United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division

Software Approaches for the Dissemination of Statistical Information

UNECE Training Workshop on Dissemination ofMDG Indicators and Statistical Information

Astana, Kazakhstan 23 – 25 November 2009

Steven Vale, UNECE

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2April 20, 2023

Contents

How to choose software What options are available? Monitoring use Constant improvement Summary

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 3

How to Choose Software

Trade off between three constraints:

User needs

Technical infrastructure

Cost(money and staff)

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 4

Options Available

Database dissemination software in order of use in the UNECE region:• PC-Axis• DevInfo• SuperWeb• OECD.Stat• National database systems

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 5

PC-Axis

Set of statistical dissemination tools originally developed by Statistics Sweden

Components developed by other countries• PX-Map – Norway• PX-Graph – Denmark• PX-Edit – Finland• and several others….

www.pc-axis.scb.se

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 6April 20, 2023

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 7April 20, 2023

PC-Axis Advantages

• Most popular data dissemination software• Flexible, user-driven data extractions• Strong user community• Many optional add-ons are free

Disadvantages• Annual license fee for core software• Need to translate user interfaces to own language

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 8

DevInfo

Developed and managed by UNICEF Specifically designed for disseminating

MDG information Supports tables, graphs and maps Endorsed by the UN Development

Group www.devinfo.org

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 9April 20, 2023

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 10

DevInfo

Advantages• Free software and support• Used in many developing countries• Specifically designed for MDGs

Disadvantages• Specifically designed for MDGs• May not be suitable for other types of statistics• User interface not easy for first time users

April 20, 2023

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 11April 20, 2023

Other Options

Statbank / PC-Axis – developed and usedby some Nordic statistical agencies

SuperWEB – commercial software from Space-Time Research (Australia)

OECDStat – open source tools used byseveral international statistical agencies

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 12

National Database Software

Advantages• Tailored to national requirements

Disadvantages• Expensive to develop and maintain• Duplication of effort in other statistical agencies

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 13

Monitoring Use

It is essential to regularly check how users are using a database to make sure it remains relevant!• User surveys (discussed yesterday)• Other user feedback• Data downloads• Web site “hits”

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 14

Data Downloads

Most accurate measure of use - records when users find something interesting

Monthly, weekly or even daily download information creates a useful time series

Consider splitting by type of data, language, and other relevant criteria

ECE Statistical DatabaseData Downloads per Month by Statistical Domain

0

2000

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Jan

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Jun

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Gender Macroeconomic Transport Country Overview Forestry Total Total (Trend)

Russian Downloads % of Total

0%

2%

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8%

10%

12%

14%

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200

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Mar

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2009

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Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 17

Web Site “Hits”

“Hits” refer to the number of times a web page is accessed

Some hits are due to automatic tools used by search engines, not real users!

Many tools for monitoring web site hits We use “Google Analytics” because:

• It is free!• It gives very detailed information

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 21

Constant Improvement

Information about users is only useful if it is used!

All statistical databases need regular updates and improvements

Consider increasing data for popular topics and removing less popular data sets

Remember that user needs change over time

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 22

Summary

There are many possible dissemination database systems available

It is often quicker, easier and cheaper to adapt an existing system than to create a new one

Monitor the use of dissemination databases so that you can target improvements to better meet user needs

Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 23

Questions?