Use of scanning technology
for data capture
ICR System
(Intelligent Character Recognition)
Information and Communication Technology Center
National Statistical Office (NSO)
Thailand
1
ICR SYSTEM
It is an automatically Data Entry by Scanning
questionnaires which can be evaluated
handwritten numeric / alphanumeric characters
(ICR) or handwritten optic marks (OMR) and
conduce to Digital Data before processing on
others Computer System.
2
ICR System
ICR System in NSO (Thailand) can be
divided into 2 parts :
 TELEform Software System.
 ABBYY Software System.
3
ICR for The Population Census 2000
NSO provided ICR System to process
the first Project of Population Census in 2000.
By scanning the 16 million households
(16 million Forms) which spent only 8 months
to process the raw data instead of more than
1 year by using Key in Data System.
4
ICR for The Agricultural Census 2003
NSO hired ABBYY Software to
process about 25% of The Agricultural
Census 2003 that has totally 5.7 million
households (24 million forms).
5
Other Survey Projects
After processing The Population
Census 2000,some survey projects have
been used ICR System such as The
Labour Force Survey (monthly report),
The Household Manufacturing Survey etc.
6
TELEform Hardware System
• NetServer for TELEform Server
1
Unit
• NetServer for Database Server
1
Unit
• Reader Modules Workstations
21
Unit
• Verifier Modules Workstations
30
Unit
• Scanner Control Workstations
6
Unit
• Scanner Fujitsu M4099D
6
Unit 7
TELEform Software System
TELEform Software is selected for ICR
System which is used for Forms and Documents
Processing. It is the product of TELEform Cardiff
Software , Inc. USA.
TELEform 6.2 Elite Enterprise Edition
Components:
 TELEform Designer.
 TELEform Reader.
 TELEform Verifier.
8
ABBYY Hardware System
• IBM Server X Series 225
1
Unit
• Correction Station
1
Unit
• Verifier Modules Workstations
25
Unit
• Scanner Control Workstations
4
Unit
• Scanner Fujitsu M4099D
4
Unit
• Storageflex LT707
1
Unit 9
ABBYY Software System
NSO provided ABBYY Software which is the
product of Russia.
ABBYY FormReader 6.0 Enterprise Edition
Components:
❑ Form Design
❑ Administration Station
❑ Recognition Station
❑ Correction Station
10
TELEform / ABBYY Designer Function
• To create template form.
• Fix value of data type properties in each
field of template form on questionnaire.
11
Questionnaire
Template
12
TELEform Reader / ABBYY
Administration Function
• To evaluate the questionnaires .
• Export the corrected questionnaires to a data file.
• Send the unclear questionnaires to TELEform / ABBYY
Verifier Function for correcting and transferring the
corrected questionnaires to a data file.
• Store scanned images.
13
TELEform / ABBYY Verifier
Function
• To correct questionnaires that contain
mismarked or illegible fields.
• The corrected questionnaires are
automatically exported to a data file.
14
BasicScript Programming Language
Script Language use to add extensive
features similar to Visual Basic.
• To develop Form Script during Evaluation
and Correction.
• To develop Export Script during Data
Export.
15
Step of ICR System in NSO
Scan and Forms Distribution :
The questionnaires are scanned in each Block
/ Village and created Multi Page Image Files in
local hard disk.
Forms Evaluation :
The questionnaires images are evaluated.
The corrected questionnaires which skipped
Verifier Workstation and directly exported to
Database server.
16
The questionnaires are scanned.
17
Scan and Forms Distribution
Questionnaires Scanned
Image files
18
Step of ICR System in NSO (cont.)
Forms Verification :
The unclear questionnaires are needed
review and corrected it in Verifier Workstations
before transferring to Database server.
Data Export :
- Link a data file from Database server to
IBM Mainframe System.
- Store Scanned image files to CD.
19
Unrecognized fields must be corrected
at Verifier Workstations.
20
Forms Verification and Data Export
Export data
for processing
Database Server
Verify
Storage
(Images files)
CD
21
ICR Link System
TELEform Software
Scanners
Questionnaires
6 unit
ABBYY Software
PC 6 unit
controller
PC 4 unit
Scanners
4 unit
controller
Questionnaires
Storage
(HD 880 GB)
CD
CD
Verifications
30 unit
HP
Server
IBM
Server
Transfers
Mainframe
Readers
21 unit
Processing
(Editing & Reporting)
Verifications
25 unit
COMPAQ
Server
- Software
- Database
- Backup Data
-Administration
-Export
-Recognition
Correction
station
1 unit
22
Specific Questionnaire for ICR System
The questionnaires must be professionally
printed in a specific colour field boxes
(blue,green,red).
The scanners are recognized the questionnaires
characters / numerics and drop out field boxes
colour.
Test questionnaires to make sure that can
process it with speed and accuracy.
24
ICR Benefits
Reduce Cost.
Reduce Time.
Efficient Data Capture.
Increase Data Accuracy.
25