digital mapping… for the rest of us a brief look at pcensus for mappoint

Digital Mapping…

For the Rest of UsA brief look at PCensus for MapPoint

Jeff Moon, Documents Unit, Queen’s University

April 14, 2005DLI/CAPDU Training

PCensus for MapPoint

What is it?

What can it do?

Who is using it?

Let’s see it in action…

Am I data, or am I mapping?

PCensus for MapPoint

PCensus - provides access to Census data at detailed levels of geography for both Canada and the US.

What is it?

MapPoint – provides ‘raster-based’ mapping coverage for all of North America (Canada and the US).

PCensus for MapPoint

PCensus for MapPoint combines these packages in a way that takes advantage of the features of both.

What can it do?

The sum is greater than the parts.

What can it do?PCensus alone can produce tables of Census and other data for hundreds of variables at many levels of standard Census geography (pre-defined).

Levels of geography include: Provinces, Metropolitan Areas, Census Subdivisions, Census Tracts, and Enumeration/Dissemination Areas.

PCensusWhat can it do?

PCensus: Census Data

• 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, & 2001 Census of Canada

• 2000 US Census (SF1 & SF3+)

• 1990 US Census (STF1A & STF3A)

PCensus: Additional Data 2004 Consumer Spending 2004 Canada Business Summary

Summary 2004 Canada Businesses By SIC Codes (1-49)Current Consumption 2004 Canada Businesses By SIC Codes (50-99)FoodShelterHousehold OperationHousehold FurnishingsHousehold equipmentWomen's ClothingMen's ClothingChildren's ClothingClothing Materials and ServiceTransportationHealth CarePersonal CareRecreationRecreation VehiclesHome EntertainmentRecreation servicesReading Materials and EducationAlcohol and TobaccoMiscellaneousTax, Insurance, Pensions & Gifts

Country Province CMA CSD

2001 Census has 62 Categories of data and over 900 individual variables

PCensus – Data Extraction

What can it do?

PCensus – categories

Census Year No. of Categories

2001 62

1996 56

1991 33

1986 13

1981 10

What can it do?

PCensus – PointfilesWhat can it do?

PCensus – LifestylesWhat can it do?

What can it do?Use MapPoint alone to:

• Find locations

• Do ‘route planning’

• Measure distances

• Generate simple maps

MapPointWhat can it do?

MapPoint – Find a location

What can it do?

MapPoint – Route planning

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

What can it do?

What can it do?Use PCensus for MapPoint to:

• Create simple thematic maps

• Extract data for ‘non-standard’ geography

• Batch address processing

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Simple Thematic Mapping

PCensus for MapPoint

Extracting data for non-standard geography… e.g.

• Circles

• Polygons

• Drive-time polygons

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPointExtracting data for a circle…

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPointExtracting data for a ‘ring’…

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Extracting data for a polygon…

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Extracting data for a drive-time polygon…

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Batch address processing…

Automatically pinpoint locations, establish surrounding areas, and extract data for a set of addresses (or latitude/longitudes).

… a very powerful tool!

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Batch address processing…

Question from a Business Student:

“I need to make a recommendation about the best location for a new Tim Hortons”

What can it do?

Copy into Excel

What can it do?

Map showing 2-minute drive-time polygons for 12 Tim Horton’s locations in Kingston

What can it do?

2001 Census data for the 2-minute drive-time polygons for 12 Tim Horton’s locations in Kingston

What can it do?

Potential locations?

What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint

Pros & Cons

PCensus for MapPoint

Pros:• Easy-to-use

• Allows data extraction for non-standard geography

• Provides access to five census years (1981 – 2001)

• Provides useful tools for “GIS-like” queries

• Efficient means of extracting large volumes of data

• Data feeds easily into GIS packages (using pointfiles)

• Can add custom data

PCensus for MapPoint

Cons:• Some errors/gaps in content (Postal Codes, directions)

• MapPoint content somewhat US-centric

• Initial cost – could be prohibitive

• Address-finding feature not 100%

• Limited thematic mapping

PCensus – Who is using it?

• York University

• University of British Columbia

• University of Alberta

• University of Calgary

• University College of Cape Breton

• Simon Fraser University

• Douglas College, BC

Who is using it?

PCensus for MapPoint

Contact InformationGet free 60-day evaluation copies of PCensus for MapPoint & MapPoint 2002: www.tetrad.com

Introduction to PCensus and various user guides:

library.queensu.ca/webdoc/ssdc/guides/pcensus/pcensus.htm

Contact Jeff Moon:

moonj@post.queensu.ca

PCensus for MapPoint

Let’s give it a try!