Overview of IT usage for 2011 Census Paul Woobey - CIO Office for National Statistics Presented at Eurostat ITDG October 2008

UK Census 2011 ONS responsible for Census in England & Wales in 2011 Processes and systems shared with Northern Ireland Statistical Research Agency (NISRA) Scotland collecting and processing using separate systems but goal is still for harmonised UK outputs Public trust issues make security of personal data a critical design focus

Sourcing Multi-sourcing approach –Printing and capture services outsourced –High-volume public interfaces (web, call centre) outsourced –Downstream processing systems in-house with mix of ONS development staff and external partners –ONS IT infrastructure provided by shared services contract (Flex) –Outputs systems provision to-be-decided –Hosting for dissemination to-be-decided

Key Design Features in 2011 Paper Questionnaires –Majority of delivery of forms to be via post-out –Majority of responses as in 2001 will be post-back –Addresses and unique identifier codes will be overprinted on questionnaires using Address Register and Questionnaire Tracking database –State-of-the-art scanning systems

Key Design Features in 2011 Use of IT in the field operation –Provision of networked laptops to Census field team managers Linked to central Questionnaire Tracking system Used to update address lists, form statuses and control follow-up exercise –Provision of mobile devices to door-to-door enumerators was considered but discounted on cost grounds

Key Design Features in 2011 Online questionnaires –First mixed-mode Census in the UK –Expectation that 25% or more responses will be via web questionnaire –Massive spikes of usage expected on Census day –Strong emphasis on security and usability –Accessibility for people with disabilities a priority –Respondents get access via 20 character code overprinted on the paper questionnaire –Code authenticated against Questionnaire Tracking database

Key Design Features in 2011 High-volume public interface –Call centre and online-based self-help facilities –Both use same knowledge-base to respond to public –Both linked to Questionnaire Tracking system, for example to support follow-up and requests for additional questionnaires

Key Design Features in 2011 Questionnaire Tracking Database –“Hub” of the 2011 design for collection phase Paper Capture Web Capture Printing Public Interface FieldHQ QT

Key Design Features in 2011 Downstream Processing (DSP) –Long chain of processes to apply to data before it can move to Outputs phase –Goal to develop components that can be re-used on other ONS business – for example Process Control –Likely to re-use CANCEIS Edit & Imputation tool from Stats Canada –Technology: J2EE Oracle SAS CANCEIS Linux and Windows

Key Design Features in 2011 Outputs –Approach for Outputs under discussion – at strategic stage –Production of tables likely to involve STR SuperCross –Dissemination priority given to web over traditional outputs (paper, CD) –Online tabulation facilities –Dissemination channel flexibility through Internet API access to data (for mashups and value-add clients)

2011 Census Any questions?