Synopses & Reviews
Seeking to demystify the census and explaining the potential of GIS for understanding people, places, and local economies, this guide explains how geographic information systems (GIS) can significantly ease data management, allowing for new ways to analyze and present relationships among variables. The various components of the census and its spatial organization are introduced, and the decennial census and geographic hierarchy are explained and illustrated. The innovations promised by the American Community Survey, which is anticipated to replace the decennial long form sample by 2010, are evaluated, and important sampling concepts such as standard error, and the special features of the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) are covered. Several strategies for downloading data and maps for users with various levels of familiarity with databases and GIS software are suggested, along with detailed instructions for connecting data to maps.
Synopsis
Seeking to demystify the census and explaining the potential of GIS for understanding people, places, and local economies, this guide explains how geographic information systems (GIS) can significantly ease data management, allowing for new ways to analyze and present relationships among variables.
About the Author
Alan Peters is a professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa. Heather MacDonald is an associate professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa, where she has served as chair of the planning program. They both live in Iowa City, Iowa.
Alan Peters is a professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa. Heather MacDonald is an associate professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa, where she has served as chair of the planning program. They both live in Iowa City, Iowa.