Adopting Web-based GIS system as a modern method of Official Statistics dissemination by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

Mosab Abualhayja ()

Keywords: GIS, Web-based, Visualization, Interactive maps, Dissemination.

1.  Introduction

Recently, Geographic information system (GIS) technology has become an integral component of many dissemination systems on a very wide range. As a result, Web-based GIS applications have become an essential tool for disseminating geographical information in digital map format on the internet because of their platform independence, interactivity, and wide accessibility.

This paper briefly focuses on the Web-based GIS dissemination system used by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). This trend of dissemination was first adopted in 2006, as the need arises for up-to date statistical data related to various indicators and different statistical divisions.

It also shed more light on some of these applications, like the Geographical Database [1] and Interactive Atlas[2], both form an applicable and easy way for users to explore all kind of data offered by PCBS in different preventative methods depending on visualization techniques, using either graduated coloured maps, charts or symbols, in a way the user can decide depending on a list of statistical indicators and statistical divisions.

2.  Methods

Statistical data of numerous indicators can be transferred into interactive maps that match every statistical number with its geographical source for which it leads the user to mainly understand, deduce results and hence come up with the right decision.

Figure 1. Data presentation process

PCBS have a lot of experience through the last decade in using GIS technology and how it manage to evolve it system of dissemination since the last census in 2007 and follow up with the latest technologies. Especially, the wide preparations for the third population, housing and establishment census 2017 that still in progress. So, PCBS will publish the next Census data on the web-based GIS System ad it did in the last Census.

Figure 2. PCBS Geographical Dissemination system

The table below illustrate the main differences between the Traditional and the Web-based GIS dissemination approaches:

Table 1. Main differences between dissemination approaches

Difference / Approach / Traditional dissemination system / Web-based GIS dissemination system
Usability / A lot of time needed to get what you need. / Less time through user friendly (easy to use) web based interface.
Published Data / Static data sources / dynamic Database
No. of Published Indicators / Limited / Unlimited
Data Representation / Text, Table, Simple Graphs / Dynamic maps, symbological methods, graphs, tables, reports, etc.
No. of Users Reached / Limited / Unlimited

3.  Objectives and goals:

(a)  Dissemination of statistical data produced by surveys and censuses using recent technologies.
(b)  Publication of statistics in a way that make it easier and more representative for users to understand, through providing a friendly user interface.
(c)  Linking statistics with geographical location through the use of GIS software in the production of geographical dissemination system.
(d)  Offering more detailed analytical tools in order to enable users to get data on a wider range regarding geographic levels by using different scientific methods such as graduated colours, categories, charts, tables, etc.

4.  Obstacles and Challenges:

PCBS had faced many obstacles in preparing and publishing this system especially raising funds as it's one of ESRI software which is highly expensive, also staff working on this system lack to experience since it's difficult in Palestine to be updated by the latest means of global trainings.

In order to overcome these obstacles and regarding PCBS wise administration in adoption of new technologies in the statistical field, PCBS tries its best to offer the needed requirements to accomplish this project successfully.

5.  Results

The results of this paper will aim to draw the attention of public sector in general and private sector in specific to the great importance of using these types of web based applications as well as the benefit of them that lies basically in reducing the gap between these two sectors. Also the urge need for offering a permanent and renewable information source, using the maps as a presentation tool.

6.  Conclusions

We can conclude that using Web-based GIS dissemination system provides the ability to distribute spatial and statistical information widely and easily. It enables the user to compare between the past and the present and give him a look into the future. It saves time and effort required by researchers, students and other users to analyse data and help them in understanding and manipulating it through linking data to its location on the map.

In addition, adopting this dissemination method is considered as an important output of PCBS as well as it is considered a developed method of statistical data dissemination. It is a distinguished and qualitative transfer in the Bureau work, as it includes computerized statistical maps using the latest technologies and programs used in GIS.

Also, this method of dissemination aims in general to present statistics in an attractive and easy way, that links data to its spatial location on the computerized maps which are considered an easy method for producing data. In addition to that there are many specific goals achieved by using this system such as: offering a wider domain for the user to choose and build maps (from available data) according to his needs and offering a permanent and renewable information source, using the maps as a presentation tool.

References

Data sources for this paper are based on the official web links for the Geographical database and Interactive Atlas provided by PCBS.

[1] http://gis.pcbs.gov.ps/gdbs

[2] http://atlas.pcbs.gov.ps

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