Set up custom data for infographics

California's climate disruptions are characterized by increasingly severe wildfires, prolonged droughts, and extreme heatwaves. All these issues are exacerbated by climate change, which threatens housing markets, water resources, agriculture, and overall ecosystem stability. Climate-driven disruptions have continued to grow in frequency and severity, impacting businesses in California.

Many investors, insurers, financial services providers, and nonprofit organizations rely on information about localized physical climate risks, like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. The outcomes of these risk projections have significant economic consequences, including allocating investment capital, impacting housing prices and demographic shifts, and prioritizing adaptation infrastructure projects.

With the help of FEMA's National Risk Index data and the custom data setup workflow in ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App, decision-makers and executives can fully understand how region-specific risks impede their operations or the downstream impact they will have. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to integrate this data source, set up custom variables, categorize them, and apply them to assess risks effectively for your specific region.

This tutorial was last tested on December 9, 2024.

Requirements

• ArcGIS organizational account with a Publisher, Facilitator, or Administrator role (see options for software access)
• ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App

Add custom data to your project

FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) data assesses the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards by evaluating factors such as hazard exposure, social vulnerability, and community resilience, providing insights to guide disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. NRI data will help an insurer or investor assess the physical risks associated with a location. This tutorial uses county-level NRI data for California.

Set up the project

To get started, you'll create a project in the ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App.

1. Open Business Analyst Web App.
2. Sign in to your ArcGIS organizational account.

   Note:

   If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

3. If necessary, close the Welcome or What's new window.
4. In the upper left corner of the window, click the All projects button.

   

5. Click Create project.

   

   The Create project window appears.

6. For Project name, type Risk Analysis and add your name or initials.

   

7. Click Create.

   The project is created. If you previously chose the option to open new projects right away, the project opens automatically.

8. Optionally, check the Open new projects as soon as they are created check box. Click OK to open the project.

   

   The project appears.

Download the data

Now that you've created a project, you'll download the NRI data and add it to your project. You'll download the data as a table, as this allows you to effectively explore and analyze the available variables.

1. Go to the FEMA National Risk Index site.
2. Scroll down to the Downloads section and click Table format (CSV).

   

   You're taken to a section where you can download tables at the county level for each state.

3. Under County level, click California - County-level detail (Table) to download the data.

   

4. In Microsoft File Explorer, go to the Downloads folder and locate the NRI_Table_Counties_California.zip file. Extract its contents to a folder on your computer that you'll use for this tutorial.
5. Once extracted, browse to the folder you selected and open NRI_Table_Counties_California.csv to explore the data.
6. Look through the table to see the available fields. When finished, close the table.
7. Open the NRIDataDictionary table and explore it.

   The NRIDataDictionary spreadsheet explains the field name and the data type for each column of the data.

8. Close the table when finished.

   The NRI dataset comprehensively assesses various hazards and their associated risks across different geographic areas. Key columns in the dataset include FIPS codes for geographic identification, overall risk ratings and scores, social vulnerability, resilience scores reflecting community capacity, annual losses, and risk scores for various hazards. The NRI covers a range of hazards, such as flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, severe storms, landslides, and droughts.

   Each entry helps illustrate how communities might be impacted by various natural disasters, enabling better preparedness and response strategies. These variables are later categorized to help better utilize them for analysis.

Set up the data

Next, you'll set up the NRI data using the custom data setup workflow in Business Analyst Web App.

1. In Business Analyst Web App, on the Maps tab, click Add data and choose Custom data setup.

   

   The Custom data setup pane appears.

2. Click Get Started.
3. Click Start setup.

   

4. For Select data source, choose Import file.

   

5. Click Browse. Browse to the NRI_Table_Counties_California.csv file, select it, and click OK.

   

   The table is added as the file to import.

6. Click Import.
7. For Select the type of data being imported, choose Geographic boundaries, or confirm that it is already selected.

   

8. Click Next.

   Next, you'll match the geographic boundary type to the geographic ID field. The CSV file and the NRI data dictionary will help you identify the variable representing the geographic boundaries.

9. For Select the geographic boundary level, click the drop-down menu and choose County.
10. For Select the geography name or ID column, click the drop-down menu and choose STCOFIPS (near the top of the list).

    

11. Click Next.

    The data is saved as a layer named NRI_Table_Counties_California and you can include it in your analysis.

    

Categorize the data

Next, you'll create categories to organize the NRI data. These categories, along with the data, will be available under the My Variables tab in the data browser.

1. In the Custom data setup pane, click Next.

   The Category view tab in the Custom data setup pane appears.

   

   You can categorize the imported data and save it to the data browser. By organizing the variables into categories, you make them more accessible for use in various infographics or analyses, streamlining the process of locating relevant data.

   The first category is created by default in the category view. You'll edit it.

2. On the default category, click the Edit button.

   

3. For Title, type General Risk Data and click Apply.

   

   Next, you'll add more categories.

4. Click Add category.

   

5. Point to the new category and click the Edit button. For Title, type Hazard Risks and click Apply.

   

   Next, you'll search for other variables.

