---
title: Use the Spatial Intersection tool to analyze or extract data
description: Make a deeper analysis using the spatial intersection tool. You will can get the list of all objects of a layer included in an isochrone or isodistance area for instance.
---

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# Use the Spatial Intersection tool to analyze or extract data

## Make a deeper analysis using the spatial intersection tool. You will can get the list of all objects of a layer included in an isochrone or isodistance area for instance.

---

**Table of content:**

1. [Activate Spatial Intersection in your map](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#activate-tool)
2. [Use Spatial Intersection tool in your map](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#use-spatial-intersection) 
     1. [Selection tools](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#selection-tools)
     2. [Instructions for the Spatial Intersection Selection tool](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#instructions)
     3. [Examples of the different selection methods](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#examples)
     4. [Extract selected data](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/the-spatial-intersection-tool#examples)

---

### **Activate Spatial Intersection**

On map creation in the Publisher, go to the **Map Tool Bar** tab of the **Viewer Configuration** Menu:

![enable-spatial-intersection](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/enable-spatial-intersection.png?width=688&name=enable-spatial-intersection.png)

 Check the  Spatial Intersection checkbox to enable the Spatial Intersection in your map.

### **Use Spatial Intersection in your maps**

Spatial intersection selects point, polyline or polygon features from a layer by using the boundaries of features from another polygon layer.

     The **Spatial Intersection tool** is available in the selection tool menu:

![access-spatial-intersection-tool](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/access-spatial-intersection-tool.png?width=688&name=access-spatial-intersection-tool.png)

By clicking on the small black arrow, you can open the selection menu to select the layer you want to query from, using one of the selection tools (simple, circular, rectangular or polygonal), and you can enable Spatial Intersection.

#### Selection Tools

Check all the selection methods that you wish to be available in the **CartoVista Viewer** toolbar.

You can select your favourite option of selection.

![selection\_toolbar](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/selection_toolbar.png?width=170&name=selection_toolbar.png)

#### Instructions for the Spatial Intersection Selection tool

1. You can select the layer to make your own spatial analysis with the Spatial Intersection tool.![selection-list-window](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/selection-list-window.png?width=237&name=selection-list-window.png)
2. Activate Spatial Intersection with the checkbox
3. Choose the layer you want to use to select features. If you have [created Isochrones or Isodistances](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/isochrone/isodistance-tool?hsLang=en), you can select this layer to select features within these isochrones or isodistances.
4. Choose from the two intersection methods:  
   ![spatial-intersection-tool](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/spatial-intersection-tool.png?width=267&name=spatial-intersection-tool.png)  
     1. **By Centroïd**: this will select features that have their centroïd within the selected polygons of the selection layer.
     2. **By Intersection**: this will select features whose boundaries intersect the boundaries of the selected polygons of the selection layer.
5. Select features from your selection layer to select features in your target layer.

#### Examples of the different selection methods

These examples illustrate the difference between a **Direct Selection** (without Spatial Intersection) and a **Spatial Intersection**.

- **Direct Selection (without Spatial Intersection)**: Clients located within the selection radius are selected.

![without-spatial-intersection](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/without_spatial_intersection.png?width=368&name=without_spatial_intersection.png)

- **Selection with Spatial Intersection**: Clients located within Neighbourhood polygons that are within the selection radius are selected.

![with-spatial-intersection](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/with_spatial_intersection.png?width=368&name=with_spatial_intersection.png)

These examples illustrate the difference between a **Spatial Intersection Selection By Intersection** and a **Spatial Intersection Selection By Centroïd**.

- **Spatial Intersection Selection By Intersection: **zip codes that intersect the selected isochrone polygon are selected![spatial-intersection-intersection](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/spatial-intersection-intersection.png?width=647&name=spatial-intersection-intersection.png)
- **Spatial Intersection Selection By Centroïd:** zip codes whose centroïd is within the selected isochrone polygon are selected![spatial-intersection-centroid](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/spatial-intersection-centroid.png?width=609&name=spatial-intersection-centroid.png)

#### Extract selected data

When features are selected, the table view automatically switches to the Selection tab. Use the export tool to export in an Excel file the result of the selection: 

**![export-selection](https://knowledge.cartovista.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/export-selection.png?width=688&name=export-selection.png)**

 

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