Providing Consistent and Flexible GIS for the U.S.-Mexico Border: An Integrated Dual-Census Database Design

Author: James Hettrick
Organization: University of Redlands

University of Redlands
1200 East Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373--0999
USA

The paper discusses a University of Redlands research project that designed a dual-census, integrated GIS database for the U.S.-Mexico border region. Access relational database structures were established for the U.S. census, Mexican census, and Mexican Conteo data. They allow systematic treatment of the attributes and export of the attribute data to ArcView GIS for joining on the geography. The design offers the advantages of complex attribute ratio computations, consistent bicensal record and table structures, flexible retrieval, built-in documentation, and enhanced support to binational mapping. This paper benefits planners trying to synthesize census data for GIS from two or more censuses.