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Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

This seminar discusses the challenges and emerging trends in disseminating census data, including the use of web-based mapping and geographic products. It also explores the importance of presenting data in the right context to meet users' needs and the advantages of using technological tools.

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Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data

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  1. Use of Technological Tools in the Dissemination of Census Data United Nations Statistics Division Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  2. Outline • Census Data Dissemination • Dissemination Challenges • Emerging trends in data dissemination • Geographic products • Web-based mapping Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  3. Census dissemination “A census is not complete until the information collected is made available to potential users in a form suited to their needs” – paragraph 1.206 of the current Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  4. Some of the formats used 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in published tables and reports for general distribution: • Paper publication, CD-ROM/DVD • produced as tables in unpublished form for limited distribution • stored in a database and supplied upon request, or disseminated online (in this case it will be available only to connected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) • Dynamic webpages – generating results upon request Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  5. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  6. 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.) Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  7. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  8. 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 Source: US Census Bureau Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  9. Statistical world Source: EUROSTAT The physical world

  10. Statistical Data Spatial Data

  11. Maps are “representations” or “generalizations” of reality

  12. Tsunami Affected Areas in Gizo, Solomon Islands

  13. Maps can help analyse locational distributions and spatial patterns

  14. Statistical data can be overwhelming

  15. USA Median Household Income, 2009

  16. USA Median Household Income, 2012

  17. USA Median Household Income change 2007 - 2012

  18. Maps can be used as a method of presenting information and communicating findings Area Selection Cadastral Map Graph Settings Graph andMap Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

  19. 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 What are Geographical Data Files? Source: US Census Bureau Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  20. Brazil Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  21. US - Census Bureau

  22. 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. Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  23. CHILE: HOUSING AND POPULATION CENSUS DISTRICTS 2002

  24. A screenshot of Ukraine’s dynamics census atlas

  25. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  26. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  27. 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. Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  28. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  29. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

  30. WEB Mapping Common Interface

  31. US - Census Bureau American Fact Finder • Thematic Maps (Data) • Reference Maps (Boundaries)

  32. Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications • Statistics GIS Plaza • http://gisplaza.stat.go.jp

  33. What is CensusInfo? • CensusInfo is a database system specifically designed for disseminating census data on the web and CD-ROM • Developed by UNSD in partnership with UNICEF and UNFPA • Based on DevInfo technology platform • Officially launched in February 2009 at the 40th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission • A

  34. Scalable Hardware - (Source: ESRI) Server Cluster Blade Server Server • Faster • Multi Processors • Loosely Coupled • Connected Web Services Desktop . . . and Services Oriented Laptop Tablet PC PDA Cell Phone

  35. Source: T. Trainor, US Census Bureau, 2009 As technological developments and data availability advance rapidly, statistical agencies must be prepared to respond to user expectations for data access and interaction Potential app?

  36. - Customized to Census dissemination - Use of SMS to disseminate some census results (e.g. Kenya)

  37. 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 Regional Seminar on Promotion and Utilization of Census Results and on the Revision on the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses Pretoria, South Africa, 24 – 26 March 2014

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