Explain the Spatial Function ' Intersects ' in Tableau with Example?

 The 'Intersects' spatial function in Tableau is used to determine whether two spatial objects, such as polygons or lines, intersect or overlap with each other. It returns a Boolean (True/False) value indicating whether the objects have a spatial intersection. Here's an explanation of the 'Intersects' function with an example:

Example:

Suppose you have a dataset of sales territories represented as polygons on a map and a dataset of customer locations represented as points. You want to identify which sales territories contain or intersect with the customer locations.

To use the 'Intersects' function in Tableau, you would follow these steps:

1. 1.Prepare your data: Ensure that your datasets contain the spatial fields representing the sales territories and customer locations, such as polygons and points, respectively.

2. 2.Create a calculated field: In Tableau, go to the data source tab, right-click on the data source, and select "Create Calculated Field".

3. 3.Define the calculated field: Give your calculated field a name, such as 'Territory Intersect', and enter the following formula:

   INTERSECTS([Sales Territory], [Customer Location])
   

• [Sales Territory]: This represents the field that contains the spatial data for the sales territories (polygons).
• [Customer Location]: This represents the field that contains the spatial data for the customer locations (points).

1. 4.Apply the calculated field: Drag and drop the calculated field 'Territory Intersect' onto the Tableau canvas or incorporate it into your analysis. It will evaluate whether each sales territory intersects with the customer locations and provide a Boolean value (True/False) accordingly.

2. 5.Customize the visualization: You can further customize the visualization by using the calculated field to filter or highlight the sales territories that intersect with the customer locations. This allows you to focus on specific territories that have overlapping customers.

By using the 'Intersects' function in Tableau, you can analyze the spatial relationships and identify the intersection between different spatial objects. In the given example, determining whether sales territories intersect with customer locations helps you understand which territories have a customer presence. This information can be valuable for sales analysis, resource allocation, or identifying areas where additional sales efforts may be needed.