Tuesday 14th July      Wednesday 15th July      Thursday 16th July      Friday 17th July     

Wednesday 15th July, 16:00 - 17:30 Room: HT-103

Uses of Geographic Information Systems Tools in Survey Data Collection & Analysis
Convenor	Dr Stephanie Eckman (IAB )
Coordinator 1	Mr Ned English (NORC)

Session Details

The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related tools to survey data collection and analysis has dramatically increased in recent years. Traditionally, GIS tools have been applied primarily in the frame construction, sampling, and data collection phases of survey research. More recently, researchers have begun to use records of interviewer travel to detect falsification and determine how to make data collection more efficient. The techniques of geostatistics and geospatial models can provide new methods for studying and reducing nonresponse and measurement error. As these technologies become less expensive and easier to use, and geographic data becomes more widely available on the web, we expect survey researchers to find even more uses for these tools. While we embrace these tools, however, we should also maintain a healthy skepticism about their capabilities and limitations.

This series of sessions at the ESRA 2015 conference will bring together survey researchers from different countries to discuss novel applications of GIS technology to data collection and analysis and to share ideas. We encourage papers that discuss the use GIS or GPS technologies in any stage of the survey process, and how these tools can help us understand, reduce or adjust for different error sources. We are also interested in papers that review errors in GIS technology and how they can impact survey quality.

Paper Details

1. Fantasyland: Comparing Subjective and Objective Measures of Farm Land Area in Household Surveys
Ms Sydney Gourlay (World Bank Group)
Dr Calogero Carletto (World Bank Group)
Ms Siobhan Murray (World Agroforestry Centre)

Using purposely collected data from methodological validation studies conducted in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, this paper analyses the use of farmer self-reported area estimation against the primary objective measurement alternatives: GPS and the traditional traversing (or “compass and rope”) method. Guided by analytical results, and with consideration for practical household survey implementation, the paper proposes a set of recommendations for plot area measurement with a focus on self-reported estimates, GPS measurement, compass and rope measurement, and the use of remote sensing imagery. Results largely point to the support of GPS measurement, with simultaneous collection of self-reported areas.

2. NORC PLACES: An interactive GIS-enabled tool for sharing and displaying community generated information about location specific obstacles to field work
Mr Kyle Fennell (NORC)

This paper shares the results of an NORC initiative designed to improve efficiency and efficacy of field activities through the creation of a structured repository for location specific challenges and a GIS enabled tool for searching, displaying, and annotating information stored in this database

3. Can you hear me now? GIS applications for sampling and analysis on a survey of aircraft noise annoyance.
Mr Eric Jodts (Westat)
Mr Michael Giangrande (Westat)
Ms Pam Broene (Westat)
Dr Sharon Lohr (Vice President, Westat)

GIS tools used in sampling and analysis were critical to the success of a study on aircraft noise annoyance. In the sampling stage, noise exposure contours for the areas around sampled airports were obtained and GIS software was used to convert them into zones covering 5 dB bands. The intersection of address location with a noise exposure zone provided the universe of addresses for our sampling frame. In the analysis stage, the latitude and longitude for each address was matched to Census block providing demographic data to analyze response propensity and the propensity to be highly annoyed by aircraft noise.

4. A GIS-based technique for sample building: the experience of the Issp in Italy
Professor Cinzia Meraviglia (University of Eastern Piedmont, Italy)
Dr Gianni Bregolin (Quantitas srl / Venice Gateway for Science and Technology, Italy)

The use of directories as starting points for building a representative probabilistic sample has increasingly been challenged. The phone directory produces severe undercoverage errors, while in countries like Italy the electoral/population registers are not available in electronic format. The Italian Issp research team developed an innovative GIS-based sampling frame which, through a reverse geocoding function, sampled addresses, instead than individuals. The paper illustrates the steps through which the sample of the 2009 and 2010-2011 Issp surveys was built, and the procedures used to make the actual fieldwork mirror the designed sampling frame.

5. Intelligent geocoding service for recurring origin-destination surveys
Mr Ihor Reshetnov (KIIS, NaUKMA)

Collection of geo-data is the main objective of origin-destination surveys, such as measurement of metropolis passenger traffic. When the usage of gps-modules or other technical means is not suitable by survey design, CATI or f2f surveys are used for retrospective or prospective data gathering from the words of the respondent. Having incomplete or incorrect address information gathered multiplied by large sample size shows great demand for intelligent geocoding software. I’d like to share experience with passenger traffic measurement in Kiev and present design of derived software solution, which might facilitate recurring geocoding needs in same regions.