Common issues you may encounter in Population Explorer and how to resolve them.
Overview
This page lists the most frequent system and user conflicts in Population Explorer, with their symptoms, causes, fixes, and confirmations.
Common Troubleshooting Scenarios
Polygon Too Complex to Process
Symptom: Error when trying to calculate results on very detailed or complex polygons.
Cause: Polygon exceeds system complexity limits (too many vertices or irregular boundaries).
Fix: Simplify the polygon before uploading; split into smaller shapes if the area is large; retry after editing.
Confirmation: Results generate successfully.
Login or Authentication Errors
Symptom: “Invalid credentials” or “Session expired.”
Cause: Typo in login details, expired session, or cached credentials.
Fix: Re-enter credentials; log out and back in; clear browser cache/cookies if persistent.
Confirmation: Successful login.
Data Export Fails (CSV, Excel, KML/KMZ)
Symptom: Export button greyed out or file download fails.
Cause: Shape not selected, empty folder, or browser pop-up blocked.
Fix: Confirm at least one shape/folder is selected; allow pop-ups; retry export.
Confirmation: File downloads correctly.
No Results Returned for a Shape
Symptom: Blank result panel.
Cause: Shape too small, outside coverage, or misplaced.
Fix: Check dataset coverage; verify polygon placement; redraw or expand area.
Confirmation: Totals and breakdowns display.
Results Don’t Match Expectations
Symptom: Totals appear too high or too low.
Cause: Dataset resolution differences (LandScan vs WorldPop), boundary mismatch, or ASB blending.
Fix: Compare across datasets; review metadata; consult Why Spatial Resolution Matters.
Confirmation: Differences explained.
System Error (Red Band)
Symptom: Red error banner across bottom (“System Error”), often with 429 or timeout codes.
Cause: Too many shapes in folder; too many imports; a shape too large to render before timeout.
Fix: Delete excess shapes; import fewer; use simplified shapes.
Confirmation: Error clears and results generate.
System Hanging
Symptom: App freezes or stops responding.
Cause: Same as System Error — backlog, oversized imports, or network latency.
Fix: Log out/in to clear backlog; delete unnecessary shapes; use faster network.
Confirmation: Session resumes normally.
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