geoconvert: creating that spatial relationship david rawnsley mimas, university of manchester
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Overview
GeoConvert is an online geography matching and conversion tool for UK academics.
GeoConvert allows registered users to obtain and manipulate complex geographical and postcode data in a straightforward way.
A solution to a specific UK problem but it can be applied to any country.
The Problem
Many types of geography in the UK
AdministrativeElectoralPostalHealthEuropeanCensusStatistical
A Little UK Geography
Counties, Districts, Unitary Authorities - 1998
Strategic Health Authorities - 2006
Parliamentary Constituencies 2005
Further Complication
Wales ScotlandEngland
UA
ST Ward
CAS Ward
Ward
Unitary Authority
ST Electoral Division
CAS Postcode Sector
MSOA
LSOA
LLSOA
Intermediate Zones
English and WelshOutput Areas
ScottishOutput Areas
Northern IrishOutput Areas
GOR
District
County
Council Area
Data Zones
District Councils
CAS Electoral Division
Northern Ireland
UK
ST Postcode Sector
A Partial Solution
The NSPD
Produced by the Office for National Statistics
A long list of UK PostcodesAlso has other geographical zonesPostcode metadataNew version every quarter
Problems With The NSPD
It’s huge – 1.37 Gb at last count It’s cumbersome –
flat file with many rows or basic Access database
Horrible variable names – ‘OSHLTHAU’ It keeps changingVery little support from ONS
Why can’t someone tame it?
Our Hero At Last
What is it?Online web based access to NSPDRange of functions Provides a framework for integrating
dataRegularly updatedHelp and support provided
• FAQs• Original documentation• Glossary• User Guides
What Does It Actually Do?
3 functions
Postcode related information
Geography matching
Geographical data conversion
Why Should I Use It?
Prizes! It enables datasets to be linked much
more easily It enables researchers to link their
own data to many more datasets It enables data to be linked
historically It allows users to quickly and easily
get access to widely used deprivation and classification data
How Does It Do It?
Postcode information direct from NSPDUse postcodes as a population proxyDissection and re-aggregation of filtered
postcodes between zones to achieve measure of proportional distribution of population
Lots of complicated database stuffLots of complicated interface stuff
UK specific but the solution can be applied to any country
Isn’t Some Of That A Bit Dodgy?
Dependent on accuracy of ‘how much?’ and ‘where?’
Boundary fuzziness due to unique allocation of postcodes
Ideal data is population related with homogenous distribution• male, female = good • clusters of cancer patients = bad
Based on current population• current to historical works best
Partial input = partial output
What Might It Do Next?
A better population proxy?Different population proxiesMore metadataConfidence measuresStandards based XML outputIntegration with external data sourcesMachine to machinePipetastic
http://geoconvert.mimas.ac.uk