http://www.geodemographics.org.uk/ The Geodemographics Knowledge Base is a comprehensive directory of hand-selected websites for people interested in the application of geodemographics and geo-spatial analysis. It is maintained by the MRS Census and Geodemographics Group. This feed gives information on new sites added to the directory, forthcoming events and other information of relevance. en-gb Copyright 2009, MRS 2009-11-25 webmaster@geodemographics.org.uk http://www.mrs.org.uk/images/logorss.gif http://www.mrs.org.uk/ http://www.mrs.org.uk/event/course/755 How business can benefit from the new free census data. With the first results from the 2011 UK Census due for release this July, how well prepared are you to take onboard the new data and obtain value from it? This seminar has been specially designed to prepare businesses, with a programme of briefing presentations by experts in each aspect of census dissemination and application. This seminar has been designed for both new Census users and for those who have previously used Census results, in both research and commercial sectors. The seminar will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday 19th September at MRS, and registration will commence at 13.30 hrs. 2012-05-08 13:53:56 http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/beyond-2011/index.html The Beyond 2011 project has been set up to research viable alternative options to the traditional census. Its aim is to deliver recommendations for providing timely and cost-effective population and socio-demographic statistics that meet user needs.Further information about the project including detail on the available options and stakeholder engagement activities can be accessed on the website at:   2012-05-14 10:26:59 http://policyexchange.org.uk/images/publications/a%20right%20to%20data%20-%20mar%2012.pdf Read the report by Policy Exchange here: 2012-04-03 11:59:09 http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011pdr/Census%202011%20Highlights%20Part%201%20web%2072dpi.pdf This report is the first of two publications summarising the results of Ireland's 2011 census. This first one, This is Ireland - Part 1, looks at overall population change by county; it also examines age, marriage, households and families as well as including first results on nationality, foreign languages, the Irish language, religion and housing. The second summary report, This is Ireland - Part 2, (coming in June), will look at other social and economic factors such as employment, occupations, education and skills as well as health related topics.   2012-04-02 09:30:45 Gain a greater understanding of open data, and the tools and techniques to use open datasets, through a series of free masterclasses hosted by Ordnance Survey.Following on from the success of the two previous open data masterclass series, individuals, developers, community groups, social entrepreneurs, commercial and government organisations are invited to attend the latest series of masterclasses. The masterclasses are run by Ordnance Survey's GeoVation initiative and supported by Horizon Digital Economy Research.Those participating stand to benefit from a greater understanding of the opportunities around open data; as well as being provided with the tools and techniques needed to use and analyse a range of open datasets relevant to them.Locations and dates of the sessions:16 March - Open University, Milton Keynes http://odmcmiltonkeynes.eventbrite.co.uk/   23 March - Technium OpTIC Centre, St Asaph http://odmcstasaph.eventbrite.co.uk/26 March - University of Manchester http://odmcmanchester.eventbrite.co.uk/ 27 March - University of Cardiff http://odmccardiff.eventbrite.co.uk/29 March - Ordnance Survey, Southampton http://odmcsouthampton.eventbrite.co.uk/30 March - RGS (with IBG), London http://odmcrgs.eventbrite.co.uk/ Interested participants should click on the relevant link to reserve their space and obtain a masterclass ticket.More information on OS OpenData is available on the Ordnance Survey website http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/os-opendata.html 2012-03-07 17:38:50 A joint project has been set up between ONS and University College London to develop a new UK Output Area Classification, for which they are seeking your views and thoughts. The new Output Area Classification is planned to be created using 2011 Census data, when available, and is relevant to anyone interested in social area classifications, encompassing geodemographics and neighbourhood classifications.A user engagement exercise began on 17 February 2012 and runs until 30 March 2012. For further information, and details on how to respond to this user engagement exercise, please see the ONS webpage for User Engagement on a new United Kingdom Output Area Classification:http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/products/area-classifications/ns-area-classifications/new-uk-output-area-classification/index.htmlAlternatively you can download the User Engagement form direct from here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/products/area-classifications/ns-area-classifications/new-uk-output-area-classification/user-engagement-on-a-new-united-kingdom-output-area-classification-consultation-document.docIf you would like to see some of the initial work that has been undertaken by Chris Gale, a UCL research student whose PhD is focussing on creating this new Output Area Classification, then please click here:http://mapblog.in/2012/02/08/geospatial-science-seminar-07-02-2012/ 2012-03-02 09:47:36 ONS has conducted a consultation exercise on the outputs users require from the 2011 Census. To ensure maximum benefit from the census, ONS is now in the process of developing a wider analytical work programme to supplement the outputs. The usefulness of the analysis will be limited, however, if it does not meet the needs of the user. A workshop on analytical products will be presented to users detailing the ONS current proposals and plans for analytical products including: initial thoughts on analytical reports and articles that draw on census, survey and administrative statistics, building on the 'Focus On' series produced after the 2001 Census. providing an analytical centre for the census to promote wider analytical use of census data, promote best practice and provide a one-stop website for access to analyses drawing on 2011 Census, covering both government and academic research.Users will have the opportunity to: comment on the current proposals stimulate discussions on what analysis users would like to see produced (and indeed the analysis they have planned) discuss the relative priorities of these to help shape ONS census analysis work programmeThis workshop will be the same as that held in London in October 2011 and will be held 21 March 2012, 10am - 3pm, at Britannia Hotel, Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LA If you wish to attend, please contact katy.taylor@ons.gov.uk. There are limited places available which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. 