1. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division UNECE Training Workshop on Dissemination of MDG Indicators and Statistical Information Astana, Kazakhstan 23 – 25 November 2009 Steven Vale, UNECE The Importance of Databases in the Dissemination Process – The UNECE Approach

2. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 209 March 2016 Contents  UNECE system overview  Introduction to data cubes  Input systems  Data processing  Dissemination systems

4. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 409 March 2016 What is a Data Cube?  A multi-dimensional structure containing data points that represent unique combinations of several classifications  A flexible way of storing and disseminating data

5. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 509 March 2016 Two-dimensional Cube Year Country2000200120022003 AAA123 456124 567125 678126 789 BBB987 654988 654989 654999 654 CCC35 78936 78937 78938 789

6. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 609 March 2016 Three- dimensional Cube

7. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 709 March 2016 More dimensions are possible, but not easy to display!

8. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 809 March 2016 Why Data Cubes are Important  Many statistical data management models and systems are based on cubes  Users can select just those data that are of interest  Cubes can easily be expanded, e.g. for extra years, countries, or other categories  At least in theory, cubes can have an infinite number of dimensions

9. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 9 Input Systems  Functionality needed: Bulk input of large data files Automatic data collection routines Data format conversion Metadata capture and “translation” Manual entry of data values Link to electronic questionnaires Data validation 09 March 2016

10. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 10 UNECE Approach  Automatic data collection each night from some important sources  File transfers in standard formats for other bulk updates  Questionnaires for some types of data Automatic updates under development  Manual input / editing interface 09 March 2016

11. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 11 Data Processing  Functionality needed: Data validation Imputation of missing values Calculation of derived variables Calculation of regional aggregates, e.g. for CIS countries Definition of data outputs 09 March 2016

12. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 12 UNECE Approach  Create a “super cube” containing all data  Use applications developed ourselves for validation, imputation and calculation  High level programming language allows statisticians to develop and manage their own calculation routines  Smaller output cubes are defined using metadata, and updated every night 09 March 2016

13. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 13 Dissemination Systems  Functionality needed: Internet enabled Easy access to key data User-friendly interface Multiple languages Possibility to manipulate and download data 09 March 2016

14. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 1409 March 2016 Why UNECE adopted PC-Axis  Lack of resources for system development  PC-Axis advantages: Rich in features User-friendly Flexible structure Strong support network of users – over 40 other statistical organizations

15. Americas Licenses (3) Brasil Bolivia Guatemala Prospects Canada Guyana Argentina El Salvador Costa Rica IMF Bahamas UNSD US Dep.Agric. Ecuador Africa Licenses (14) Algeria Mocambique Namibia South Africa Tanzania Uganda East Africa Commission West Africa (ECOWAS) UEMOAS (FAO) Kenya Senegal(FAO) Mali(FAO) Togo(FAO) Cap Verde Asia and Pacific Licenses (5) Philippines (2) Taiwan(R.O.C.) Bhutan(FAO) Iraq(FAO) New Zealand Prospects Hong Kong Tadjikistan PC-Axis Around the World Prospects UK ONS Cyprus Moldova Montenegro North Ireland Romania Serbia Kirgizistan (FAO) Ukraine Albania Switzerland UK Dep. Work&pens. FAO Forest Stat. CountrySTAT in Projects (2006-2007) (2008-2009) Bhutan Ethiopia Haiti Iraq Malawi Mali Mozambique Palestine O.T. Philippines Sudan Tanzania Angola Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Ethiopia Ghana Ivory Coast Kenya Malawi Mali Mozambique Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Tanzania Uganda Zambia Europe Licenses (68) Basque (5) Croatia Denmark (9) Estonia Faroe Islands Finland (15) Åland Greece Greenland Iceland Ireland (2) Latvia Lithuania Macedonia F.Y.R. Norway Slovakia Slovenia (2) Spain (3) Ukraine, Lviv UNECE Sweden (18)

16. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 1609 March 2016 What We Have Added  Metadata input application  Data cube management application  Time Series Computation Language  PX-Web update server  Russian interface

17. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 1709 March 2016 Metadata Input Application

18. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 1809 March 2016 Open-source Components Visual HTML Designer Spell checker

19. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 19 The User Interface  Uses “PX-Web” a component of the PC-Axis software suite produced by Statistics Sweden Currently being upgraded to latest version  English and Russian interfaces  “Tree structure” to help users find data  Possibility to manipulate data and download in several formats

26. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2609 March 2016 Plans for the Future  Develop End-to-End UNECE applications: Data import Validation Processing Calculation Imputation Dissemination  Develop online analytical tool

27. New UNECE Database System  Under construction  Calculations and “Supercube” implemented  Expected to be fully operational end 2010

28. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 28 Technical Assistance  UNECE is happy to share software / experience  Russian speaking database coordinator  Technical assistance missions 2008/09 Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan

29. Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 29 Questions?