Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Some UNSD Activities

1. Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Some UNSD Activities United Nations Statistics Division Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

2. Outline • UN Recommendations • Handbook on Geospatial Infrastructure in Support of Census Activities • Regional Workshops on the use of geospatial tools • International Seminar on the integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information • Conclusion Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

3. UN Recommendations • UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Rev.2,recommended the use of Geospatial technologies for improving traditional methods of census mapping(adopted by UNSC in 2007). • Other recommendations derived from UN EGM on GIS and Census Mapping emphasized: • the need for countries to consider the census geography programme as a continuous process • the use of and application of geospatial technologies and information is beneficial at all stages of population and housing census process (GI improves the efficiency in the preparatory, enumeration, processing and dissemination phases of the census) Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

4. 2007: EGM on Contemporary Practices in Census Cartography and Use of Geographical Information Systems, New York, 29 May-1 June 2007: to prepare the materials for the workshops and for the revision of the handbooks. 2008: EGM 2 : to Review the Handbook on Geographic Databases and Census Mapping was convened in New York, 7-10 April 2008 2009: Handbook Geospatial Infrastructure In Support ofCensus Activities: Guidelines…. Methodological work Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

5. Handbook on Geospatial Infrastructure in Support of Census Activities Audiences: managerial and technical http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/standmeth/handbooks/default.htm “Cook-book” to illustrate the role of geospatial technology in each step of the census process Each country has to find its own best possible solution Available in the six UN official languages Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

6. Regional Workshops on Census Mapping with GIS • For English-speaking African countries: Lusaka, Zambia, 8-12 October 2007 : 30 participants from 14 countries • ESCAP region: Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 October 2007: 31 participants from 16 countries • CARICOM: Port-o-Spain, Trinidad, 22-27 October 2007: 28 participants from 16 countries • For French-speaking African countries: Rabat, Morocco, 12-16 November 2007: 48 participants from 10 countries • for SPC region: Noumea, New Caledonia, 4-8 Feb. 2008: 30 participants from 10 countries and two territories • ESCWA region: Doha, State of Qatar, 18-22 May 2008: 44 participants from 12 countries • Latin America region: Santiago, Chile, 24-27 November, 2008: 47 participants from 17 countries • CIS region: Minsk, Belarus, 8 - 12 December 2008, 41 participants from 11 countries (300 participants from 106 developing countries and two territories): Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

7. Statistical Commission Decision on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information Decision 41/110 (of the SC at its 41st session in 2010): • (b) Recognized the importance of the integration of geographic and statistical information and the opportunities provided in that context by the swift development of information technology, noting that national statistical offices are playing an increasing role in such integration, especially in the area of census management; • (c ) Called upon all national statistical offices to actively participate, in partnership with relevant national authorities, in the further development of national geographic information capacity in the context of spatial data infrastructures, taking full advantage of information technology and focusing special attention on the area of improving statistical and geographic metadata compatibility; Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

8. Integration of data: responsiveness to disasters • Integration of geospatial data with a variety of other data, including demographic and socio-economic data, helped create more accurate, timely and unbiased information for better decision-making • By using satellite imagery, scientists and demographers can compare images and statistics taken before and after earthquakes to estimate the number of people affected, their needs in terms of medical aid, food and shelter, and particularly their location. Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

9. Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM) • Establishment of the UNCE-GGIM: • ECOSOC decision 2011/24 on the establishment of the UNCE-GGIM: “Recognizing the importance of integrating cartographic and statistical information, as well as spatial data, with a view to fostering location-based geospatial information, applications and services” • Inaugural Session in Seoul: Confirmation of the integration of GI and SI as one of the priority issues. Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

10. Thematic Seminaron the integration of statistical and geospatial information, Seoul, 27 October 2011: • This Seminar was co-organized by UNSD, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), US Census Bureau and Eurostat • Seminar major topics: • collecting and handling geospatial and statistical data • integrating statistical and geospatial data • using integrated or combined geospatial and statistical data • 44 participants from 12 NSO (countries). Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

11. Conclusions • UNSD promotes the use of geospatial information in developing countries and organizes workshops, seminars and expert group meetings on GIS, GPS and other geospatial tools. • At UNSD, we consider the Census Geography/Cartography Programme as a continuous process. • One of GGIM challenges: the integration of Statistical and Geospatial data with additional thematic data from other sources is beneficial for analysis and evidence-based decision making. • NSOs should partner with NMAs and other stakeholders (the public and private sector) in order to build the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). • Paradigm shift: geospatial infrastructure is providing a structure for collecting, processing, storing and aggregating data (an integrative framework) Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012

12. THANK YOU! Learning Centre on Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications United Nations, New York, 27 February, 2012