Emerging Trends in Census Data Dissemination
UN Statistics Division
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Outline
 Census Data Dissemination
 Dissemination Challenges
 Emerging trends in data dissemination
 Geographic products and GIS web-based mapping
 CensusInfo
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Census dissemination
 “A census is not complete until the information collected
is made available to potential users in a form suited to
their needs”.
 The information may be:
 included in published tables and reports for general distribution
 produced as tables in unpublished form for limited distribution
 stored in a database and supplied upon request, or disseminated
online (in this case it will be available only to connected
populations)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Used Formats in census data dissemination
 Paper publication
 CD-ROM, DVD
 Static web-pages (html, PDF, excel)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Dissemination challenges
 How to present the right data with the right context to
meet users needs – To be user-oriented
 How to ensure that the most recent and most correct data
are used and displayed-Use of ICT and data accessibility
 How to take advantage of the spatial dimension of
census data
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Emerging trends in data dissemination
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Interactive Database
Open access/Free Download Facility
Geography Products
Web-based Mapping
Dissemination of Micro-Data
E-Government
Social Media/Networking
Mobile Technology (SMS, etc.)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Focus:
 Geographic Products
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Thematic Maps for publication
Digital Geographic Database for dissemination
Digital census atlases
 Internet Mapping
 CensusInfo
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
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Global geographic information management
The Statistical Commission:
 (b) Recognized the importance of the integration of
geographic and statistical information and the
opportunities provided in that context by the swift development
of information technology, noting that national statistical offices
are playing an increasing role in such integration, especially in
the area of census management;
 (c) Called upon all national statistical offices to actively
participate, in partnership with relevant national authorities, in
the further development of national geographic information
capacity in the context of spatial data infrastructures,
taking full advantage of information technology and focusing
special attention on the area of improving statistical and
geographic metadata compatibility;
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
2: statistics as spatial information
Statistical
world
Source:
EUROSTAT
The
physical
world
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Anyone or anything can be associated with a
known location in the world
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Map Products

Thematic Maps:
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A thematic map shows the spatial distribution of one or more specific data
themes for standard geographic areas. The map may be qualitative in nature
(e.g., predominant farm types) or quantitative (e.g., percentage population
change).
The maps can be viewed on the Internet and downloaded for free (as PDF or
EXE files).
Examples:
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Population dynamics and distribution
Demographic Characteristics
Socio-economic characteristics
Household and Housing
Reference Maps:
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Reference maps show the boundaries, names and codes of standard
geographic areas on a background of selected road and water features.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Digital Geographic Database for Dissemination
 Demand for digital geographic databases
 Census data are an important input in policy planning and
academic analysis in many fields.
 Health service provision, educational resource allocation,
design of utilities and infrastructure, and electoral planning
are some applications where government agencies require
spatially referenced small area population statistics.
 Commercial users employ such data
applications and location-based decisions.
for
marketing
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Brazil
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
US - Census Bureau
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Dynamic census atlases: “thematic maps on the fly”
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Alternative to a static census atlas
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Publishing of a digital map and database together with
mapping software can allow users to produce custom maps of
census indicators.
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Normally includes digital boundary files at a lower resolution
than the full census database to allow fast drawing and low
disk usage
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closely integrated attribute table should contain only a selected
number of census indicators.
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Densities and ratios that are appropriate for mapping should
already be calculated.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
A screenshot of Ukraine’s dynamics census atlas
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Importance of the Web/Web Mapping
 Key medium for the dissemination of census data
 Benefits from Web Dissemination:
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Improved timeliness
Increased accessibility of products
Broader reach of products
Increased usability
--- User-oriented, accessibility
 Web-based mapping
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All standard geographic products are disseminated on the
Web
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
What is a Mashup?
