Use of Geospatial Technologies for Census Data Collection: Issues and

Considerations

Timothy TrainorU.S. Census Bureau

In order to be useful a census must be:

government, census tract, census block

government, census tract, census block

data accuracy location

data accuracy location

correct

reliable

Geographic Support for Data Collection Activities

Components of a Census Geographic Support System

Who does the work???

Geographers Geographic area criteria and delineation

Cartographers Map the data

Software programmers Write the code to process the data

Database Administrators Maintain the integrity of the data

IT specialists Keep the hardware working properly

All of the above??

GEOGRAPHY DIVISION ORANIZATION CHART

Organizational Structure

Geography Division

ProgramManagement

GeocartographicProducts

AndServices

Partnerships

Spatial Data Systems

Address Systems

Database Systems

MappingGeographic Area

Criteria andDelineation

GeoproccessingMAF/TIGERMaintenance

Features Addresses

Technology Considerations

Learning and developing organizational capabilities

Buying expertiseCommercial vs homegrown vs hybrid

solutions

Recent Technology Developments

Maturing GIS Imagery availabilityGlobal Positioning Systems (GPS)Mapping system developmentSpatial database developmentAddress list development

The Evolution of the Census Bureau’s TIGER System

Data collaborationEra of pre-Commercial Off The Shelf

environment for database technologies

Development of an in-house system

Modernizing TIGER in Response to Changing Technology

Data integration issues Use of GPS and imagery Accuracy improvements

Street centerlines

Data model improvements real world features

Database developments Use of Oracle – emphasis on maintaining topology

Challenge

Control the Cost and Improve the Accuracy of the Decennial Census

Issues in Preparing for Geospatial Technologies

Proposal JustificationFundingGeospatial Data SourcesData Sharing Data QualityWorkforce

Proposal Justifications

Why are geospatial technologies needed in a census?

What are the benefits?What would be the impact without

geospatial technology?Could this investment benefit others?

Funding Issues

Adequate budget Hardware Software Communications Data Personnel

Geospatial Data Source Considerations

Existing geospatial dataData collection

Census field operations On-going data updates

Data integration

Data Sharing Issues

Partnerships Public

State Local Tribal Federal

Private Copyright issues Maintaining value-added benefits

Data Quality Issues

Variable data - Large non-uniform differences in spatial errors in a relatively small area

InconsistenciesMetadata

Mason

Starbridge

10m

100m

The Workforce

Geographers and cartographers (50%) IT staff (50%)Contractors supplement existing staff

Conclusion

Learn from the experience of others (both good and bad)

Share expertise and learned best practices

Keep it simple