Outside the Neatline
Due to a travel delay the March 24, 2011 presentation at the Yale Law School by OpenStreetMap founder Steve Coast has been cancelled. Once this event is rescheduled we will post the details to the Outside the Neatline Blog.
Available now from the National Academies Press:
Kristina Marton and Paul R. Voss, Editors; Panel on Statistical Methods for Measuring the Group Quarters Population in the American Community Survey; National Research Council
Abstract:
Following several years of testing and evaluation, the American Community Survey (ACS) was launched in 2005 as a replacement for the census “long form,” used to collect detailed social, economic, and housing data from a sample of the U.S. population as part of the decennial census. During the first year of the ACS implementation, the Census Bureau collected data only from households. In 2006 a sample of group quarters (GQs) — such as correctional facilities, nursing homes, and college dorms — was added to more closely mirror the design of the census long-form sample.
The design of the ACS relies on monthly samples that are cumulated to produce multiyear estimates based on 1, 3, and 5 years of data. The data published by the Census Bureau for a geographic area depend on the area’s size. The multiyear averaging approach enables the Census Bureau to produce estimates that are intended to be robust enough to release for small areas, such as the smallest governmental units and census block groups. However, the sparseness of the GQ representation in the monthly samples affects the quality of the estimates in many small areas that have large GQ populations relative to the total population. The Census Bureau asked the National Research Council to review and evaluate the statistical methods used for measuring the GQ population.
This book presents recommendations addressing improvements in the sample design, sample allocation, weighting, and estimation procedures to assist the Census Bureau’s work in the very near term, while further research is conducted to address the underlying question of the relative importance and costs of the GQ data collection in the context of the overall ACS design.
For the full PDF follow this LINK
The Census Bureau has released alternative income and poverty estimates covering calendar year 2009, including breakdowns by age, sex and race.
These estimates do not revise or replace the official 2009 income and poverty estimates released Sept. 16, 2010. The official estimate of the national poverty rate remains at 14.3 percent.
The Census Bureau has released alternative measures of poverty for many years based on the recommendations of Congress and the National Academy of Sciences. The purpose of these alternate measures is to show the effect on income and poverty measures when factoring in a range of poverty thresholds and different assumptions about income sources (such as subsidized housing or free or reduced-price school lunches).
Newsroom: Poverty: Census Bureau Releases Alternative Income and Poverty Estimates
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Left to Right: Adam Pokusa, Anthony Erstad, Jeff Dunn, Naomi Lazarus, and Brandon Cramer.
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Team Captain Brandon Cramer accepts the 2010 NESTVAL Geobowl trophy.
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Want to know where the most contentious US House, US Senate, and Governors races are this November? Check out Google’s 2010 US Election Rations map mash-up which includes data from CQ Politics, Rothenberg Political Report, and other sources with a daily to weekly update. With this tool you can look at national and state level polling trends. Check out this Interactive Map!
The Newberry Library in Chicago Illinois is hosting the 17th Kenneth Nebenzahl, Jr., Lectures in the History of Cartography on “Mapping the Transition from Colony to Nation” November 4-6, 2010. This multi-day lecture series will feature eight scholars, who will examine how peoples and states around the world emerging from colonial status used maps to define, defend, and administer their national territories, to develop their national identities, and to establish their place in the community of nations.
The lectures series, beginning on Thursday evening, November 4, 2010, and running through Saturday morning, November 6 will feature Raymond Craib (History, Cornell University), Magali Carrera (Art History, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth), Jordana Dym (History, Skidmore College), Lina del Castillo (History, Iowa State University), Tom Bassett (Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Jamie McGowan (Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Sumathi Ramaswamy (History, Duke University), and Karen Culcasi (Geography, West Virginia University). A full program schedule is available on The Newberry Library’s website at http://www.newberry.org/smith/nebenzahl/neb17.html.
The Nebenzahl Lectures are free! They do require that all persons wishing to attend make a reservation. For reservations and further information please contact the Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography, 60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610 USA; e-mail smithctr@newberry.org ; phone 312-255-3659.
This announcement was brought to our attention via the Maps-L listserv.
Are you looking for an opportunity to learn more about geospatial technologies? 
If so then be sure to check out the late summer/fall 2010 geospatial training courses offered from our colleagues at UCONN’s Center for Land use Education and Research (CLEAR).
Geospatial Technologies at Work: An Introduction to GIS – August 31-September 2
An intensive three-day course that introduces students to basic GIS concepts through the use of ESRI’s desktop GIS software. Course fee $300
Pictures, Points and Places: An Introduction to GPS – September 16-17
A two-day hands on course that covers a wide variety of topics from planning data collection activities to the incorporation of GPS data into geographic information systems and “earth viewers” such as Google Earth. Participants will also learn how to integrate and georeference digital photographs in their mapping projects. Course fee $150
Mashup Madness: Using Google Tools to Create Maps on the Web – October 19
NEW COURSE! This one-day course introduces students to the basics of creating simple mapping “mashups” – interactive, online maps using free tools including Google Maps and Google Earth. Topics explored include Google Maps “My Maps” and creating KML in Google Earth as well as techniques for sharing online maps through email and embedded content. Course fee $100
Creating and Using Geospatial Models: An Introduction to ModelBuilder for ArcGIS – November 23
A one-day course that introduces ArcGIS users to the capabilities and uses of ModelBuilder, a tool which allows users to create geoprocessing models to automate repetitive tasks within ArcGIS. Some working knowledge of ArcGIS is strongly recommended. Course fee $100
Developing Custom Geoprocessing Tools: An Introduction to Python Scripting – December 8-9
A two-day course which introduces ArcGIS users to the basics of writing and integrating Python scripts in ArcGIS. Python is a scripting language supported by ESRI. This course aims to provide students with the foundation and resources necessary to develop proficiency with automating geoprocessing tasks with Python scripts. This is an advanced course, individuals should be familiar with ArcGIS, ArcToolbox and geoprocessing tools. Course fee $150
* Note: All GIS training courses are currently taught using ArcGIS 9.3. ArcGIS 10 courses will begin in early 2011.
For more information about course content and registration, please visit: http://clear.uconn.edu/geospatial.
ESRI has released ArcGIS for the iPhone and iPad and is now available for download from the App Store. For images related to the App release please see Veryspatial.com for a review and the iTune web page for to download the app for free.
