Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

United Nations Statistics Division

United Nations Sub-regional Workshop on Collection and Dissemination of Socio-economic Data from

Population and Housing Censuses

New Delhi, India, 28-30 May, 2012

Outline

 Census Data Dissemination

 Dissemination Challenges

 Emerging trends in data dissemination

 Geographic products

 Web-based mapping




Census dissemination



“A census is not complete until the information collected is made available to potential users in a form suited to their needs”




Used Formats in census data dissemination

 The information may be:

 included in published tables and reports for general distribution:

 Paper publication, CD-ROM/DVD

 produced as tables in unpublished form for limited distribution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):

 Static web-pages (html, PDF, Excel)




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




Emerging trends in data dissemination

 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.)




Presentation and analysis of data

 Maps help to:

 Relate statistical data to the geographic areas to which they apply

 Present data in a way that can be readily understood

 Difficult to see population distribution, relationships and patterns in a table

 Increase use of data by the public

 Effective distribution and widespread use of data will increase support for future work

Source: US Census Bureau




A good statistical map

 A good map…

 must be true to the data it presents- it must present the statistics in a valid way

 should be easy to use and understand

 should give the reader an overview of the information

 Should be pleasing to look at and add value to the representation of data





2: statistics as spatial information

Statistical world

Source:

EUROSTAT

The physical world




Statistical Data Spatial Data




Maps are “representations” or “generalizations” of reality




Tsunami Affected Areas in Gizo, Solomon Islands




Maps can help analyze locational distributions and spatial patterns




Statistical data can be overwhelming




USA Median Household Income












Maps can be used as a method of presenting information and communicating findings

Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Area

Selection

Cadastral

Map

Graph

Settings




Graph and Map

What are Geographical Data Files?



Files that contain the coordinates describing the geographic features









Examples:

– Streets and roads

– Legal, statistical and administrative area boundaries

City limits

Census tracts

Health districts

– Rivers, lakes, and flood zones

– Locations of toxic release sites





Brazil




US - Census Bureau




Dynamic census atlases: “thematic maps on the fly”

 Alternative to a static census atlas

 Publishing of a digital map and database together with mapping software can allow users to produce custom maps of census indicators.

 Normally includes digital boundary files at a lower resolution than the full census database to allow fast drawing and low disk usage

 closely integrated attribute table should contain only a selected number of census indicators.

 Densities and ratios that are appropriate for mapping should already be calculated.




CHILE: HOUSING AND POPULATION CENSUS DISTRICTS 2002




A screenshot of Ukraine’s dynamics census atlas




Importance of the Web

 Key medium for the dissemination of census data

 All standard geographic products are disseminated on the Web

 All data highlight tables are disseminated on the Web

 Benefits from Web Dissemination:

 Improved timeliness

 Increased accessibility of products

 Broader reach of products

 Increased usability

 User-oriented, accessibility, web-based mapping




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




How a Mashup works: APIs

 API is an abbreviation for Application Programming

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.

 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.




Cont…

 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.

 GIS APIs are designed to manage data for its delivery to a web browser client from a GIS server




Trends

 The overall trend for web-based mapping is:

 with more highly interactive, user-driven client interfaces as well as the desire by the general internet user to see the underlying data as a 3D environment and not a 2D flat-earth map.

 Server-technology: service-oriented architecture (SOA) and broad spatial capabilities




WEB Mapping Common Interface




US - Census Bureau

American Fact Finder

 Thematic Maps (Data)

 Reference Maps (Boundaries)




Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal

Affairs and Communications

 Statistics GIS Plaza

 http://gisplaza.stat.go.jp




Scalable Hardware -

(Source: ESRI)

Blade

Server

Server

Cluster

Server

Desktop

Web

Services

• Faster

• Multi Processors

• Loosely Coupled

• Connected

Laptop

Tablet

PC

PDA

Cell Phone


. . . and Services Oriented

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




-

Customized to Census dissemination

-

Use of SMS to disseminate some census results (e.g. Kenya)




Conclusions

 Collecting and analyzing census data is very important, but unless the results of this analysis are communicated effectively to their intended audience, the analysis will have little impact on real policy decisions.

 Various tools are available

User-oriented approach

Data accessibility

Geospatial-based approach

 Planning data dissemination

 The definition of geographic output products and the time of their release should be coordinated with the timetable for the overall Census project




THANK YOU!




Anyone or anything can be associated with a known location in the world




Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

“A census is not complete until the information collected is made available to potential users in a form suited to their needs”

What are Geographical Data Files?

Web

Services

Related documents

Products

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Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

“A census is not complete until the information collected is made available to potential users in a form suited to their needs”

What are Geographical Data Files?

Web

Services

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