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

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

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 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

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in published tables and reports for general distribution:  Paper publication, CD-ROM/DVD produced as tables in unpublished form for limited distribution stored in a database and supplied upon request, or disseminated online (in this case it will be available only to connected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

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

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

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

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

Statistical world The physical world Source: EUROSTAT

Statistical Data Spatial Data

Maps are “representations” or “generalizations” of reality

Tsunami Affected Areas in Gizo, Solomon Islands

Maps can help analyse locational distributions and spatial patterns

Statistical data can be overwhelming

USA Median Household Income, 2009

USA Median Household Income, 2012

USA Median Household Income change

Maps can be used as a method of presenting information and communicating findings AreaSelection CadastralMap GraphSettings Graph and Map Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

What are Geographical Data Files?  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 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

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

US - Census Bureau

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

CHILE: HOUSING AND POPULATION CENSUS DISTRICTS 2002

A screenshot of Ukraine’s dynamics census atlas

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

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 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

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.Google Maps 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

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

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

WEB Mapping Common Interface

US - Census Bureau American Fact Finder  Thematic Maps (Data)  Reference Maps (Boundaries)

Japan - Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications  Statistics GIS Plaza 

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

Scalable Hardware - (Source: ESRI)... and Services Oriented FasterFaster Multi ProcessorsMulti Processors Loosely CoupledLoosely Coupled ConnectedConnected Web Services Cell Phone PDA TabletPC Laptop Desktop Server Server Cluster BladeServer

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

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

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