Best practices in the use of GIS & census mapping
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Overview
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Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital census
mapping program
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Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment

Tailor-made methodology of integration

A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the
NSO
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Partnership and cooperation
Capacity Building for sustaining the census mapping
program
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital
census mapping program

Defined long-term funding plan including cost recovery and
data pricing strategies
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Inclusion of accurate estimates for maintenance and associated
costs
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Frequent milestones and delivery of output products to
encourage adherence to pre-set time frames

Use of clear protocols, for example with GPS for the collection
and processing of data

Adherence to geographic standards
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment

Completion of a user needs assessment and a priori definition
of output products, with a clear implementation schedule
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What are the costs for Upgrades of hardware or/and existing
software?
Is a LAN configuration needed?
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What are the staff training needs/ Is the existing workforce
adequate?
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What is the ease and difficulty as far as installation of
hardware/software as well as maintenance?

What infrastructure documentation, manuals, Help-line, and
vendor support (patches etc.)?
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment
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(cont.)
Initial cost
Upgrades
LAN configuration
Training needs/Workforce
Ease of installation
Maintenance
Documentation and manuals
Help-line and vendor support
Means of making patches for support
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment
(cont.)
 Conduct an inventory of the census data requirements
and sources of relational information.
 Widespread availability of digital data on the Internet,
many GIS projects do not ensure efficient data
collection, input, and integration.
 Check for data that are already in digital format.
 Examine the requirements for census data conversion
(scan paper maps. input data from statistical yearbooks
etc.)
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Tailor-made methodology of integration

Use of data integration methodologies; Well-established quality control
/quality assurance procedures

Constructing a logical spatial analysis flow chart that details the project
steps will make the success of the census more likely

What types of collection (enumeration process), processing (pre & post
enumeration) and analyses (data dissemination) is needed and what
will be performed?

Tailor-made methodology of the spatial analysis methodology
 The spatial analysis flow diagram should include:
 An outline of the procedures required for the collection of data
and integration of
possible existing data
 A logical sequence of census mapping procedures to be
performed
 A list of all the existing data & needed data required for each
step
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the NSO
 The decision to invest in geospatial technology is needbased and problem-driven

Cannot be technology-driven or as an independent add-on
 Technology is treated as an integral part of the overall
management strategy
 Detailed strategic, operational and managerial planning
based on a realistic assessment of costs and effort
involved, with clear goals and objectives defined for
geospatial operations
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Partnership and cooperation;
 Solid development of cooperative agreements with other
interested parties
 Fostering of spatial data infrastructure arrangements to
expand partnerships and cooperation
 Facilitation of data sharing through detailed
documentation and metadata across user networks
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Capacity Building for sustaining the census
mapping program
 A champion or key person(s) to promote geospatial
development within the organization, and high-level
management support
 In terms of human resources, ability to provide training
and support for relevant employees and management
 Staffing needs met, including the ability to retain
skilled staff and hire contractors where appropriate

Well-defined written contracts with vendors,
consultants, partners and clients within and outside the
government
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round
Thank You
UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round