2012-02-27 12:03:12 The Beyond 2011 User Requirements consultation closed on 20th January. More than 300 responses to the consultation were received and more than 200 people attended the workshops. Work on analysing the consultation responses and the feedback from the workshops is now being carried out. These will feed into a consultation report which will be published in the spring, along with plans of how the consultation findings will be taken forward. More immediately, there are plans to release a quarterly Beyond 2011 newsletter, starting in April this year. The newsletter will provide a regular update on progress and links to research and discussion papers as they are published. The first edition will provide information on plans and the start of the discussion on the criteria that will be used to evaluate the options. Your views on this will be welcomed by ONS, as it is important that there is a clear understanding of how the options will be assessed and of the rules that will inform the final recommendations. The ONS Beyond 2011 web pages are being reviewed over the coming weeks and users are advised to check back there for updates: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/what-we-do/programmes---projects/beyond-2011/index.html For further information or for any queries, the Beyond 2011 email address is: beyond2011@ons.gov.uk   2012-02-27 12:00:43 Following discussions with Northern Ireland and Scotland, the health categories for outputs on general health will be reported to reflect the response categories as they appeared in the 2011 Census questionnaire. These categories are "Very good", "Good", "Fair", "Bad" and "Very Bad". 2012-02-27 11:58:40 http://www.mrs.org.uk/networking/cgg/downloads/beyond_2011_consultation-response.pdf The Census and Geodemographics Group and MRS have submitted a joint response to the ONS Beyond 2011 Consultation.   Please view the completed consultation questionnaire on the MRS website. 2012-01-30 12:57:56 http://www.mrs.org.uk/networking/cgg/downloads/cabinet_office_letter-jan2012.pdf In January 2012 Keith Dugmore, Director of Demographics User Group (DUG) sent a letter to Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP on behalf of the group, entitled; The National Address Gazetteer: being run in the interests of Ordnance Survey, to the detriment of citizens and the private sector. View the letter on the MRS website 2012-01-30 12:39:06 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/the-2011-census/producing-and-delivering-data/2011-census-outputs/index.html ONS held specialist workshops on Small populations and Origin Destination in October 2011. The materials from the workshops have been published on the ONS website. 2011-12-12 15:16:35 A major resource for those designing questions and questionnaires is the Survey Question Bank.  The SQB is co-ordinated by the UK Data Archive at the University of Essex, it allows researchers to search questionnaires, and to find individual survey questions. It provides access to questionnaires from a range of major UK social surveys, and the question text from over 200,000 questions. SQB also writes and commissions methods fact sheets and topic overviews - vital to making sense of the questions and the data created from them.  An introduction to the SQB is available at: surveynet.ac.uk/sqb/about/introduction.asp   The Questionnaire Search page is at: surveynet.ac.uk/index/search.aspx?collectionid=1099 and the Question Search page is at: surveynet.ac.uk/sqb/qb/questions.asp   2011-11-28 10:38:02 The ONS Harmonisation Team is organising a series of road-shows to highlight the benefits of using harmonised standards. The road-shows will also be used to talk about recent developments both in terms of new/revised harmonised standards, revisions to the process used to develop and agree harmonised standards, and soon to be completed projects such as the Harmonised Question Library.  As part of the ongoing promotion of the benefits of harmonisation, ONS would like to organise a series of road-shows at different locations around the UK over the next few months. They would like to engage with a wide range of users/stakeholders including Government Departments and related agencies of the UK Nations and non-governmental organisations, etc.  Please register your interest by emailing Harmonisation@ons.gsi.gov.uk 2011-11-09 16:23:14 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/consultations/open-consultations/index.html The Beyond 2011 Programme was formally established in April 2011 to investigate and assess alternative options for producing the population and socio-demographic data required by users in England and Wales.ONS has launched a public consultation which will provide a first opportunity for users to contribute to the discussion and help inform this important work. The views expressed in response to this consultation will be critical in determining how ONS develop the assessment criteria that will be used to judge the different options being considered.This consultation will be open for 14 weeks from 17 October 2011 to 20 January 2012. The consultation document and online questionnaire are available online via the link below. ONS will also be running a series of workshops during November to support this consultation. Workshops are planned for the following dates and locations:        03 November 2011 – Leeds        08 November 2011 – Cardiff        14 November 2011 – London – FULLY BOOKED        25 November 2011 – London (extra event added)If you wish to attend one of these workshops email beyond2011@ons.gov.uk stating the date and location you would like to attend and the organisation, if any, you will be representing. 2011-10-21 10:09:54 http://www.ons.gov.uk On 27th August 2011 ONS launched their new website. The website aims to make it easier for visitors to find and use it's information. The homepage currently contains links to pages detailing the changes made, why those changes have been made and tips for finding content. Tutorials on finding information on the new website are available from the ONS YouTube channel youtube.com/ONSstats. These include tips on searching, finding publications, using Key Figures and browsing to find statistics on a particular topic. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Info.do?page=analysisandguidance/analysisarticles/google-map-of-the-small-area-model-based-income-estimates-200708---prototype.htm The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has produced a prototype interactive map of estimated local average household incomes as a mash-up with Google Maps and Street View for visualisation of any locality. The maps are defined at the level of Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) for England & Wales only. The aim is to encourage user feedback on the prototype. The map shows telling patterns of income variation.An introductory page includes a link to the maps and a contact for feedback. The map page, in turn, includes a link to comprehensive background information. