Thursday 11 September 2003, 11:30am, Conference Centre
David Martin, University of Southampton
Census 2001: integrating local geographies
This paper describes the new geography system which has been implemented for the 2001 census, and in particular the new output area (OA) geography created for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The boundaries for these OAs have been created using automated zone design techniques, and they differ in several key respects from the enumeration districts with which users of previous censuses will be familiar.
The new OA geography has resulted in a smaller mean population size, a system free from below-threshold populations, more consistent with postcode geography and in general terms more socially homogeneous than the small area geography of previous censuses. All higher-level census outputs will be based on best-fit aggregations of these OAs, making an understanding of OA geography a key to the appropriate use of all geographically referenced data from the census.
Further, the new geography is important not only as the basis of 2001 census area statistics, but forms the starting point for the creation of the new system of 'super' OAs which are to be the publication areas for an increasing range of neighbourhood statistics. The use of a single, consistent small-area geography for multiple data sources offers an unprecedented opportunity for the integration of local geographies for population-related data.
The presentation will also provide an overview of the census data and support services available to the academic community through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)/ Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) 2001 census programme, focusing particularly on the census geography system as a means of understanding the relationships between the different datasets available.
School of Geography
University of Southampton
Southampton SO17 1BJ
Tel: +44(0) 23 8059 3808
Fax: +44(0) 23 8059 3295
Email: D.J.Martin@soton.ac.uk