Choropleth maps with Highcharts and Shiny

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We use Choropleth maps to show differences in colors or shading of pre-defined regions like states or countries, which correspond to differences in quantitative values like total rainfall, average temperature, economic indicators etc



In our case we will use sales of a toy making company, as quantitative value, in different countries around the world. See example with this shiny app



Highcharter is a R wrapper for Highcharts javascript based charting  modules.

Rendering Choropleth Maps with Highcharts in Shiny

  • To see Highcharts/Shiny interaction, we will begin by creating basic Shiny dashboard layout: It contains a single select widget and single tab for displaying map.

library(shiny)
library(shinydashboard)
library(highcharter)
library(countrycode)
library(dplyr)

sales <- read.csv('salespoint.csv')
ui<-

dashboardPage(
dashboardHeader(title = "Map"),

dashboardSidebar(
sidebarMenu(
selectInput('yearid','Select Year',choices = c(2003,2004,2005),selected = 2003)
)),

dashboardBody(
tabBox(title = 'ToyShop',id = 'tabset1',width = 12, tabPanel('World-Sales',highchartOutput('chart',height = '500px')))

)
)



  • In server function, filtering and summarize data with dplyr library and create a reactive object
server <- function(input, output, session){

total <- reactive(
{
sales %>%
filter(YEAR_ID == as.numeric(input$yearid)) %>%
group_by(COUNTRY) %>%
summarize("TOTAL_SALES" = as.integer(sum(SALES))) %>%
mutate(iso3 = countrycode(COUNTRY,"country.name","iso3c"))
}
)


Here we used library countrycode to convert long country names into one of many coding schemes. Adding new column iso3 in the summarized data with mutate function.

  • Passing reactive object in renderHighchart function. Customizing tooltip and sub-title content with reactive widgets.

output$chart <- renderHighchart(highchart(type = "map") %>%
hc_add_series_map(map = worldgeojson, df = total(), value = "TOTAL_SALES", joinBy = "iso3") %>%
hc_colorAxis(stops = color_stops()) %>%
hc_tooltip(useHTML=TRUE,headerFormat='',pointFormat = paste0(input$yearid,' {point.COUNTRY} Sales : {point.TOTAL_SALES} ')) %>%
hc_title(text = 'Global Sales') %>%
hc_subtitle(text = paste0('Year: ',input$yearid)) %>%
hc_exporting(enabled = TRUE,filename = 'custom')
)
}



Dataset and shiny R file can be downloaded from here

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