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.mrs.org.uk/networking/cgg/best_deal_add_info.htm The government announced the creation of a National Address Gazetteer (NAG) in December 2010, and MRS have published a synopsis describing activity by MRS to get the best possible deal from this potentially key input for marketing and geodemographic applications. The synopsis contains links to information about NAG, and to a discussion forum with a case by members of the MRS Census and Geodemographic Group that elements of NAG should be free-to-use open data. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.geoplace.co.uk/geoplace/link.htm?nwid=50000 GeoPlace is a Limited Liability Partnership jointly owned by the Local Government Group and Ordnance Survey. It brings together local government's address and streets gazetteers; the NLPG and the NSG, with all of Ordnance Survey's addressing products to create a 'national address gazetteer database' for England and Wales, providing one definitive source of accurate publicly-owned spatial address data 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/29/jaywick-essex-resort-most-deprived This article from The Guardian describes how a seaside town in Essex has the highest levels of deprivation in the country as measured by the Government's Indices of Deprivation 2010 for England. In the article are links which enable you to explore the Indices of Deprivation in greater detail, including access to the underlying data and maps. There is an interactive map which combines Google Maps with the Government's (DCLG) Indices of Deprivation 2010 for England. The geographical unit is Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) and clicking within an LSOA gives a pop-up with a deprivation score and rank plus a partial guide to the categories on the map. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.mrs.org.uk/networking/cgg/july2011_census.htm With the latest UK Census just completed, do you know how the data collection has developed since 2001, what the outputs will be, how they can be used for commercial benefit, and when they will be delivered? Find out by attending this fascinating and informative afternoon seminar. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3820127 MRS Census and Geodemographics Group have launched a LinkedIn networking group. The purpose of the MRS CGG Network is to share news and hold discussions on topics of mutual interest. You do not need to be a CGG or MRS member to join this Network, the group seeks to share views with a wide range of information users and producers. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/consultations/open-consultations/2011-geography-outputs-consultation/index.html The Office for National Statistics has launched a consultation on the final geography policy for the 2011 Census outputs. The consultation will run until the 29th April and invites users to comment on the policy, the proposed set of geographic products and the outcome of the 2010 Census Output Geography consultation. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/consultations/open-consultations/2011-output-consultation---main-statistical-outputs---second-round/index.html This second phase of consultation on outputs is an important part of the Office for National Statistics' preparation for the 2011 Census in England and Wales. Submissions are to be received by 29th April 2011. Under the same link you will also find slides from the Census Outputs User Events which took place around the country between February 14th and 25th. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.geodemographics.org.uk/NS_harmonisation.html Read the MRS News article prepared by Martin van Staveren, Technical Director at Kantar Media TGI Surveys. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/2011/OS-LGID.pdf OFT has published a report on the anticipated national address gazetteer joint venture between Ordnance Survey and Local Government Improvement and Development 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2011/18-11 OFT clears national addressing database joint venture 29 October 2011 09:50 http://2011.census.gov.uk/en/index.php The UK Census day is 27th March 2011. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://census2011geog.census.ac.uk/downloads/ The latest reports and presentations can be downloaded from here: 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/consultations/open-consultations/2011-output-consultation---main-statistical-outputs---second-round/index.html The second phase of consultation on outputs is an important part of the preparation for the 2011 Census in England and Wales. Responses received will be used to produce an agreed set of specifications and outputs timetable which will be issued in summer 2011. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.ons.gov.uk/about/consultations/work-programme-consultation/ The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is seeking views to help determine the shape of its future statistical work programme. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.ons.gov.uk/about/newsroom/statements/spending-review-2010-announcement.html The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its budget for the next four years. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconresponse Responses to the consultation have now been published on the Communities and Local Government website: 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/news/reflecting-better-the-views-of-users-in-the-assessment-process.html UK Statistics Authority's plan to enhance the collection, use and reporting of the views of users of official statistics in the Assessment process. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/news/2011-england-and-wales-census.html The UK Statistics Authority has confirmed the Government's decision to proceed with the existing plans for the 2011 Census in England and Wales. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1528263.pdf Following the Consultation on Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey, the Government has published its response. 29 October 2011 09:50 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/01/ordnance-survey-maps-download-free Free data for personal and commercial use announced in the biggest shakeup in the Ordnance Survey's 260-year history. You can now download maps as detailed as 1:10,000 scale, or collect a list of locations appearing on maps at the 1:50,000 scale, or a conversion system for postcodes to grid references. 29 October 2011 09:50