using irregular point samplings of soil types based on ZIP codes, or simulating power supply distribution across a state based on ZIP codes.

In this article, using the Join Features tool, a point layer containing ZIP codes of power stations in Florida and a polygon layer with the U.S. ZIP code boundaries are combined to generate the polygons.

Note: 
The Join Features tool in ArcGIS Online requires an organizational account and consumes credits. Refer to ArcGIS Online: Understand credits for spatial analysis for more information.

The CSV file below lists the Florida power stations and their ZIP codes.

Procedure

1. Open Map Viewer in ArcGIS Online.
2. Add the CSV file containing the ZIP codes data to the web map.
   1. Click Add on the Contents (dark) toolbar and select Add layer from file.
   2. In the Add Layer window, select the file location. In this example, the file is selected from Your device.
   3. Select and open the CSV file. Click Create a hosted feature layer and add it to the map > Next.

4. In the Add Layer window, for Fields, leave the parameters as default and click Next.
5. In the Add Layer window, for Location settings, select Addresses or place names.
6. For Field, select the ZIP code field from the drop-down menu. In this example, Zip_Code is selected.
7. Click Next.

8. Specify the details of the CSV file. Refer to Steps 8 through 13 of ArcGIS Online: Add a file to Map Viewer for further instructions.
9. On the fifth page of the Add Layer window, click Create and add to map.

3. In Map Viewer, click Add on the Contents (dark) toolbar and select Browse layers.
4. At the top of the Browse layers pane, click the drop-down menu and select ArcGIS Online.
5. Under ArcGIS Online, search for and add a ZIP code boundary polygon layer.
6. On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Analysis. In the Analysis pane, click Tools.
7. In the Tools pane, under Summarize data, click Join Features.
8. Configure the parameters of the tool.
   1. For Input features, specify the parameters as follows:
      1. For Target layer, select the polygon layer. In this example, the polygon layer, USA_Zipcodes is selected.
      2. For Join layer, select the point layer. In this example, the point layer, 'Power stations’ is selected.

2. For Join settings, specify the parameters as follows:
   1. Toggle Use spatial relationship on.
   2. For Spatial relationship, click the drop-down menu and select Completely contains.

3. Under Result layer, for Output name, specify the name of the new polygon layer. In this example, the name of the new polygon layer is PS_Zip_code.
4. Leave all other parameters as default.

9. Click Run to complete the analysis.

The map below displays the polygons created based on the ZIP codes of the power stations in Florida.