Abstract

Mapping American Community Survey Data with ArcGIS and Extension
Track: Census and Statistical
Authors: David Wong

Decennial census data have been widely used to evaluate the spatial distributions of various socioeconomic and housing characteristics. The data were quite reliable and results of analysis were often not questioned. But after 2000 Census, many socioeconomic and housing data are not available from the decennial census but from the American Community Survey (ACS). Due to sample sizes much smaller than those in previous decennial censuses, using ACS data should take into account of their reliabilities, which are indicated by their margins of error (MOEs). Spatial patterns of estimates seem to exist may not be valid anymore when errors of estimates are considered. In this presentation, we describe some of the reliability issues of ACS data. We propose a few map designs that can incorporate estimate reliability information. In addition, we will demonstrate how ArcGIS can be used to map ACS data with reliability information.