Developments in Geodemographic Visualisation

Royal Statistical Society, Errol Street, London

1.30pm 15th September 2009

Aim of the Workshop

The aim of this seminar was to present a number of innovative developments in visualisation methods and technology which can enhance interpretation of geodemographic classification. This seminar was aimed at both a professional and academic audiences and will be interest to all users of geodemographics.

Geodemographic classification simplify the complex characteristics of neighbourhoods into an understandable and easy to interpret typology. Much of this effectiveness is attributable to the use of visualisation accompanying the classification in the form of text, images, maps, videos and graphs. However, possible visualisation tools and methods extend far beyond those currently used by commercial and non-commercial geodemographic classification providers. In this workshop we will explore a number of new innovations in this area and present a case for richer communication.

The OAC User Group would like to thank all those who participated in visualisation event; slides from the talk are available below.

Programme

13.30 – 14.00 – Registration
14.00 – 14.10 – Introduction
14.10 – 14.35 – I’nt Maps Brilliant (Dan Vickers, University of Sheffield)
14.35 – 15.00 – Effective Communication (Laura Edwards, Local Futures)
15.00 – 15.25 – Geographic Visualisation (Alex Singleton, University College London)
15.25 – 15.50 – Visualising OAC (Aidan Slingsby, City University)
15.50 – 14.15 – 3-D Visualisation (Duncan Smith, University College London)
16.15 – 16.30 – Discussion

Links

Also, as promised, here are the links to the websites and software discussed in the talks:

Websites:

• www.maptube.org
• www.publicprofiler.org/streetview
• http://atlas.publicprofiler.org/
• www.education.publicprofiler.org – forthcoming
• www.localfutures.com
• www.areaprofiles.blogspot.com
• www.londonprofiler.org
• http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/organisation/is/research/giCentre/courses/index.html

Software:

• http://www.processing.org/
• http://mapnik.org/
• http://openlayers.org/
• http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Also, if you would like to ask further questions about specific aspects of the talks, then feel free to drop the presenters and email:

Dan – d.vickers@sheffield.ac.uk

Laura – Laura.Edwards@localfutures.com

Alex – a.singleton@ucl.ac.uk

Aidan – a.slingsby@soi.city.ac.uk

Duncan – duncan.a.smith@ucl.ac.uk

Flyer

A Flyer is available to download [here].

Full Titles and Abstracts

I’nt Maps Brilliant: Understanding Data Through Visualisation

Effective Communication: Visualising OAC for Local Government Policy Users This talk will discuss the different ways of visualising OAC built into the Local Futures Group’s Local Knowledge system. The system allows policy users to analyse their areas using OAC, the main policy context for this being the need to demonstrate an understanding of local communities. The talk will focus on the current tools and how they aid this understanding. It will also cover the next steps required for improving the visualisation of OAC through the re-development of Local Knowledge.

Visualising OAC using rectangular hierarchical cartograms (Aidan Slingsby, City University London)
Many social data are hierarchical and can be mapped into a spatial hierarchy. OAC is an example of a hierarchical classification scheme that classifies population by some of its economic and social characteristics into 7 supergroups, 21 groups and 52 subgroups by Output Area. This talk will demonstrate the use of hierarchical cartograms (spatially-arranged
treemaps) for showing population in its OAC category hierarchy and its spatial hierarchy (using the widely familiar postcode hierarchy of postcode area, district, sector and unit). Examples will illustrate how these graphics can be used to assess the relationship between OAC and population, the spatial granularity at which these vary and the wider applicability of these techniques.

Geographic Visualisation: Neogeography and Area Classification (Alex Singleton, University College London)
In this talk the technical developments in web mapping technology and spatial data infrastructures which have fundamentally changed how users collect, share and interact with information online will be reviewed. Specific reference will be made to how the new tools for Neogeography can aid in disseminating and visualising area classification.

3D Visualisation: Linking Built Environment Models to Geodemographic Datasets (Duncan Smith, University College London)
Recent improvements in Geographic Information (GI) technologies have enabled the development of built environment models, providing detailed analysis of urban form, function and building characteristics such as residential housing types. Through address matching techniques these models can be linked to geodemographic data, and relationships between the built environment and demographic patterns can be explored. This approach is useful for analysing the geography of housing markets and investigating how urban form influences demographic segregation. Built environment models can also be used for the 3D visualisation of geodemographic data, adding a ‘sense of place’ to the exploration of urban patterns. Challenges and applications for these techniques will be
discussed.

Registration

The meeting took at the Royal Statistical Society headquarters, 12 Errol Street, London, EC1Y 8LX. There was no charge for this event but pre-registration was required, with early booking recommended and by 10 September at the latest: please email martin.robson@lbhf.gov.uk to book and please let us know your company or organisation affiliation which will help us pitch the event correctly for the audience.
For any other information or queries about the seminar please contact Martin Robson by email on martin.robson@lbhf.gov.uk.