Merging statistics and geospatial information, 2012 projects - Malta
This article forms part of Eurostat’s statistical report on Merging statistics and geospatial information: 2019 edition.
Final report 15 November 2014
Full article
Problem
The lack of a coherent strategy for developing georeferenced information, in terms of internal coordination and knowledge sharing within the national statistical office (NSO), in relation to other external data providers, and with respect to end users.
Objectives
The aim of this project was to review the NSO’s capacity for geographic information system (GIS) spatial data creation, the generation of maps and the dissemination of data through its website. In other words, the project sought to create a working model covering the full data cycle from data sourcing through to dissemination which could subsequently be used by the NSO.
Method
The project started by examining the legislative and operational environment to understand how data were managed and disseminated as well as to identify any weaknesses. The project also looked at perceived needs of the general public and officials in terms of data dissemination.
The second phase of the project focused on the identification of datasets that could be used for mapping alongside the development and implementation of two training courses designed to demonstrate how to make use of these data.
The third phase concerned the development of dissemination technologies along with a training manual.
A network was set up between the national statistics office and other data providers in order to provide a means for the work to continue after the end of the project. It concluded by disseminating data and raising awareness of the results among local administrations, educational establishments as well as public and private organisations.
Results
The project identified a set of principal datasets that were mainly taken from the 2011 census exercise. It created a transposition process, produced maps from the datasets and identified the best technology for online and media dissemination (based on employing INSPIRE data specifications, metadata and geoserver technologies). The focus of the project was on data for local administrative units (LAUs); at this spatial level there are 68 local councils in Malta.
The project also produced an analysis of (users’) perceptions of spatial information as well as providing training to staff in the national statistics office.
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