 A web application that
combines data from more
than one source into a
single integrated tool
 an example is the use of
data from Google Maps to
add location information to
statistical data, thereby
creating a new and distinct
web service that was not
originally provided by either
source
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
How a mashup works: APIs
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Google Maps has a wide array of APIs that let you embed the
robust functionality of Google Maps into your own website and
applications, and overlay your own data on top of them.
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API is an abbreviation for Application Program Interface, a set of
routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. A
good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the
building blocks. A programmer then puts the blocks together.

Web services today are frequently just Application Programming
Interfaces (API) or web APIs that can be accessed over a network,
such as the Internet, and executed on a remote system hosting the
requested services.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Internet Mapping: How it works
 The server-side approach
 The client-side approach
 Hybrid approach
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Server-side approach
request for map
map output
Client
Server
In
server-side approach, the user sends a request for a map to the server holding
the database. Mapping software on the server processes the request, produces a
map—for example, in GIF format—and sends it back to the user.
Server-side
approaches are good at providing access to relatively simple maps to
a large, non-expert audience. They would thus be most suitable for a census
office’s presentation of census maps to the general public.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Client-side approach
request for map
data and applets
Client
Server
• In client-side approach, in contrast, most of the processing tasks are performed
on the user’s (client’s) computer locally.
• Client-side approaches are preferable for Intranets, where a smaller number of
users, with relatively comprehensive knowledge of GIS and mapping, access to
complex databases. They would thus be suitable for in-house GIS data access for
census office staff.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Hybrid approach
•Combination of server - and client-side approaches.
•Combination of the advantages of client-and server-based strategies:
- They provide flexibility to the user in querying and manipulating
maps locally, but transfer most of the processing load in demanding
analysis tasks to the server.
- This requires some degree of communication between client and
server concerning the available processing power.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Map Server
 A Web Map Service (WMS) is a standard protocol for
serving georeferenced map images over the Internet that are
generated by a map server using data from a GIS database.
(developed by OGC)
 WMS is a widely supported format for maps and GIS data
accessed via the Internet and loaded into client side GIS
software
 Most GIS software support WMS
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
WEB Mapping Common Interface
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
US - Census Bureau
American Fact Finder
 Thematic Maps (Data)
 Reference Maps (Boundaries)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications
 Statistics GIS Plaza
 http://gisplaza.stat.go.jp
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications
Area
Selection
Cadastral
Map
Graph
Settings
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Graph and Map
Scalable Hardware - (Source:ESRI)
Blade
Server
Server
Cluster
Server
•
•
•
•
Web
Services
Desktop
Faster
Multi Processors
Loosely Coupled
Connected
. . . and Services Oriented
Laptop
Tablet
PC
United Nations Regional Seminar
PDA on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Cell Phone
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Source: T. Trainor, US Census Bureau, 2009
Potential app?
As technological
developments and data
availability advance
rapidly, statistical
agencies must be
prepared to respond to
user expectations for
data access and
interaction
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
What is CensusInfo ?
 A software based on DevInfo platform with new
functionalities
 Developed in partnership with UNICEF and UNFPA
 Officially launched in February 2009 at the 40th session of the
Statistical Commission
 Made available on-line for free
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Cont…
 Powerful tool for organizing, storing and presenting census
data in a uniform way
 Data shared easily and quickly with national and
international users, on CD-ROM and on the web
 Supports user-defined tables and indicators
 Customizable by country
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
What can CensusInfo produce?
 Presents information as indicators and tables with highquality maps and graphs.
 Profiles of local, minority and small population
 Information for national, regional and local authorities and
users
 Spatial and graphical analyses
 Supplementary metadata covering definitions, classifications
and coverage and quality assessments
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
Workshops/Website
United Nations Regional Workshop on CensusInfo, Bamako,
Mali, 30 November - 3 December 2009
United Nations Regional Workshop on CensusInfo, Maputo,
Mozambique, 10 - 13 November 2009
www.devinfo.info/censusinfo
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010
THANK YOU!
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-8 October, 2010