The Canada 2024 Business Analyst dataset can be purchased and downloaded from My Esri. To download and unpack the data, you need 40 GB of free space on the local drive you are using.
About Esri's Canada 2024 data
Each year, Esri releases downloadable datasets that provide demographic and points of interest data for geographic regions, including Canada. The Canada 2024 data includes:
- 2024 Businesses dataset (Data Axle)—This dataset includes a detailed list of over 1 million businesses from Data Axle. Business data includes company name, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry code and location coordinates for each business.
- 2021 CensusPlus dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes more than 800 demographic variables, based on data collected by Statistics Canada during the 2021 Census.
- 2024 DaytimePop dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes estimates of the population that is reachable in any geographic area during daytime hours. The dataset provides 10 variables that offer a breakdown of populations at home and at work, as opposed to census data that captures only an area's nighttime population.
- 2024 DemoStats dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes current-year estimates for 734 variables. It includes demographic projections for 466 variables for three, five and 10 years into the future as well as historical estimates from five years ago.
- 2024 DemoStats Trends dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes estimated and projected household counts, household population, population, household income, and average household income. It provides estimated counts from 2016 to 2023 and projects values from 2024 to 2043.
- 2024 HouseholdSpend dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes current estimates of annual expenditures for 438 variables, spanning 18 categories of goods and services used by Canadian households.
- 2024 PRIZM dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes the latest updates to the segmentation system that classifies Canada's neighbourhoods into 67 unique lifestyle types.
- 2024 ShoppingCentres dataset (Environics Analytics)—This dataset includes data on over 3,000 shopping malls in Canada, along with data on the type of centre, the number of stores, floor area, retail levels, anchor tenants, and parking spaces.
Download and set up the data
To use the Canada 2024 data, you must download and set it up. The process follows the steps below:
- Download or copy the archive files and extract them to a local or shared network folder.
- Make a connection to the dataset from the ArcGIS Pro Options dialog box (recommended). You can optionally install the dataset if you are using a version of ArcGIS Pro prior to 3.0.
- License the data.
Note:
The 7-Zip open source program is required to extract and automatically reassemble the Business Analyst data files. You must install 7-Zip to extract the necessary files from the downloads. If you already have 7-Zip installed, it is recommended that you install the latest version to ensure a more efficient extraction process. You can download 7-Zip from the official site: https://www.7-zip.org/.
Download and extract Business Analyst dataset file
You can download the Canada 2024 Business Analyst dataset file from My Esri. To download the file from My Esri, complete the following steps:
- On the My Esri site, click Downloads and click All Products and Versions.
- In the Products section, under All Other Products, type Canada in the Quick Search text box.
A list of products is shown.
- Find Canada Data for use with ArcGIS Business Analyst Pro and click View Downloads.
- On the Download Components tab, click Data and Content to expand the list of files.
For the Canada 2024 data, there is one file, which must be downloaded to a folder on your local drive.
- Beside the data file, click Download.
Note:
Depending on your browser, you may be prompted to select a location where you want the file downloaded.
- Optionally, repeat step 5 for the semantic search file.
- Right-click ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Data_Update.7z.001 and click 7-Zip > Extract Here.
The ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Data_Update install directory is created upon completion of the extraction.
- If the optional semantic search file was downloaded, right-click ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Semantic_Search_Resources.7z and click 7-Zip > Extract Here.
The semantic search Resources folder is extracted to the correct location in the data folder.
Note:
You can verify that your downloaded files match the originals at the source by following the instructions in Verify an Esri download using the checksum. Matching your downloaded files to the originals ensures all files downloaded correctly, preventing potential issues.Set up semantic search
When searching for variables and points of interest, you can opt to use semantic search, an AI-enhanced smart search technology that provides improved search results. Traditional search engines work by finding exact or partial matches between a search term and variable/point of interest names, descriptions, and keywords. Semantic search supports natural or conversational language, understands the meaning in language and the connections between related words, and returns search results that provide the closest match to the meaning behind your search.
Semantic search functionality depends on multiple factors:
- ArcGIS Pro is installed with AI Models features enabled
- Semantic search resources are downloaded and installed
- The application display language is English
- A processor supporting the AVX2 instruction set
Enable AI Models features during ArcGIS Pro installation
As of ArcGIS Pro 3.3, users can enable advanced features powered by AI technology by opting in during the ArcGIS Pro installation process. For semantic search to work with the Business Analyst dataset, the Semantic Search feature must be selected during ArcGIS Pro installation.
