GeoSmoothHistogram
✖
GeoSmoothHistogram
plots a smooth kernel histogram with estimator specification espec.
Details and Options




- GeoSmoothHistogram is also known as geo intensity and kernel density.
- GeoSmoothHistogram effectively puts a small bump over each location and sums the heights so that there is a greater overall height where the distribution of locations is denser.
- The location locs has the following forms and interpretations:
-
GeoPosition[…] array of geodetic positions {loc1,loc2,…} list of locations <loc1w1,… > locations with weights WeightedData[…] locations with weights EntityClass[…] entities with locations according to the property "Position" EntityClass[…]prop entities with locations according to the property prop - The locations loci have the following forms:
-
GeoPosition[…] latitude and longitude Entity[…] an entity with a location according to the property "Position" Entity[…]prop an entity with a location according to the property prop - The estimator specification espec can be of the form bw or {bw,kernel}.
- The specifications for bandwidth bw and kernel are the same as for SmoothKernelDistribution.
- The default distribution function dfun is "Intensity".
- The possible settings for dfun are the same as in SmoothHistogram.
- GeoSmoothHistogram has the same options as GeoGraphics with the following additions and changes: [List of all options]
-
BoundaryStyle None how to draw RegionFunction boundaries BoxRatios Automatic effective 3D bounding box ratios ClippingStyle None how to draw values clipped by PlotRange ColorFunction Automatic how to color the plot ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale the argument to ColorFunction LightingAngle None effective angle of the simulated light source MaxRecursion Automatic the maximum number of recursive subdivisions allowed Mesh None how many mesh lines to draw MeshFunctions {#3&} how to determine the placement of mesh lines MeshShading Automatic how to shade regions between mesh lines MeshStyle Automatic the style for mesh lines Method Automatic the method to use for refining the plot OpacityFunction Automatic how to compute the opacity at each point OpacityFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to OpacityFunction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to try to optimize PlotPoints Automatic the initial number of sample points for the function in each direction PlotRange Automatic the range of f or other values to include PlotRangeClipping True whether to clip at the plot range PlotRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the range of values PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included WorkingPrecision MachinePrecision the precision used in internal computations - ColorFunction and OpacityFunction are supplied with a single argument, given by default by the scaled value of the intensity f.
- Typical settings for OpacityFunction include:
-
Automatic automatically determined None no opacity function, fully opaque α constant opacity Opacity[α] Interval[…] make values in the interval more opaque func general opacity function - The arguments supplied to RegionFunction are x, y and f, where f is the intensity.
- The value of region in RegionFunction->region can be an entity or geo polygon over which to plot.
- With the setting MeshShading->Automatic, the colors between mesh lines are computed from the ColorFunction setting.
-
AlignmentPoint Center the default point in the graphic to align with AspectRatio Automatic ratio of height to width Axes False whether to draw axes AxesLabel None axes labels AxesOrigin Automatic where axes should cross AxesStyle {} style specifications for the axes Background None background color for the plot BaselinePosition Automatic how to align with a surrounding text baseline BaseStyle {} base style specifications for the graphic BoundaryStyle None how to draw RegionFunction boundaries BoxRatios Automatic effective 3D bounding box ratios ClippingStyle None how to draw values clipped by PlotRange ColorFunction Automatic how to color the plot ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale the argument to ColorFunction ContentSelectable Automatic whether to allow contents to be selected CoordinatesToolOptions Automatic detailed behavior of the coordinates tool Epilog {} primitives rendered after the main plot FormatType TraditionalForm the default format type for text Frame False whether to put a frame around the plot FrameLabel None frame labels FrameStyle {} style specifications for the frame FrameTicks Automatic frame ticks FrameTicksStyle {} style specifications for frame ticks GeoBackground Automatic style specifications for the background GeoCenter Automatic center coordinates to use GeoGridLines None geographic grid lines to draw GeoGridLinesStyle Automatic style specifications for geographic grid lines GeoGridRange All projected coordinate range to include GeoGridRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the projected range GeoModel Automatic model of the Earth (or other body) to use GeoProjection Automatic projection to use GeoRange Automatic geographic area range to include GeoRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the geographic range GeoResolution Automatic average distance between background pixels GeoScaleBar None scale bar to display GeoServer Automatic specification of a tile server GeoZoomLevel Automatic zoom to use for geographic background GridLines None grid lines to draw GridLinesStyle {} style specifications for grid lines ImageMargins 0. the margins to leave around the graphic ImagePadding All what extra padding to allow for labels etc. ImageSize Automatic the absolute size at which to render the graphic LabelStyle {} style specifications for labels LightingAngle None effective angle of the simulated light source MaxRecursion Automatic the maximum number of recursive subdivisions allowed Mesh None how many mesh lines to draw MeshFunctions {#3&} how to determine the placement of mesh lines MeshShading Automatic how to shade regions between mesh lines MeshStyle Automatic the style for mesh lines MetaInformation {} meta-information about the map Method Automatic the method to use for refining the plot OpacityFunction Automatic how to compute the opacity at each point OpacityFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to OpacityFunction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to try to optimize PlotLabel None an overall label for the plot PlotPoints Automatic the initial number of sample points for the function in each direction PlotRange Automatic the range of f or other values to include PlotRangeClipping True whether to clip at the plot range PlotRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the range of values PlotRegion Automatic the final display region to be filled PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot PreserveImageOptions Automatic whether to preserve image options when displaying new versions of the same graphic Prolog {} primitives rendered before the main plot RasterSize Automatic raster dimensions for the background data RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included RotateLabel True whether to rotate y labels on the frame Ticks Automatic axes ticks TicksStyle {} style specifications for axes ticks WorkingPrecision MachinePrecision the precision used in internal computations
List of all options




Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (2)Summary of the most common use cases
Generate an intensity plot for a list of geographic points:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-g2k55

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-cw3sr

Use a smaller bandwidth to reduce the smoothing of the intensity:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-j8pwjw

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-6btfiz

Scope (23)Survey of the scope of standard use cases
Data (11)
Use a GeoPosition representing a list of locations:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-6wm691

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-f6sh12

Use a list of GeoPosition locations:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-zysku


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bopij3

Use entities to represent locations:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-c85x7o

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-cgq6v2

Create an intensity plot from the EntityClass containing skyscrapers around the world:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-cqszz

Use an Association with locations for keys and values for counts:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-dex0pq


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-l7a1q

Use WeightedData:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-e15hiv

GeoRange is selected automatically:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-dl3n9y

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-rawkfx

Use GeoRange to focus on geographic areas of interest:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-xav0n

Nonreal data points are ignored:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-t0wmn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hsepd

Specify the number of points to use:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hm2pu

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-b132k0

Plot an intensity plot of a list of locations:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-f3kkd7

Plot an intensity plot of locations with weights:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ey24tn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fnd58

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-g5d4yz

Bandwidth and Kernel (7)
Specify a single bandwidth for bivariate data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-6i4hn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-idv22h

Allow bivariate bandwidths to vary adaptively with local density:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bfvuf9
Use the local sensitivity from (small) to
(large):

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-f7vgw2

Use any of several automatic bandwidth selection methods:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-c140sm

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fd76m

Silverman's method is used by default for bandwidth selection:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-g2d1n

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fkubn

Use different bandwidth specifications in each dimension:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-mdmyx

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-r4x9

Specify any one of several kernel functions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-dpxx20

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ecljfs

Define the kernel function as a pure function:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-g9t1b7

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-mw4gaa

Presentation (5)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-b02nhc

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-cbxlv6


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ea556p

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-erkgm9


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-el3aal

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-c56zhw


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-plquyu

Show a legend matching the colors to their values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-70p7n

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fczsmn

Show the plot on a relief map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fljfs4

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fxyjd2


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-4i415v

Options (31)Common values & functionality for each option
BoundaryStyle (2)
Use a red boundary around the edges of the surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-clxxe

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fh51df

BoundaryStyle applies to regions cut by RegionFunction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ib11a8


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-0parj

ColorFunction (4)
By default, regions with a lower density of points are colored lighter:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-o4z6o2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-mte4fa

Specify the color function from a coloring scheme:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hmc6by

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-e6m52b

Specify a specific color function:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-cvfue2

Use ColorFunctionScaling->False to get unscaled height values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bhc6cs

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-eg8gcs

Use opacity to show relative densities:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-d1lp2j

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-2ebtfn

ColorFunctionScaling (1)
Use ColorFunctionScaling->False to get unscaled height values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-8l7h2j

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ugqa7r

GeoBackground (3)
By default, geo intensity plots are shown on an unlabeled map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-3oo5sc

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fqtp71

Show the intensity plot on a labeled map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-njkey1

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gcpd9

Show the plot on a satellite map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-s4atof

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-zdvo21

GeoCenter (1)
GeoGridLines (1)
Overlay a map with geo grid lines using the default styling:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ya1kg

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-k3lpwf

Draw geo grid lines at specific lines of latitude and longitude:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-chi6dd

Draw geo grid lines at specific lines of latitude:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-b5tn3e

Draw geo grid lines at specific lines of longitude:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hym8cw

Specify the target number of geo grid lines:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fpv075

Specify different numbers of latitude and longitude geo grid lines:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-mfckfb

Draw geo grid lines as multiples of a given angle:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bzt0ln

