1. Ola Nordbeck Statistics Norway
GIS and the statistical production chain Lessons learned in the GEOSTAT projects
Ola Nordbeck
Statistics Norway

2. GEOSTAT
The GEOSTAT action is about developing guidelines for datasets and methods to link census statistics to a common harmonised grid
Builds on the knowledge of a partner network from various NSIs and the European Forum for GeoStatistics (EFGS)
Is currently in a third phase called GEOSTAT 1C that follow the 1A and 1B phase
Material developed so far can be found at the EFGS.info website
Financed by ESS (European Statistical System)

3. Traditional GIS workflow
Collect
and
store
Process
Manipulate
and
analyse
Disseminate

4. The Statistical production chain = GSBPM
for assessing the possibilities and the need for standardisation and improvement of processes within NSIs
also known as the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)
GSBPM and has a widespread support in the international statistical community
GSBPM is a tool for planning:
new statistics,
activities to improve existing work processes, reduce risks and achieve better documentation
trainings

5. Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)
A model on three levels:
from general description
to more detailed levels

6. Integration of the GIS workflow into GSBPM
GEOSTAT 1B tried to integrate GIS into GSBPM
For GIS staff the GSBPM is an important communication tool in a Statistical Institute (NSI), since it allows:
Non-GIS staff to relate to the GIS work flow
GIS-staff to identify synergies in the NSI
A NSI to efficiently plan their activities with GIS as a part of GSBPM

7. Phase 1: Specify needs
This phase is challenging and crucial for the GIS activities in a NSI due to:
that the needs are currently mostly understood and defined by external partners and not by NSI staff
make an NSI to prioritise GIS activities
see it as a part of a NSIs core activities
give examples of how GIS can result in better statistics
obtain efficiency
Important to answer the whys, whats and draft the hows
Initiatives in Eurostat and United Nations are aiming for more integration in between geography and statistics
GEOSTAT describes the need for spatially referenced statistics in a hierarchical system of stable and neutral grids

8. Phase 2: Design
External Spatial Data Infrastructure frameworks as INSPIRE forms the NSIs’ data structure and internal geo-infrastructure
The GEOSTAT projects have also developed frameworks for GIS activities in NSIs:
Design data structure
Design of metadata and quality assessment parameters

9. Phase 3-5: Build, collect and process
Based on the design of the methodological framework
Various types of primary data in the GEOSTAT project resulted in two different approaches to producing population grids:
Aggregation approach
Hybrid or mixed approach
In the individual NSI this is a continuous implementation of the predefined design striving for:
Collection of standardised (format and coordinate systems) georeferenced statistical microdata
Collection and processing routines of georeferenced data equal to the routines for other microdata

10. Phase 6: Analyse
The GEOSTAT project found it important to focus on the following parts in the Analyse phase: “prepare draft results” and “validate outputs”
Prepare draft results to determine if GEOSTAT1B guidelines resulted in an improved integration and harmonisation of individual contributions
Validate outputs to test and validate the population grid with a case studies

11. Phase 7: Disseminate
Disseminating spatial data needs to be adapted to INSPIRE directive considering;
Metadata
Data structure
Data services: web map service (wms), web feature service (wfs) and web coverage service (wcs)
The dissemination in the GEOSTAT project is so far related to posters and reports. However, the metadata and the data structure related to the GEOSTAT 2011 population grid is in adapted to the INSPIRE directive