Best practices in the use of GIS & census mapping

1. Best practices in the use of GIS & census mapping UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round

2. Overview • Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital census mapping program • Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment • Tailor-made methodology of integration • A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the NSO • 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

3. Ensuring Commitment for a long-term digital census mapping program • Defined long-term funding plan including cost recovery and data pricing strategies • Inclusion of accurate estimates for maintenance and associated costs • 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

4. Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment • Completion of a user needs assessment and a priori definition of output products, with a clear implementation schedule • What are the costs for Upgrades of hardware or/and existing software? • Is a LAN configuration needed? • What are the staff training needs/ Is the existing workforce adequate? • 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

5. Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment (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

6. 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

7. 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

8. A Permanent unit for Cartography/GIS within the NSO • The decision to invest in geospatial technology is need-based 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Thank You UNSD-CELADE Regional Workshop on Census Cartography for the 2010 Latin America’s census round