---
title: What is a catchment in Placemaker?
description: Understand what a catchment is in Placemaker, how catchments are used in network planning, and how they relate to population forecast data.
---

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# What is a catchment in Placemaker?

## Understand what a catchment is in Placemaker, how catchments are built from areas and how they relate to population forecast data.

A catchment is a defined geographic area that represents a service area: the zone a facility, service or location draws its population from. In Placemaker, you create a catchment to get population and dwelling forecast data for the specific area that matters to your planning decision.

### Key Concepts

#### Service area

A service area, or catchment, is the area a facility realistically serves. A school's catchment is the area students are likely to attend from; a hospital's catchment is the area patients are likely to travel from.

#### How catchments work in Placemaker

Catchments are built from SA1 statistical areas, the smallest standard ABS geography. When you set a boundary by radius or drive time, Placemaker includes the SA1 areas that fall within or touch that boundary, then aggregates forecast data across them to produce catchment-level insights. See [What are standard ABS geographies?](https://answers.id.com.au/en/answers/en/placemaker-concept-abs-geographies?hsLang=en).

#### Why catchments matter for planning

A catchment moves you from broad analysis to a specific service area. Instead of suburb or LGA data, you get forecasts for the exact area your facility will serve.

### How This Applies in Placemaker

You create a catchment by setting a location, then choosing a method:

- **Radius:** a circular area at a set distance from the location.
- **Drive time:** the area reachable by road within a set number of minutes.
- **Walk time:** the area reachable on foot within a set number of minutes.
- **Clicking areas:** select SA1 areas on the map to build the boundary by hand.

Once you've previewed a radius, drive time or walk time boundary, you can refine it by clicking SA1 areas to add or remove them.

After saving, you can open the catchment's insights (population composition, growth trajectory and dwelling forecasts) and export charts and data for that area.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Why is my catchment made up of small areas rather than a neat circle?**

A: Placemaker builds catchments from whole SA1 areas that fall within or touch your boundary, so the forecast data can be aggregated accurately. The edge follows SA1 boundaries, so it can look slightly irregular.

**Q: Should I use drive time, walk time or radius?**

A: Use drive time when people reach you by car and travel time decides whether they come, for example a secondary school or a regional facility. Use walk time when you're planning a service people should be able to walk to, for example an early learning centre, a primary school or a local shopping strip. Use radius when you want a simple, consistent distance from a point, or when you're comparing several sites on the same basis. 

**Q: Can I change which areas are in my catchment?**

A: Yes. Click SA1 areas on the map to add or remove them before saving, or edit the catchment later. See [How to edit a catchment in Placemaker](https://answers.id.com.au/en/answers/en/placemaker-how-to-edit-a-catchment?hsLang=en).

**Q: How large can a catchment be?**

 A: You can set a drive time or walk time up to 60 minutes, or a radius up to 50 km. Larger areas take in more SA1 areas, which can slow the catchment down. 

### Related Articles

- [How to create a catchment in Placemaker](https://answers.id.com.au/en/answers/en/placemaker-how-to-create-a-catchment?hsLang=en)
- [How to generate insights for a catchment in Placemaker](https://answers.id.com.au/en/answers/en/placemaker-how-to-generate-catchment-insights?hsLang=en)
- [What are standard ABS geographies?](https://answers.id.com.au/en/answers/en/placemaker-concept-abs-geographies?hsLang=en)

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