Maps in Power BI: From Basic Geography to Production-Ready Spatial Analytics

Maps are one of the most requested, and most misused, visuals in the Microsoft data stack. Most reports lean on a default map without understanding the options behind it, the tradeoffs between them, or when a map actually adds analytical value.

This session walks through the map types available across Power BI and Fabric and what each one is built for, then digs into custom shapes and boundaries for sales territories, service areas, and districts. From there we'll look at where maps really earn their place: real-time data. We'll cover the new Fabric Maps item and how it pairs with Real-Time Intelligence, binding map layers directly to streaming data so they update as events arrive, and close with a live demo of a real-time mapping scenario built on RTI.

You'll leave knowing not just how to build maps, but which type fits which job, and how spatial context turns live operational data into something you can act on.

You'll learn:
- The map types available across Power BI and Fabric, and what each does well
- How to work with custom shapes and boundaries for territories and regions
- Why maps are a natural fit for real-time and streaming data
- What the new Fabric Maps item adds in Real-Time Intelligence
- Best practices for performance, privacy, and governance for GIS in reporting

This pairs well with the geospatial data engineering session I also submitted