6. On the Category view tab, click Search.

   

7. In the search box, type RISK_SCORE.

   

8. Drag the RISK_SCORE variable onto the General Risk Data category.

   

   The number of variables updates to 1.

   

   You'll add two more variables.

9. Search for and add the SOVI_SCORE variable and RESL_SCORE variable to the General Risk Data category.
10. Point to the General Risk Data category and click Open.

    

    The added variables appear.

    

    Note:

    To learn more about the definitions of National Risk Index, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience, please refer to the FEMA site for Determining Risk.

    Next, you'll add variables to the Hazard Risks category.

11. Click Categories to return to the list of categories.

    

12. In the search box, type risks.

    Since the area under analysis is California, you'll pick four of the most common hazards seen there.

13. Add the following variables to the Hazard Risks category:
    • CFLD_RISKS (coastal flooding)
    • DRGT_RISKS (drought)
    • HWAV_RISKS (heatwave)
    • WFIR_RISKS (wildfire)

    Now that you have added all the variables that you want in each category, you'll rename them so they are easier to interpret.

14. Open the General Risk Data category.
15. To the right of the RISK_SCORE variable, click the options button and choose Configure variable(s).

    

    The Configure variable window appears.

16. For Display Name, type National Risk Index and click Apply.
17. Using the following table as a guide, rename the following variables:

    Variable name	Display name
    SOVI_SCORE	Social Vulnerability Score
    RESL_SCORE	Community Resilience Score
    CFLD_RISKS	Coastal Flooding Risk
    DRGT_RISKS	Drought Risk
    HWAV_RISKS	Heatwave Risk
    WFIR_RISKS	Wildfire Risk

    The variable names are updated. Now, it's easier to understand what data is stored with each.

    

18. Click Save. In the Custom data setup pane, click I'm done.

Set up the layer

Now that the data is categorized, you can set up the map layer to ensure that the county names appear as item names when you view the counties on the map.

1. From the Risk Analysis project drop-down menu, under Other layers, check the box next to the NRI_Table_Counties_California layer to view the layer on the map.

   

2. Next to the NRI_Table_Counties_California layer, click the options button and choose Setup layer.

   The Setup layer tab appears.

3. For Use field as item name, choose COUNTY.

   

   The counties in California appear in the list.

   

4. Click Setup Layer.

You've added your custom data to the project, selected the variables that you want to analyze, and set up the layer so you can view the data on the map. Next, you'll visualize the data using infographics.

Use custom data in analysis

Now that the custom data has been saved in your project, you can use it in benchmark comparisons and incorporate it into your infographics. First, you'll run benchmark comparisons using the NRI data to analyze risk for all counties in California. Next, you'll modify the Housing Market Characteristics infographic template to use your custom data to gain a deeper understanding of physical risks of climate change and their impact on the housing market.

Perform benchmark comparisons

First, you'll compare data for all the counties in California.

1. On the Maps tab, click Run analysis and choose Benchmark comparisons.

   

   The Benchmark comparisons pane appears.

2. For Select location type, choose Geographies or Hexagons and click Next.

   

3. In the Analysis extent search box, type California (State) and click the California result.

   

4. Click the Level of detail drop-down menu and choose Counties.

   

5. Click Next.
6. At the bottom of the pane, click Browse all variables.

   

   The Data browser window appears.

7. Click the Search drop-down menu and choose My variables.

   

   The custom data categories that you set up appear.

   

8. Expand the General Risk Data category and select the National Risk Index variable.

   

9. Click Apply.

   The variables are added to the benchmark comparisons. The results are displayed on the map and in the Results pane.

10. In the Benchmark comparisons pane, in the Statistics section, for Mean, click the toggle button to enable it in the analysis.

    

    The mean values are added to the Table tab in the Results pane. This information provides the average risk level across all counties in California to help you quickly view the overall risk profile for the state. It also offers a baseline for comparing individual counties. By using the mean values, you can identify which areas are above or below the state's average risk, providing a clearer picture of where higher or lower physical risks may be concentrated.

11. In the Results table, next to Mean, click the options button and choose Make benchmark.

    

    The results and the map automatically update to show how each county's risk compares to the mean.

    

    Regions with higher or lower risk are color-coded, offering a clear view of the disparities in the map and in the table. You can view this information in the app or export the results to Microsoft Excel.

12. On the Results table, click Export to Excel.

    

13. In the Export to Excel window, accept the default name and click Export.
14. On your computer, browse to where the file was downloaded and open it.

    

    Now, you can share this table with others. You have done a benchmark comparison of National Risk Index data. Next, you'll customize an infographic to include the custom data.

Create visualizations

You'll begin by adding an infographic panel with the custom data. Infographic panels serve as individual sections within the larger infographic, allowing you to present specific data points clearly and effectively. By choosing to add panels, you can focus on particular aspects of the housing market, such as vulnerability to climate risks or changes in property values.

1. On the ribbon, click the Reports tab. Click Build reports and choose Build infographics.

   

   The infographic builder appears. You can build your infographic from standard templates that are included in the app, from other templates that you have created, and from shared templates that others in your organization have created. You'll use a standard template.

