Presentation to the UN Experts Group Meeting UNSD 29 May - 1 June 2007 Alister Nairn Director - Geography Section GIS BASED CENSUS MAPPING APPROACHES - AUSTRALIA EXPERIENCE Introduction Paper focuses on how GIS technologies have been utilized for CD design and map production for the 2006 census in Australia Census of Population and Housing 5 yearly Census on 8 August 06 Census based on delivery and collection of census forms million forms hand delivered 38,704 CDs, 25,000+ field staff to collect, 800+ staff to process First results published in June 2007 Pressure to increase efficiencies Mapping is an integral part of the collection methodology Collection Districts Basis for Enumeration An Urban CD Map A Rural CD Map (section) The Collector Record Book Spatial Data Requirements The Ideal An accurate up to date digital map base showing correct level of detail. Roads, water bodies and rivers, transport, parks Administrative boundaries suburbs, LGAs electoral divisions, state boundaries Cadastral property boundaries Location of residential dwellings (addresses) Up to date large scale imagery ? ? Data Sources Sources: Federal and State mapping agencies Private sources ABS strategy was to get the mapping agencies to cooperate A consortium of of Federal and State mapping agencies PSMA Australia (Public Sector Mapping Agencies) Without accurate digital base data GIS efficiencies are not possible Technology GIS system for editing, analysis, mapping Used MapInfo, MapBasic Cartographic Enhancement Maplex from ESRI Database storage, retrieval of information Oracle Conversion / QA software SAFE FME Geography Section - Staffing Provides a centralised centre of expertise for Geography within the ABS 25 staff, most with a university degree and/or GIS experience Maintain geographic classification Provide GIS services to rest of the organisation (Census is the largest client) Maintain spatial database, evaluate and implement new spatial technologies. Census Mapping Project Process Design Phase 1 - CD Alignment Red line is the old CD boundary Black the new GIS tools developed to speed up the editing process for multiple points work not done by GIS experts 10 staff person years of effort in this editing to bring 2001 CDs into alignment with 2006 base mapping. Phase 2 CD Design Reviewing the 2001 CDs and redesigning in areas of change (growth or decline in population) Change estimated number of households by various means Address points Cadastral parcels Information from local government Eg GIS SQL query against cadastral parcels in 2001 versus 2006 SQL query on Spatial Database Spatial Editing of CDs Updating CD Attributes Phase 3 Map Production A large logistical operation High quality maps increase efficiency of the census collection phase 69,548 A3 maps 7,840 A2 maps 5,818 inset maps 6,678 Area Supervisor maps 102 District Managers maps Conclusions Development of GIS capabilities has contributed to more efficient Censuses by: Use of GIS to assist in CD design Produce excellent maps to aid the collection process Producing quality statistical geography for analysis and dissemination Conclusions BUT GIS will only save costs if there is a reliable source of suitable data and a core section of people with well developed technical skills. These data resources can require some institutional development over an extended period. THANK YOU