mapbox-data-visualization-patterns

// Linear interpolation (continuous scale)
'fill-color': [
  'interpolate',
  ['linear'],
  ['get', 'value'],
  0, '#ffffcc',
  25, '#78c679',
  50, '#31a354',
  100, '#006837'
]
 
// Step intervals (discrete buckets)
'fill-color': [
  'step',
  ['get', 'value'],
  '#ffffcc',  // Default color
  25, '#c7e9b4',
  50, '#7fcdbb',
  75, '#41b6c4',
  100, '#2c7fb8'
]
 
// Case-based (categorical data)
'fill-color': [
  'match',
  ['get', 'category'],
  'residential', '#ffd700',
  'commercial', '#ff6b6b',
  'industrial', '#4ecdc4',
  'park', '#45b7d1',
  '#cccccc'  // Default
]

map.on('load', () => {
  // Add data source (points)
  map.addSource('incidents', {
    type: 'geojson',
    data: {
      type: 'FeatureCollection',
      features: [
        {
          type: 'Feature',
          geometry: {
            type: 'Point',
            coordinates: [-122.4194, 37.7749]
          },
          properties: {
            intensity: 1
          }
        }
        // ... more points
      ]
    }
  });
 
  // Add heatmap layer
  map.addLayer({
    id: 'incidents-heat',
    type: 'heatmap',
    source: 'incidents',
    maxzoom: 15,
    paint: {
      // Increase weight based on intensity property
      'heatmap-weight': ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['get', 'intensity'], 0, 0, 6, 1],
      // Increase intensity as zoom level increases
      'heatmap-intensity': ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['zoom'], 0, 1, 15, 3],
      // Color ramp for heatmap
      'heatmap-color': [
        'interpolate',
        ['linear'],
        ['heatmap-density'],
        0,
        'rgba(33,102,172,0)',
        0.2,
        'rgb(103,169,207)',
        0.4,
        'rgb(209,229,240)',
        0.6,
        'rgb(253,219,199)',
        0.8,
        'rgb(239,138,98)',
        1,
        'rgb(178,24,43)'
      ],
      // Adjust radius by zoom level
      'heatmap-radius': ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['zoom'], 0, 2, 15, 20],
      // Decrease opacity at higher zoom levels
      'heatmap-opacity': ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['zoom'], 7, 1, 15, 0]
    }
  });
 
  // Add circle layer for individual points at high zoom
  map.addLayer({
    id: 'incidents-point',
    type: 'circle',
    source: 'incidents',
    minzoom: 14,
    paint: {
      'circle-radius': ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['zoom'], 14, 4, 22, 30],
      'circle-color': '#ff4444',
      'circle-opacity': 0.8,
      'circle-stroke-color': '#fff',
      'circle-stroke-width': 1
    }
  });
});

// Use ColorBrewer scales for accessibility
// https://colorbrewer2.org/
 
// Good: Sequential (single hue)
const sequentialScale = ['#f0f9ff', '#bae4ff', '#7fcdff', '#0080ff', '#001f5c'];
 
// Good: Diverging (two hues)
const divergingScale = ['#d73027', '#fc8d59', '#fee08b', '#d9ef8b', '#91cf60', '#1a9850'];
 
// Good: Qualitative (distinct categories)
const qualitativeScale = ['#e41a1c', '#377eb8', '#4daf4a', '#984ea3', '#ff7f00'];
 
// Avoid: Red-green for color-blind accessibility
// Use: Blue-orange or purple-green instead

// Handle missing or invalid data
map.on('load', () => {
  map.addSource('data', {
    type: 'geojson',
    data: dataUrl
  });
 
  map.addLayer({
    id: 'data-viz',
    type: 'fill',
    source: 'data',
    paint: {
      'fill-color': [
        'case',
        ['has', 'value'], // Check if property exists
        ['interpolate', ['linear'], ['get', 'value'], 0, '#f0f0f0', 100, '#0080ff'],
        '#cccccc' // Default color for missing data
      ]
    }
  });
 
  // Handle map errors
  map.on('error', (e) => {
    console.error('Map error:', e.error);
  });
});