Administrative and statistical units By César de Diego Díez, Eurostat E4 - GISCO cesar.dediegodiez@cec.eu.int GISCO WPM, 3 March 2005

Structure of the presentation (I) Administrative and statistical units Structure of the presentation (I) NUTS regulation GI data developments by EC based on SABE: Communes (LFA, DoU, Census, Population grid) NUTS Urban Audit Structural Funds FADN

Structure of the presentation (II) Administrative and statistical units Structure of the presentation (II) Differences between administrative and statistical units. Needs of the EC concerning administrative boundaries data

Administrative and statistical units NUTS regulation

NUTS regulation Legal aspects: It establishes the definition of the statistical units Statistical units are based on local administrative units (LAU) Legal aspects: Entry into force: 11 July 2003 Concerns only levels 1-3 Population thresholds per level Former NUTS 4 and 5 become LAU 1 and 2 (Local administrative units) Changes will be reported to Eurostat NUTS codes are frozen for 3 (+2) years Final approval of changes by a committee

Basic units per country: NUTS regulation Basic units per country: BE: Gemeenten/Communes CZ: Obce DK: Kommuner DE: Gemeinden EE: Vald, Linn EL: Dimoi/Koinotites ES: Municipios FR: Communes IE: Counties or county boroughs IT: Comuni CY: Dimoi/koinotites LV: Pilsētas, novadi, pagasti LT: Seniūnija LU: Communes HU: Települések MT: Localities NL: Gemeenten AT: Gemeinden PL: Gminy, miasta PT: Freguesias SI: Občina SK: Obce FI: Kunnat/Kommuner SE: Kommuner UK: Wards

NUTS regulation Importance of LAU boundaries for the EC: Policies based in LAU 2: LFA, SF Smallest administrative units for the publication of statistics in Eurostat Often, the smallest administrative units for the collection of statistics in the Member States (e.g. census)

Administrative and statistical units GI developments by EC based on SABE

GI developments by EC based on SABE Communes: Totality of SABE + extra geometry (lakes) and attributes (LAU and NUTS code, boundary classification, population, official area). Other datasets based on the communes dataset: Structural Funds Degree of Urbanisation Less Favoured Areas Census data Population Disaggregation Grid

GI developments by EC based on SABE

GI developments by EC based on SABE NUTS and statistical regions: Dissolving polygons from SABE Generalisations for cartographic purposes

GI developments by EC based on SABE Urban Audit: Definition of cities and Large Urban Zones (LUZ) as a sum-up of communes. Integration of subcities with SABE boundaries

GI developments by EC based on SABE Structural Funds: Objective 1 and 2 are defined based on NUTS 2 and communes, respectively.

GI developments by EC based on SABE FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) Ad-hoc groups of NUTS regions.

Administrative and statistical units Differences between administrative and statistical units.

Differences between administrative and statistical units. Territory vs. activity: Administrative units refer to territories. Statistics refer to the population or the activities developed in a certain territory Differences: Territories without population (lakes and water bodies) Activities with no defined territory (BEZZZ codes)

Differences between administrative and statistical units. Territories without population: Water bodies. Strong need of harmonised integration of water bodies and administrative boundaries

Differences between administrative and statistical units. Looking for synergies: Common modeling for similar realities, comprising: Coding systems Nomenclature Classifications Common treatment for specific features Adapt the statistical model to the reality of the territory: Condominiums Lakes and other uninhabited areas Areas excluded of the statistical system (Mount Athos)

administrative boundaries data Administrative and statistical units EC needs concerning administrative boundaries data

EC needs about administrative boundaries data Commune boundaries update: Minimise the time between a legal change on the administrative boundaries and the availability of the updated electronic version.

EC needs about administrative boundaries data Coherence of datasets along versions: Avoid change of boundaries due to editing or generalisation processes. Solution: Report changes instead of complete datasets. Accelerates the production process (and data availability) Easier integration of changes in existing systems Reduces redundancy Data harmonised through time versions just by the nature of the development process Temporal analysis of changes

EC needs about administrative boundaries data Geographical extent needed: EU-25 CC (BG, HR, RO, TR) EFTA (CH, IS, LI, NO) CARDS (AL, BH, CS, MK)

EC needs about administrative boundaries data Harmonisation of definitions: Extension of the administrative boundaries into water bodies and sea (when applicable) Integration of the coastline geometry into the administrative boundary.