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How to create a catchment in Placemaker

Learn how to create a catchment in Placemaker to define a service area and access population and dwelling forecast insights.

This article is for Placemaker customers.

Looking to define a service area in another .id product? See: How do I create a catchment or service area?

Use this guide to create a catchment in Placemaker by selecting a location and setting a radius or drive time range.

Before You Begin

You must be logged in to Placemaker. See How to log in to Placemaker.

Steps

  1. Open the 'Create a catchment' panel: There are two ways to open the panel from the map.
    • Search an address: Type an address, suburb or place name in the search bar in the map header. Select a result or press Enter. The map zooms to the location and the Create a catchment panel opens with your selected location.
    • Drop a pin: Click Drop a pin next to the search bar, then click anywhere on the map to place a pin and open the panel there.
    To explore the map first, use the Collapse catchment panel icon in the top right of the panel to give the map more room.
  2. Set the catchment range: Choose a method and use the slider to adjust the value.
    • Drive time (min): defines the area reachable by road within the selected number of minutes. Maximum is 20 minutes.
    • Radius (km): draws a circular area at a set distance from your point. Default is 5 km, range is 1–20 km.
  3. Preview the catchment: Click Preview. The map zooms to your location and displays the catchment.
    • The red line is your initial selection: the drive time or radius boundary you set.
    • SA1 areas that fall within or overlap your initial selection are included. The selected area shows as a hatched fill with a dark outline, labelled Catchment area in the map legend.
    • Click individual SA1s on the map to add or remove them.
    Catchments can only be built from SA1 areas.

    Screenshot showing the selected SA1 catchment area hatched inside the red initial selection boundary in Placemaker.
  4. Name and save:
    1. Enter a name in the Catchment name field (required).
    2. Click Save and view catchment insights to save and go directly to the Insights page.

What to Expect

After saving, you are taken to the Insights page for your new catchment. Your catchment also appears in the Catchments list on the home screen.

Troubleshooting

  • 'Could not be geocoded' error after clicking Preview: The pin may have been placed outside Australia. Search for the address again, or reposition the pin on the Australian mainland.
  • Catchment boundary looks wrong: Click individual SA1 areas on the map to add or remove them before saving.
  • Save button is not active: Enter a name in the Catchment name field before saving.

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