GeoGridLinesStyle (1)
GeoModel (2)
Use the default (ellipsoidal) model of the Earth:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bfop5g

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bjmzpm

Use the Moon as reference model:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-dvikym

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-demrnn

GeoProjection (1)
Use GeoProjection to change the map projection:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-lices

GeoRange (1)
The geographic region to show is automatically determined:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-v3z2t

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-88f0uf


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-tov2if

Specify the corners of the geo range:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-4qrip3

GeoRangePadding (1)
Use GeoRangePadding->None to remove padding:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hbiaqf

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gdjfs5

Use 250 kilometers of padding on each side of the map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bzwyzh

Specify padding for latitude only:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-fme5qe

Specify different padding on each side of the map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ehh04


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-d1edt9

GeoScaleBar (1)
Show the plot with a scale bar in metric units:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-1kijar

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-yvf73s

Show the plot with a scale bar in metric and imperial units:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-uw6652

Place the scale bar in the top-right corner:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ervhjq

GeoServer (1)
Use the Wolfram geo server to download map tiles:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-egn7vg

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hwu0lp

Use an alternative geo server:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-z4jnc

Specify explicitly some of the parameters of the tile server:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-it5k42

GeoZoomLevel (1)
Explicitly specify GeoZoomLevel to obtain a lower-resolution map rendering:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-96v3c

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gz52v3

Explicitly specify GeoZoomLevel to obtain a higher-resolution map rendering:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-hq9lij

LightingAngle (1)
By default, the simulated lighting is placed at , or the top-left corner, with altitude
:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-sfe67

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-c6vtl

Place the light source at , or the left of the map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-d32x1j

Place the light source at , or the right side of the map, with
altitude:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-l7sxnx

Mesh (1)
GeoSmoothHistogram does not show a mesh by default:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gx7wk2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-difkrw

Use 5 mesh lines in the direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-m1dn75

Use 3 mesh lines in the direction and 6 mesh lines in the
direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gf4io6

Show the complete sampling mesh:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-b5fygb

MeshFunctions (1)
Use the value as the mesh function:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-h3ssuv


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-mvz

Use mesh lines in the and
directions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-dqqjd3

Use mesh lines corresponding to fixed distances from the mean:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-inej0

MeshStyle (1)
OpacityFunction (1)
The Automatic setting creates a custom transparency in the smooth histogram over the map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bonscy

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-e4gll5

Use None to get a fully opaque visualization:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ex8nkc

Set opacity as a function of the scaled function value f:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-gdjucc

Show the opacity at the plot legends:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ny7ta

PlotLegends (1)
PlotPoints (1)
PlotTheme (1)
Applications (4)Sample problems that can be solved with this function
Generate an intensity plot of the heights of notable buildings in New York City:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-ii0d5

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-u3coj

Show the intensity of the distribution of breweries in the United States:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-y3xm67

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-j5igvw

Map the distribution of trees in Champaign, IL:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-oqjuqf

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-bv8pph

Map a smooth histogram of the last 1000 registered meteorite landings in the world:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-b2mb9u


https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-f9ce6

Properties & Relations (9)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions
Use SmoothDensityHistogram and SmoothHistogram3D for general data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-nf9oup

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-0rvlwp

Use GeoListPlot for individual locations:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-t15ofl

Use GeoBubbleChart to show values with scaled bubbles:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-2zuimi

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-zbtuwp

Use GeoRegionValuePlot to show values with colored regions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-s8d8l7

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-3r0kyy

Use GeoHistogram to aggregate locations into bins:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-1hew1t

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-k3ohaf

Use GeoVectorPlot and GeoStreamPlot for vector fields:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-skckb6

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-msbrcl

Draw contours on a map with GeoContourPlot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-36jtol

Smoothly shade a map using color with GeoDensityPlot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-i0ryln

Plot relationships between geographic locations on a map:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0rkovzcnf7owyxe-x9qufl

Wolfram Research (2018), GeoSmoothHistogram, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html (updated 2019).
Text
Wolfram Research (2018), GeoSmoothHistogram, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html (updated 2019).
Wolfram Research (2018), GeoSmoothHistogram, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html (updated 2019).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2018. "GeoSmoothHistogram." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2019. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html.
Wolfram Language. 2018. "GeoSmoothHistogram." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2019. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2018). GeoSmoothHistogram. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html
Wolfram Language. (2018). GeoSmoothHistogram. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_geosmoothhistogram, author="Wolfram Research", title="{GeoSmoothHistogram}", year="2019", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html}", note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025
]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_geosmoothhistogram, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={GeoSmoothHistogram}, year={2019}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GeoSmoothHistogram.html}, note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025
]}