🔍 Overview
Every heatmap scan you run in Search Atlas captures a snapshot of your local search rankings at a specific point in time. Along with ranking data, each historical scan also stores the radius settings used during that scan. This article explains how to locate and review those settings for any past scan.
📍 Navigate to Your Local Heatmap
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- In the left sidebar, click Local.
- Select the GBP project you want to review from your project list.
- Open the Overview page for that project.
🗂️ Access a Historical Scan
- On the heatmap view, locate the scan history selector — this is typically a date picker or dropdown that lists all previously completed scans for the selected keyword.
- Click on the scan date you want to review. The heatmap will reload and display the results captured at that time.
- Once the historical scan is loaded, look for the scan details panel or a settings summary displayed near the top of the heatmap. This section shows the configuration used for that specific scan, including the radius (measured in miles or kilometres), the grid size, and the keyword tracked.
📊 Understanding the Radius Information
The radius setting defines how far from your business location the heatmap grid extended during that scan. Key things to know:
- Radius is fixed per scan. The value shown reflects exactly what was set when that scan was originally run. It cannot be changed retroactively.
- Different scans may have different radii. If you updated your radius settings at any point, older scans will still show the radius that was active at the time they were executed.
- Use this to compare accurately. When comparing ranking performance across time, check that the radius and grid size match between scans to ensure a like-for-like comparison.
💡 Tips for Managing Scan Settings
- If you need consistent historical comparisons, try to keep your radius and grid size the same across recurring scans.
- Label or note any intentional changes to scan settings so you can account for them when reviewing trends.
- You can create new scans with updated radius settings at any time without affecting your existing historical data.
🛠️ Troubleshooting
If you do not see radius details displayed for a historical scan, try the following:
- Ensure the scan has fully completed — scans still processing will not show full configuration details.
- Refresh the page and re-select the historical scan from the date selector.
- Confirm you are viewing a scan associated with a keyword that has run at least once successfully.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.