2. On the Standard Templates tab, point to the Housing Market Characteristics infographic and click Open.

   

   The Housing Market Characteristics infographic opens in edit mode. This template was chosen because it combines housing data with risk data, allowing you to illustrate the relationship between climate change risks and their effects on the housing market.

3. Scroll to the second page of the infographic. Point to the Gross Rent chart and click Replace.

   

   The Add element menu appears. You'll replace the chart with an infographic.

4. From the list of options, click Infographic.

   

   The Add infographic panel window appears.

5. Click Create infographic panel.

   

   The create infographic panel window appears. Here, you can choose which variables to add to the infographic. You can browse through demographic variables or use the custom data variables that you added.

6. Click the My variables tab.

   

   The custom categories that you created appear.

7. Expand the General Risk Data category and click National Risk Index, Social Vulnerability Score, and Community Resilience Score to add them to the selected variables.
8. In the upper-right corner of the window, click Selected variables.

   

   The variables you chose are listed.

9. Click Next.
10. On the infographic panel, point to the current title, MY INFOGRAPHIC, and click Edit text.

    

11. For the title, type Site Risk Outlook.

    

    Each variable has a placeholder icon.

12. Click the placeholder icon for the National Risk Index variable and click Shapes and icons.

    

    The icon library appears.

13. In the Enter icon name search field, type community.

    

14. Choose an icon from the results to symbolize the National Risk Index variable.

    

    The shape you selected replaces the placeholder icon.

    Note:

    The shape you selected may differ from the one in the example images.

15. For the remaining two variables in the infographic, update their icons.

    

16. Click Save. Accept the default title of Site Risk Outlook and click Save.

    

    The new infographic panel appears under the My panels tab.

    

17. Point to infographic panel and click Add.

    

    The infographic panel you created is added to the template.

    

Create a chart

Next, you'll create a chart showing the high risk hazards of the area and add it to the template.

1. To the left of the infographic, point to the Vacant Housing Units chart and click Replace.
2. From the list of options that appears, click Chart.

   

   The Insert chart window appears.

3. Under Customize chart and edit chart data, choose Horizontal bar chart.

   

   Next, you'll add the hazard risk variables to the chart.

4. Click the My variables tab. Click the Hazard Risks category.

   

5. Press the Ctrl key and click each variable to select them all.

   

6. Drag the selected variables onto the chart.

   

7. Click Chart options.

   

8. Expand Chart. For Title, type High Risk Hazards.

   

9. Click Apply.

   The new chart is added to the infographic template.

   

10. Click Save.
11. On the Save infographic template window, accept the default title and click Save. Click OK.

    You've finished modifying the infographic template with the custom data. The infographic is now ready to be run.

View the infographic

Next, you'll run the modified infographic for counties in California to view the climate impact on housing market characteristics.

1. On the ribbon, click the Maps tab.
2. On the map, click San Bernardino County in California.

   

   A pop-up window appears.

3. In the pop-up window, click Infographics.

   

   The infographic appears. You'll view the Housing Market Characteristics infographic.

4. On the ribbon, for Infographic, click the drop-down menu. Under My infographics, choose Housing Market Characteristics.

   

   The Housing Market Characteristics infographic appears.

5. Click the Next page button.

   

   Now you can see the High Risk Hazards chart and the Site Risk Outlook section that you created.

   

   The infographic shows a concerning risk outlook for San Bernardino, given its high national risk index and social vulnerability score, combined with a low community resilience score. Additionally, San Bernardino shows a high risk for wildfires and heatwaves. This combination of factors could significantly impact the San Bernardino housing market, leading to declining property values, increased insurance costs, and a potential exodus of residents seeking safer living conditions. As demand decreases, the market may struggle to attract new buyers and investors, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the community.

   Once you run an infographic, you can export it to a .pdf file so you can share it.

6. On the ribbon, click the Export infographic button.

   

   The Export infographic window appears. The default export format is .pdf, which is what you want.

7. Check the boxes for Add header and edit title, Add data source, and Add footer. Click Create PDF.

   

8. Close the infographic to return to the map.

In this tutorial, you used NRI data within Business Analyst Web App to gain insights into the physical risks impacting San Bernardino County, California. First, you set up the data using the custom data workflow. Then, you modified the Housing Market Characteristics infographic template and created a chart and an infographic panel with the NRI data. By incorporating the NRI data into the infographic, you can better understand the significant impact of physical risks on housing markets across United States counties.

Areas vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes often experience declining property values and increasing insurance costs, making them less attractive to potential buyers. This volatility can deter investment and development, leading to a shortage of housing in safer areas, while demographic shifts may see residents relocating to lower-risk regions. Additionally, infrastructure damage from disasters can strain local services, further impacting market stability. By understanding these dynamics, stakeholders can make informed decisions to enhance housing resilience in at-risk communities.

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.

Acknowledgements

• Esri Demographics data accessed with ArcGIS Business Analyst. Terms of use.
• World Streets Map: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), NOSTRA, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community
• California National Risk Data provided by FEMA.