The **Shapify** feature lets you work with datasets that contain identifiers for well-known administrative boundaries (such as ZIP codes or census tracts).

When you load a dataset that has columns with supported identifiers, you can immediately visualize boundaries on your map, even when your data does not contain any explicit geospatial geometry.

## Auto Shapify

Studio will automatically recognize columns that can be shaped into geospatial points on the map.

When you load a compatible dataset, simply click **Shapify** to automatically run the Shapify operation.

You can click the checkbox next to each geometry feature to enable/disable Shapify processing. In addition, you may change the geometry type to be applied during Shapify.

| Geometry Type | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Boundary | Creates a polygon representing the boundary of the region. |
| Centroid | Creates a point representing the centroid of the region. |

Auto Shapify from Foursquare on Vimeo

_Auto Shapify being applied to a dataset containing ZIP codes._

## Manual Shapify

To manually apply Shapify, follow these steps:

1. On the dataset you wish to Shapify, click **⋮ More Options >> Shapify**.

The Shapify option on a dataset object.

Alternatively, navigate to the **Columns** tab, then click the Shapify button.

The Shapify button in the Columns tab.

2. Click **Select a field**, then select any [valid columns](https://docs.foursquare.com/analytics-products/docs/data-shapify#supported-admin-boundaries) and select the type of boundary and geometry.

Manually applying Shapify to a map with a ZIP code column.

3. Click **Run** to complete the Shapify operation.

Once complete, Studio will provide a message indicating the number of geometry columns created by the Shapify operation along with a list of their names.

Each column generated by this process will appear with a Shapify badge in the Geo Columns section.

The new ZIP code polygon layer after a Shapify operation.

## Supported Admin Boundaries

For best results, columns should contain admin boundaries with their corresponding GEOID. Please visit the [census.gov GEOID structure reference](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-identifiers.html#GEOID-Structure-For-Geographic-Areas:~:text=GEOID%20Structure%20for%20Geographic%20Areas) to learn more.

| Boundary | Detect Prefixes | Example | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| US State | `state` | `06`, `41`, `CA`, `Washington` | US State names or GEOID identifier. |
| US County | `county` | `06111` | US county GEOID identifiers. |
| [US ZIP Codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_Code) | `postal`, `zip`, `zcta` | `90210` | 5-digit US postal codes. |
| [US Census Tracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_tract) | `census`,`ct`,`tract` | `48201223100` | Large census areas roughly covering a city or town, common in demographics datasets (age, income etc). |
| [US Census Block Groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_block_group) | `bg`,`blkgrp` | `482012231001` | Medium census areas, typically grouping 300-6000 people. |
| Other Identifiers | `geo_id`,`geoid`,`gid`,`fips`,`elsdlea`,`unsdlea`,`scsdlea`,`placefp`,`pumace` | - | Various other identifiers detected by Studio's Shapify operation. |

Studio currently supports the most common US admin boundaries. The catalog of supported admin boundaries is being built out based on customer needs, please contact us at [info-studio@foursquare.com](mailto:info-studio@foursquare.com).

## Working with Other Admin Boundaries

If you need to work with admin boundaries that are not yet supported by Shapify, and you have a dataset with id and geometry columns, you can add the dataset in Studio and [join](https://docs.foursquare.com/analytics-products/docs/data-join) it with your primary dataset.

You may also combine attributes of multiple datasets based on their spatial relationship with the [spatial join](https://docs.foursquare.com/analytics-products/docs/data-spatial-join) feature.

Updated5 months ago