Emerging Trends in Census Data Dissemination
United Nations Statistics Division
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Outline
 Importance of 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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Census dissemination
 General recognition: collecting census data and analyzing
it is 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.
 Conventional tools:
 Published tables and reports for general distribution
 Tables in unpublished form for limited distribution
 Database 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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Used Formats in census data dissemination
 Paper publications
 CD-ROM, DVD
 Static web-pages (html, PDF, Excel)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Emerging trends in data dissemination
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Interactive Database
Open access/Free Download Facility
Geography Products
Dissemination of Micro-Data
Web-based Mapping
Social Media/Networking
Mobile Technology (SMS, etc.)
E-Government
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Focus:
 Geographic Products
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Maps Products
Digital Geographic Database for Dissemination
Dynamic Census Atlases
 Internet Mapping
 CensusInfo
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Statistics as spatial information
Statistical
world
Source:
EUROSTAT
The
physical
world
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Anyone or anything can be associated with a
known location in the world
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Map Products
 Reference Maps:

Reference maps show the boundaries, names and codes of
standard geographic areas on a background of selected road and
water features.
 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
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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).
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Brazil: 2010 Census
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
US - Census Bureau
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Dynamic census atlases: “thematic maps on the fly”
 Alternative to a static census atlas:
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Serves the needs of users without GIS expertise, but who want
more geographic information facilities than is possible with a prepackaged 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
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
A screenshot of Ukraine’s dynamics census atlas
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Importance of the Web
 Key medium for the dissemination of census data
 All standard geographic products are disseminated on the
Web
 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
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
WEB Mapping Common Interface
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
US - Census Bureau
American Fact Finder
 Thematic Maps (Data)
 Reference Maps (Boundaries)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Graph and Map
Scalable Hardware -
(Source: ESRI)
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
CensusInfo:
 CensusInfo is specifically designed for census data
dissemination
 Based on DevInfo platform with new functionalities to
meet Census requirements
 Developed by UNSD, in partnership with UNICEF and
UNFPA
 Officially launched in February 2009 at the 40th sessio
of the Statistical Commission
 Made available on-line for free
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
 CensusInfo can import data from other software
applications, such as CSPro, SAS, SPSS and Redatam.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
What can CensusInfo produce?
 Presents information as indicators and tables with
high-quality 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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Regional Workshops:
1. United Nations Regional Workshop on CensusInfo,
Bamako, Mali, 30 November - 3 December 2009
2. United Nations Regional Workshop on CensusInfo,
Maputo, Mozambique, 10 - 13 November 2009
3. UNSD - CARICOM, Regional Workshop on CensusInfo,
Georgetown, Guyana, 12 - 15 October 2009
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
National on Site
In-house trainings:
 Liberia
 Mozambique
 Egypt
 Malawi
 Indonesia
 Upon Request
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
http://www.censusinfo.net/
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/
census/2010_PHC/CensusInfo/index.htm
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
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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
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
THANK YOU!
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
Trends
 The overall trend for web-based mapping is:
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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.
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Server-technology: service-oriented architecture (SOA) and
broad spatial capabilities
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011
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
Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May, 2011