Web Mapping for the Dissemination of Census

Data: Canadian Experience

Expert Group Meeting on Contemporary Practices in Census Mapping and Use of Geographical Information System

Presented by: Joe Kresovic and Daniel Paquin

May 30, 2007

Outline

The Web’s role in dissemination Benefits and challenges from Web

dissemination Evolution of Web mapping tool for

dissemination Lessons learned from Web mapping Development of Common Look and Feel

(CLF) for Web mapping

Importance of the Web

Key medium for the dissemination of census data

All standard geographic products are disseminated on the Web

All data highlight tables are disseminated on the Web

Benefits from Web Dissemination

Improved timeliness Increased accessibility of products Broader reach of products Increased usability

Challenges of Web Dissemination

Diversity of user community Increased demand Format selection Metadata User expectations

Geography Product Line

Maps Interactive Web mapping tool Standard reference Thematic

Spatial products Road Network File (RNF) Boundary files

Attribute file products GeoSuite Geographic Attribute File (GAF) Correspondence files

Evolution of a Web Mapping Tool - GeoSearch

1996 Census played role of on-line reference map

2001 Census data exploration tool coding tool for internal operations

2006 Census key data exploration tool, including thematic

mapping capability coding tool for internal operations used in managing overall census operations delineation of collection geography

Lessons Learned from Web Mapping

Need for common look and feel standards Use a common engine for many

applications Enhances accessibility to data Integrate products Ability to scale architecture

Development of Web Mapping Common

Interface

How

Review, internal and external, interactive and Web mapping applications

The objective was to identify the most common types of functions available in Web Mapping applications.

The objective was to evaluate the layout, design, terminology and icons of two applications at Statistics Canada that had very

different interfaces.

Conduct a Usability Testing

Usability testing - Findings

Design a “map-centric” interface Simplify the layout Place tools together Use buttons with icons and text Use a consistent interface

Advantages

Look is consistent One interface for users Facilitate user support New functionality easily implemented Ease of integration Speeds up development

Challenges

Stay away from competing with popular Web mapping applications

Accessibility Grandfathering future Web mapping

applications Major Web template components Meaningful competition is reduced (The but

I’m different syndromes)

Lessons Learned

Review other mapping interfaces and try to find commonalities

Conduct Usability Testing and keep in mind that there is no one perfect interface

Balance cartographic principles and internet style

WEB Mapping Common Interface