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Polimapper Case Study: Custom Web Application for Data Visualization
Polimapper needed a scalable and intuitive web application to support their data visualisation platform for political advocacy. Nextige built a custom CodeIgniter backend that streamlined complex mapping, stakeholder management, and project workflows, all from a user-friendly admin panel designed for non-technical users.
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At a Glance: Project Highlights
Client
Polimapper
Industry
Data Visualization / Political Technology
Services
Custom Web Application Development, UI/UX Design, Custom Admin Panel Development
Technology Stack
CodeIgniter (PHP), Figma, Custom Mapping Engine
Key Results
- Centralized, multi-project admin panel
- Dynamic, real-time map visualization
- Empowered non-technical users
The Challenge: Scaling Data Visualization for Advocacy Platforms
Polimapper’s unique service required a custom-built application that was much more complex than a standard website. To achieve their vision, they needed to overcome several key technical and usability challenges that their previous setup couldn’t handle.
Unscalable Admin Architecture
Their current setup did not have a scalable and organized structure. Their existing system was fragmented and not built to grow, so they needed a central CodeIgniter backend to handle several connected modules, including Users, Packages, Orders, and Stakeholders.
Intuitive UX for Non-Technical Users
One important requirement was that non-technical users could easily manage the whole platform. The challenge was to design a custom admin panel and project frontends that were strong enough to handle complex data while still being user-friendly. This way, clients could create data-driven stories without needing help from developers.
Efficient Bulk Data Management
The platform’s core function relied on processing large datasets (“nodes”). Their previous system struggled with this, making the process of importing and exporting data slow and unreliable. They needed a robust system that could handle bulk data operations quickly to ensure an efficient workflow for their clients.
Real-Time Geospatial Visualization
The biggest technical challenge was dynamic data visualization. The system needed to color and render interactive maps using raw node data in real time. For real-time data binding with complex geospatial data, this required an effective solution.
Flexible Multi-Tenant Theming
Every client Polimapper worked with wanted a different look and feel for their projects, which included custom data fields, themes, and styles. Building a single, flexible backend that could support all these unique front-end experiences without needing a different codebase for each client was the tough part.
Complex Interconnected Module Logic
The smooth integration of all the admin panel’s modules was crucial for its success. The reasoning was complex: a user’s subscription package had to define the orders they could select, which in turn determined which stakeholders and projects they could manage. One of the biggest challenges was designing this interconnected logic.
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The Solution: A Modular Custom Web Application
We built a unique web application from scratch to tackle Polimapper’s complex issues. To make sure every requirement was met with a dependable, easy-to-use, and long-lasting solution, we focused on creating a modular and scalable CodeIgniter backend.
A Scalable, Module-Based Architecture
In order to manage the intricate, interdependent logic between users, packages, and projects, we first designed a new backend. The foundation of our strategy was modular development.
Solid Foundation → Independent Modules → Seamless Integration
We started by creating a stable and safe CodeIgniter core. Next, we created separate, maintainable modules for each of the main features (users, stakeholders, maps, etc.). Ultimately, we solved the scalability and interconnection issues in a single, elegant solution by integrating them with a transparent logic layer.
Figma-Driven UX Process
Our entire development process was directed by a thorough design system made in Figma to guarantee the platform was both robust and easy to use. The urgent need for an intuitive user experience was met by this. The following were part of our Figma to CodeIgniter process:
1. A complete component library for UI consistency.
2. High-fidelity mockups of every admin and frontend screen.
3. User flow diagrams to ensure a logical and simple workflow for non-technical users.
High-Speed Data Importer & Real-Time Rendering Engine
Their main technical solution for data visualization included two components.
1. High-Speed Data Importer: To solve the issue with bulk data management, we created a custom import/export tool that processes large datasets, or “nodes,” much faster.
2. Real-Time Rendering Engine: The key goal of immediate, real-time data binding on their interactive maps was achieved with our dynamic mapping engine. This engine reads node values in real time and applies the right colors and data overlays.
Multi-Tenant Theming Engine
We created a system that allowed Polimapper’s administrators to design unique experiences for each client without using code. This was done to solve the multi-theming problem.
1. An admin can create a new “Project.”
2. They can assign a unique visual “Theme” and “Template” to that project.
3. They can then add custom “Datafields” specific to that client’s needs.
4. The frontend automatically renders a bespoke, branded experience based on these settings.
The Tech Stack
We chose reliable and powerful technologies to deliver the performance, security, and flexibility that the complex platform required for building the Polimapper application.
