Non-overlapping rings

Overview

Non-overlapping rings are trade areas created around your stores using a radius that you specify. Alternatively, you can calculate the ring sizes based on a field value in your store layer. Any rings that intersect will have the overlapped sections removed. This is done by calculating a straight-line boundary between the points of intersection. The overlapped areas of each ring are removed, creating areas of equal competition.

Non-overlapping rings work best with a single polygon around each site because the Remove Overlap process targets each ring or trade area individually. Multiple rings or trade areas may not have the exact topology from polygon-to-polygon.

Rings can be created proportional to an attribute within a point database. Click Update Stats to calculate statistics for all values in the selected field. These statistics can be helpful in choosing the value that equates to one distance unit. For example, if you choose store sales, a store with more sales would have a larger ring around it. You can determine the area of the rings on the map by changing the value that equates to one distance unit.

Another way to create non-overlapping rings is to first create simple ring trade areas, then use the Remove Overlapping tool to remove the area.

Example Output

In the image below, non-overlapping rings are generated around a set of points. Any areas that cross over one another are removed. Perpendicular lines are drawn between store locations. This non-overlapped approach defines areas closest to each store relative to all other store locations.