1. Working Group - Geographic Information Systems for statistics
Geographical Information Systems for Statistics Geocoding/georeferencing G. Schäfer - Eurostat
10 March 2011
Working Group - Geographic Information Systems for statistics

2. Short questionnaire on Member State practices
Why this questionnaire now?
Georeferencing/coding offers ‚new‘ and vast opportunities for using survey data
May break down traditional barriers between surveys by new ways of combining them
Europe 2020 targets pose many questions that promote small scale spatial analyses beside national or regional aspects
Census 2011 is a major milestone with a wide range of person and household related data
10 March 2011

3. Surveys Wealth of information from large EU surveys
Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC)
Community Innovation Survey
Structure of Earnings Survey (SES)
Continued Vocational Training Survey
etc.
Traditional survey approach
Sampling frame specific to purpose and geographic detail
Results only applicable to specific survey
Cross survey links are exception
10 March 2011

4. Current challenges
A substantial increase in need for regional information
New questions in connection with Europe 2020/Beyond GDP
An increasing need for definition of different types of regions:
Administrative regions
Several levels
Changes over time
Functional regions, according to variety of criteria:
Commuting
Urbanization
Industrial sectors
Environmental issues, etc.
Spatial and statistical analysis projects
Background of resource questions
10 March 2011

5. Concept of functional areas
FF001 (functional)   
CC002 (administrative)
CC001 (administrative)
FF002 (functional)
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6. Location is the key for creating different territorial units (administrative or functional) using the same data source.
NUTS 1 to 3
GRID systems
Purpose dependent location, e.g. block for census
Postal Address/ buildings
Geographic coordinates
Increasing utility
10 March 2011

7. Majority of Member States with „No“ or „Not yet“
Q1: Is there a general policy in your office for georeferencing of statistical surveys beyond the geographic level for which the survey was designed?
Majority of Member States with „No“ or „Not yet“
Rather „Yes“ for NL, UK, DK, EE, NO, AT, (FI)
Census 2011 used for improving building and person registers as „core systems“ for georeferenced data
However, only emerging georeferencing of other issues, e.g. enterprises, production sites, etc.
10 March 2011

8. Is there a lot of uncertainty?
Q2: Are you aware of legal issues or limitations that would demand the deletion of detailed geographic information of microdata or restrict its use for aggregations other than the originally intended geographic units?
Confidentiality/disclosure control of microdata is seen as general issue
Is there a lot of uncertainty?
Confidentiality should be manageable within ESS (clear conditions for internal use of microdata exist)
Established procedures for external access after preliminary anonymisation (limited to research institutions)
Some specific condition for permanent storage/use of census data, e.g. DE, FI
Perhaps specific census survey designs creates limitations, e.g. level of geographic precision
10 March 2011

9. INSPIRE frequently quoted as orientation for direction
Q3: Are you aware of a project with the intention of increasing the general use of georeferencing in your country/NSI? If yes, could you please characterize it briefly?
There is a quite general tendency in Member states to improve registers in terms of geographic characteristics and precision
Linking of different registers: persons, dwellings, public buildings, businesses, etc.
Census 2011 plans include strong considerations of dissemination (Common project of Census Hub)
INSPIRE frequently quoted as orientation for direction
Project GEOSTAT considered as important
10 March 2011

10. 10 March 2011

11. Wealth of data with geographic details is currently ‚under-utilised‘
Q4: Are you aware of statistical domains in which information available for smaller geographic entities was aggregated to larger areas due to reporting obligation for Eurostat; e.g. aggregation of NUTS 3 data to NUTS 2 because the reporting regulation requires it? If yes, which ones?
As a general answer „Yes“ as initially more geographic details are available from survey within NSI
Wealth of data with geographic details is currently ‚under-utilised‘
Need for new ideas and projects
10 March 2011

12. Potential role for Working Group
Exchange of best practices in Member States?
Future ESS-Net projects?
Information on initiatives and projects from other Member States?
 Is georeferencing a promising subject to intensify for the Working Group ?
10 March 2011

13. Thank you for your attention
10 March 2011