Maps and DataIndex
Maps and Data covers the spatial data behind the analysis: where it comes from, what it covers, and the methods used to screen markets and evaluate sites.
Start here: Data Overview
Data Overview and Sources
Data Overview is the entry point — an orientation to the location intelligence clusters, co-location tiers, and the tile pipeline that turns raw spatial data into a scored map. POI Data Schema and Regional Name Resolution cover how individual points of interest and cluster labels are built from OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps Foundation sources. Trade Area Data Sources and Spend and Population Provenance document where the population and spend estimates behind every trade area figure originate.
- Data overview — location intelligence and GIS data layers — An orientation to the platform's data layers: location intelligence clusters, co-location tiers, and the GIS tile pipeline.
- poi-data-schema — The POI data schema defines record structures for location data ingested from OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps Foundation, normalized into a unified JSONL format before cluster analysis. Wikidata QIDs serve as the primary chain identifier, and parent-child sub-location models handle co-branded ancillary services.
- regional-name-resolution-architecture — Each co-location cluster is labelled with a human-readable regional name — a North American Metropolitan Area, a European NUTS-3 region, a Mexican municipio, a Canadian Census Subdivision. That name is the output of a layered offline reverse-geocoding pipeline that draws from a stack of open boundary datasets without requiring external API calls.
- Trade area data sources — population and spend — Population estimates from WorldPop 2026 and annual per-capita spend proxies from national household surveys underpin the trade area statistics for each co-location cluster.
- Spend and population estimation: provenance and assumptions — Provenance chain behind catchment population and spend estimates — WorldPop rasters, H3 aggregation, and per-capita multipliers, with their stated weaknesses.
Coverage Expansion
Nordic and UK Coverage and UK/EU Food-Retail Coverage record when and how new countries and chain categories entered the dataset.
- Nordic and UK coverage expansion — How Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom entered the co-location intelligence dataset through three Alpha-tier chain promotions in May 2026.
- UK and European food retail coverage — The co-location index distinguishes between chains that participate in cluster scoring — anchors, hardware, warehouse — and chains that appear on the map as supporting context without affecting cluster grades. The Food family is the latter. This article documents United Kingdom and European Union food-retail coverage as of the May 2026 expansion.
Site and Transaction Integration
Site Ledger Integration binds each physical construction site to an isolated digital archive container, maintaining immutable audit records from groundbreak through commissioning. The Transaction Summary Report Protocol advances shortlisted Development Site candidates from geographic scoring to Independent Director review.
- Site ledger integration — Operational link binding each physical construction site to an isolated digital archive container, maintaining immutable audit records from groundbreak through commissioning.
- Transaction summary report protocol — Site-approval protocol advancing shortlisted Development Site candidates from geographic scoring to Independent Director review via the Transaction Summary Report.