Census data mapped out
Census data mapped out
The Australian Bureau of Statistics offers GIS for beginners.
Novices or those with little experience with geographic information systems (GIS) can access mapped data from the latest census, in the latest version of a powerful planning and research tool released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
In response to user feedback, the latest version of CDATA 2001, ABS’s flagship product from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing, is now available in two editions - one for the GIS professional and one for the inexperienced.
Available on CD-ROM, CDATA 2001 brings together the latest demographic information on Australian society from the 2001 Census with mapping software. Planners in Government and businesses can visualise census information by viewing 2001 Census data in conjunction with maps of Australia. The system also contains comparative data from the 1991 and 1996 Censuses.
CDDATA 2001 allows users to choose demographic characteristics, select the geographic areas required and produce maps, graphs and reports. CDATA 2001 features basic topographic data from PSMA Australia (formerly the Public Sector Mapping Agency) and more detailed topographic data from MapInfo.
ABS offers CDATA in two different formats: CDATA Full GIS and Quickbuild. Full GIS is aimed at users who require extensive GIS functionality. Users of this version can conduct more complex analysis using SQL to export data in other formats from other applications, or to import their own data.
Quickbuild comes with simplified GIS functionality and a cut down version of MapInfo Professional. Users can select data quickly for geographic areas and view the results as tables, maps or graphs. It is more ideal for inexperienced users who wish to build a statistical profile of an area easily.
”A certain number of users wanted a less complex version,” said director of population census output at ABS, Jan Kavanagh. “There are no changes to the content [in the Quickbuild version]. It contains the same amount of data, but there is not a lot of complexity in the software.”
Paul Williams, assistant statistician in charge of the 2001 Census, said CDATA 2001 can assist planning by government, business and the community by injecting detailed data about Australia into the decision making process.
”By having Australian demographic data at their fingertips, users can access a wealth of information on the community - age, education, housing, income, transport, ethnicity, occupation, computer usage, religion and much more,” he said.
MapInfo was also commissioned to produce an optional Detailed Base Map Add-On pack for the product, on top of the Standard Base Map Product. Whilst the standard base map shows minimal topographic details such as major roads, railway lines and town centres, the Detailed Base Map offers full road detail, geographic profile, and in depth digital topographic data.
”Regardless of what business you are in, you need current and accurate information to make decisions about the development and delivery of the right products and services to the right people,” Williams said.
”For example, the retailer who needs to identify potential customers within an age group and income range, the town planner who needs to know the mix of rented/owned dwellings and their impact on recreational and transport facilities, and the insurance company that wants to identify home loan markets and the respective insurance markets, can all benefit from using CDATA 2001”, he said.