Digital Mapping… For the Rest of Us A brief look at PCensus for MapPoint Jeff Moon, Documents Unit, Queen’s University April 14, 2005 DLI/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. PCensus What 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

Country Province CMA CSD 2001 Census has 62 Categories of data and over 900 individual variables PCensus – D ata Extraction What can it do?

PCensus – categories Census YearNo. of Categories What can it do?

PCensus – Pointfiles What can it do?

PCensus – Lifestyles What can it do?

Use MapPoint alone to: Find locations Do ‘route planning’ Measure distances Generate simple maps MapPoint What 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? 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 MapPoint Extracting data for a circle… What can it do?

PCensus for MapPoint Extracting 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 Information Get free 60-day evaluation copies of PCensus for MapPoint & MapPoint 2002: Introduction to PCensus and various user guides: library.queensu.ca/webdoc/ssdc/guides/pcensus/pcensus.htm Contact Jeff Moon:

PCensus for MapPoint Let’s give it a try!