Exploring the use and value of the ONS Output Area Classification (Nov 2006, April 2007)
The full conference PDF is available [here].
Download Presentations:
‘Open Geodemograhics: the creation of the Output Area classification‘, Dr Dan Vickers, University of Sheffield
‘Visualising area classifications‘, Alan Smith (April) Alistair Calder (Nov), ONS
‘The application and development of OAC‘, Professor Martin Callingham, Birkbeck College.
A full list of other documents relating to this event can be found on the RSS website here.
Conference details:
Royal Statistical Society: Social Statistics Section and Statistics Users Forum
EXPLORING THE USE AND VALUE OF THE ONS OUTPUT AREA CLASSIFICATION
An afternoon seminar about using the area classification to
understand the UK at small area level
A repeat of the seminar held on 2 November 2006
Monday 2 April 2007
The Output Area classification (OAC) distills key results from the 2001 Census to provide a simple measure of the character, and
the similarities and differences of local areas across the UK. It was created with the same well established methods as the
related ONS classifications of local authorities and wards. Like those it is freely available for all to use, and complements
commercially available classifications. The seminar brings together experts to help those in the public and private sectors who use or would like to use OAC for profiling populations, structuring other data, or targeting resources. There will be an emphasis on practical steps and support for applications.
It was first held on 2 November 2006, and, after support from the participants, an OAC User Group was inaugurated. The
November seminar was, however, quite heavily over subscribed, and is being repeated to give those who were unable to obtain
places an opportunity to attend, along with all others with an interest
Programme, speakers, and background information
Themes for the afternoon will be
- creating the classification: objectives
- presentation: visualisation and access
- uses: effective applications
- issues and solutions
- getting involved with the OAC User Group
Speakers include Dr Dan Vickers (University of Sheffield) who developed OAC whilst at the University of Leeds, Professor
Martin Callingham of Birkbeck College, and Alan Smith from ONS Geography.
The seminar programme is below.
A brief introduction to area classifications, OAC, and the OAC User Group follows the seminar programme below. IT is recommended for those new or relatively new to area classification or OAC, as speakers will assume that participants have an initial familiarity with the subject.
Date and time
Monday 2 April 2007, starting at 14.00 (registration and coffee from 13.30) and finishing around 16.30.
Place
Royal Statistical Society, 12 Errol Street, London EC1Y BLX
Directions to the RSS are on the About RSS > Discover More >
Finding Errol Street page
http://www.rss.org.uk/main.asp?page=1759
Bookings
The seminar is free of charge, but places are limited and you should register as soon as possible: please email
Martin.Robson@lbhf.gov.uk who will confirm your place.
Further information
Please contact: Chris Denham chrisdenham@waitrose.com
or telephone 92392 413766. The seminar will not cover the details of the statistical methods of area classification, but the
organisers would welcome interest in a further seminar on methods.
Programme
13.30 Registration and coffee
14.00 Chair’s introduction – opportunities with OAC – Chris Denham
14.20 ‘Open geodemograhics: the creation of the Output Area classification’, Dr Dan Vickers, University of Sheffield
15.00 ‘Visualising area classifications’, Alistair Calder, ONS
15.30 ‘The application and development of OAC’, Professor Martin Callingham, Birkbeck College
16.00 Speakers panel – questions and discussion – The OAC User Group – what it does, and getting involved
16.30 (approximately) Close of seminar – room remains available for informal discussion.
Copies of slide presentations will be available on the Web after the seminar.
Speakers: information
Chris Denham – formerly Head of 2001 Census Output and Geography, co-author of the report on the 1991 classification of
local authorities, and advisor on OAC.
Dr Dan Vickers – lecturer in Social and Spatial Inequalities at the Department of Geography, University of Sheffield. He created
OAC on behalf of ONS. More information on Dan’s research interests:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/geography/staff/vickers_dan/index.html
Alan Smith – Geographical Information (GI) Strategy Manager ONS, has a special interest in data visualisation using animation
and interactivity, for example through the use of SVG (scaleable vector graphics) to make the ONS area classifications
accessible. More information on geography at ONS: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/default.asp
Professor Martin Callingham – has used geodemographic systems for over 25 years. Formerly the Research Director of
Whitbread, he is currently a Visiting Professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, where he is researching new
ways of classifying areas.