CodeIgniter (PHP Framework)
Because of CodeIgniter’s proven stability, speed, and portability, we chose it as our main backend framework. Its versatility made it the best choice for developing a fully customized web application. This allowed us to build a strong and secure CodeIgniter backend tailored to Polimapper’s specific business logic.
MySQL Database
We designed a reliable MySQL database as the single source of truth. To ensure data integrity and quick retrieval, it was built to handle the complex relationships between various modules, such as users, packages, stakeholders, and large amounts of geospatial data.
Custom JavaScript Mapping Engine
We created a unique JS mapping engine to achieve dynamic map coloring. This custom solution managed the real-time data binding necessary to instantly apply the correct styles to the interactive maps and read node values from the database.
Figma for UX/UI Design
The foundation of our design process was Figma. To ensure a smooth and precise transition from design to code during the Figma to CodeIgniter development phase, we developed a detailed design system that included component libraries and high-fidelity prototypes.
HTML5/CSS3/jQuery
The admin panel and the user interfaces for public-facing projects were built using a modern frontend framework. This ensured that every user, on any device, had a fully responsive, compatible experience.
Modular Development Approach
Along with specific tools, a modular development approach was applied throughout the application. Since each important feature was designed as an independent unit, the platform is easier to maintain, debug, and, most importantly, scale with future updates
The Outcome: A Powerful & Intuitive Data Storytelling Platform
Polimapper’s service got a significant upgrade with a new custom web application that tackled their main problems from the ground up. Their operations became much more efficient with a robust new admin panel. This panel allowed them to manage client projects and stakeholder data in a central location. The platform’s most noticeable improvement is its dynamic, real-time map visualizations that engage end users. This enhancement came from the increased efficiency, especially with fast data imports. Ultimately, the platform’s biggest strength is its usability. Its user-friendly layout lets Polimapper’s non-technical clients create complex, data-driven advocacy campaigns on their own. This boosts the platform’s value and meets their main goal.
Client Testimonials
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5.0
"Nextige was fantastic! Professional, patient with all my small requests, and incredibly helpful. Highly recommended."
Talia Sari Jewelry, Yoav Shafranek
4.5
"Nextige is great to work with. They do both web development and graphic design well. They are highly responsive, detailed, and go above and beyond. I will continue to work with them on future projects."
Madi Lineman Tools, Tye Burke
5.0
"Nextige was a pleasure to work with. Nextige helped refine the brief in order to understand what was important for our Shopify store and was diligent, ensuring we were happy with the final result."
Motofork, David Stache
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5.0
"Top quality, dedication to delivering good work, good comms, punctuality, and an eye for detail. Loved the whole project with Nextige!"
CEO, Christophe S.
4.5
"He's an excellent and super talented web developer. We've built a long-term relationship. I'd recommend it to anybody who needs stunning results. Thanks for everything again."
Agency Partner, Ephantus N.
4.5
"Absolutely stunning job! On time, and with good accuracy! They'd done an excellent job! I'm very happy to work with Nextige."
Product Owner, Ephantus N.
5.0
"This is the third successful project with Nextige."
Project Manager, Mohammed Z.
5.0
"I have done a couple of projects before with Nextige. I had a production bug with JS / CSS in a production application. So I needed it to be fixed quickly and good. Loved the way Nextige picked it up, checked it came up with a nifty solution."
Minebyte, Founder, Patrick Hira
4.5
"Nextige is easy to work with, and their team of developers are very knowledgeable."
1To1 Marketing Founder, Hoshang M
5.0
"Nextige and I have collaborated on three or four projects back-to-back. Nextige is a fantastic UI/UX design agency. I would suggest it to everyone."
CTO at Redline, Gaurav Sharma
FAQs
Why was the CodeIgniter framework chosen for this project?
CodeIgniter was selected for its proven stability, lightweight nature, and flexibility, which made it an excellent choice for a completely custom web application of this complexity. Our expertise allows us to architect powerful solutions on a variety of frameworks, and for this project, CodeIgniter provided the perfect foundation to build the bespoke, scalable backend that Polimapper required.
How long does a project like this take to build?
A custom SaaS platform like Polimapper is a significant undertaking. A project of this scale, from initial discovery and design to final deployment, typically takes between 4 to 6 months. Our phased approach, including a detailed design phase in Figma, ensures clear milestones and predictable timelines.
What was the key to making the platform so user-friendly for non-technical clients?
The secret was our design-first approach. Before writing any code, we dedicated significant time to the UX/UI process in Figma, mapping out every user workflow and simplifying complex actions. By solving the usability challenges during the design phase, we ensured the final application was inherently intuitive and “effortless” for its non-technical user base.