To learn more about installing the Semantic Search feature, see Install ArcGIS Pro and optional components (step 12).
Download and install the semantic search language model
To use semantic search with Esri's Canada 2024 data, you must download and install the language model included with the Canada 2024 data update file.
- If not done already, download the semantic search resources file (step 6 above) to the same location as the data files.
- Install the semantic search resources (step 8 above). Right-click
ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Semantic_Search_Resources.7z and click 7-Zip > Extract Here.
Note:
To maintain the correct file structure, the ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Semantic_Search_Resources.7z file should be extracted to the same location as the ESRI_BA_2024_CANADA_Data_Update folder.
Hardware requirements
Semantic search for local data sources is automatically disabled on processors that do not support the AVX2 instruction set. For additional information about system requirements, see ArcGIS Pro system requirements.
Connect to the dataset in ArcGIS Pro
To start using a local Business Analyst dataset, you must first connect to it using the Options dialog box in ArcGIS Pro. To connect to the dataset, do the following:
- Open the ArcGIS Pro settings page in one of the following ways:
- From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
- From the start page, click the Settings tab
.
- In the Options dialog box, under Application, click Business Analyst.
- In the Business Analyst Options pane, click the Add Dataset button.
The Add Business Analyst Dataset dialog box appears.
- Browse to the directory where the Business Analyst data is stored and select the dataset_description.xml file. Click OK.
You can view information about the dataset in the Name, Path, and Status fields. Status shows whether the data is licensed. The data must be licensed before it can be used in ArcGIS Pro.
- Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
License the data
To unlock the data supplied by the local Business Analyst dataset, you must download the .sdlic file and install it.
Download the license file
To download the data license file from My Esri, complete the following steps:
- Sign in to My Esri.
- Click Licensing and click License Files.
- Click Business Analyst and StreetMap Premium.
- Click Download to download the .sdlic file.
Install the license file
To install the license file in ArcGIS Pro, complete the following steps:
- Start ArcGIS Pro as an administrator.
- On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings
in the upper left corner of the application window. Alternatively, if you have a project open, click the Project tab on the ribbon. - On the Settings page, click Licensing.
- Under Settings, click Manage your data licensing.
- Click Add and browse to where the .sdlic file is located.
- Select the .sdlic file and click Open.
In the Manage Data Licenses window, a list of the Business Analyst datasets is shown.
- Click OK and exit the Licensing window.
- Restart ArcGIS Pro.
Authorize ArcGIS StreetMap Premium license
The Business Analyst dataset includes a limited license for ArcGIS StreetMap Premium for North America 2024 R3, which includes locators for ArcGIS Pro, the StreetMap Premium street network for Canada, and the StreetMap Premium basemap, which can be used exclusively with Business Analyst workflows. The license included with the Business Analyst dataset does not include all features of StreetMap Premium.
Caution:
Using the StreetMap Premium locators, street network, and basemap that are included with the Canada 2024 data outside of Business Analyst workflows violates the terms of use.
Authorization files are provided on My Esri to enable the StreetMap Premium items. To enable your StreetMap Premium authorization files, perform the following steps:
Note:
StreetMap Premium appears in your My Esri downloads list to enable the authorizations. You do not need to download these files—all required geocoding files are included in the Canada 2024 data.
- On the My Esri site, click Licensing and click License Information.
- Click Authorizations.
- In the Quick Search text box, type StreetMap Premium or streetmap.
- Look for StreetMap Premium North America for Pro and click Expand Details.
A list of authorization files appears.
- Apply the authorizations with the ArcGIS licensing process.
Data methodologies
Each dataset in Esri's data portfolio includes a methodology statement, which documents the provenance, vintage, and collection methods for the data.
For the Canada 2024 dataset, the following methodologies are relevant:
Release notes
The following data release notes provide an overview of each dataset:
Variable lists
The following variable lists provide comprehensive documentation of each variable in each dataset:
Additional documents
In addition to the methodologies above, the following ancillary documents provide descriptions of terminology and PRIZM segmentation groups: