The Role of the Cartography and Geographic Information Systems Department in the Census

The Cartography and GIS Department has largely contributed to conducting the census whether before or during implementing the field activities of the census. The Department also contributed to data dissemination after completing the census. The following explains the tasks to which the Cartography and GIS Department contributed during the different stages of the census. 

·         Preparation stage

The Cartography and GIS Department contributed the following during the census preparation stage:

1.       Prepare the Manual of the Palestinian Localities 2007

A national committee was formed of the relevant ministries and agencies to review and update the Manual of the Palestinian Localities to reflect the changes on the ground that had occurred since the preparation of the manual in 1997. This was a basic step in the preparation for the Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 2007. The committee reviewed and updated the manual in line with the PCBS definition of a locality and in line with the decisions of the Ministry of Local Governance.

The localities manual 2007 was prepared using the same mechanism used in 1997 and 1999; however, the necessary procedures required by changes and developments at localities were taken.

2.       Statistical divisions proposal and the enumeration area standards

A work team of the Cartography and GIS Department, the Standards and Methods Department, and representatives from other PCBS departments was formed to review the division of the localities to enumeration areas. The team also provided recommendations and explanations about the proposed statistical divisions for the 2007 Census as well as standards for the enumeration areas. The team prepared a proposal for dividing the localities to enumeration areas. Such division was based on a group of similar standards used in the 1997 census with adding a condition that the boundaries of the enumeration areas must be within the boundaries of the statistical areas.

3.       Basic standards for defining the type of locality

The Cartography and GIS Department played a key role in preparing a proposal for classifying the type of locality that suited the Palestinian society. The proposal relied on a number of standards taking into consideration the UN recommendations and the experiences of the neighboring countries, which have similar general locality characteristics. A team was first formed of PCBS employees to set up a proposal for the type of locality. A national committee was then formed of PCBS, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Interior and National Security, specialist from local universities, and specialists from the Association of Local Authorities. The committee developed the proposal to be in line with the international recommendations and the particular Palestinian situations.

4.       Updating the maps and dividing the localities into enumeration areas

PCBS prepared urban areas maps of the localities, available to PCBS, in 1996. These maps needed to be updated before conducting the 2007 census so that they would show the real urban areas situation. The Department carried out a huge project in 2006 to update the maps of the urban areas of all localities in the Palestinian Territory in the field and at the office. Also, the localities were divided into new enumeration areas in accordance with previously prepared standards. The divisions were shown on the maps during the phase of updating the maps at the office.

5.       Provide the necessary copies of maps for the census

The Cartography and GIS Department provided two copies of the maps of the urban areas of the localities. Copies of the maps were prepared in the form of full posters and given to supervisors. Other copies were made for the observers in the form of enumeration areas. The observers’ copy was used during the census to number the buildings on the ground and the maps in addition to using it to spot the buildings and housing units.

6.       Training on the use of the maps (at the office and in the field)

Maps are among the most important tools needed for organizing the field work of the population, housing, and establishments censuses especially in the phases of delineation of the enumeration areas and numbering the buildings, housing units, and establishments. Therefore, the staff involved in this area needed to be well-trained on the use of maps. The census directors at the governorates were first trained on the entirety of the tasks related to map use in the census. The supervisors, observers, and counters were later trained because most of them were not used to detailed maps and to avoid any events where they may fail to accurately distinguish the boundaries of the enumeration areas; hence, fail to use the maps. They were also trained to the mechanism and signs of delineation of the enumeration areas and numbering buildings, housing units, and establishments.

§         Implementing the census in the field

The Cartography and GIS Department played a significant role in the phase of implementing the census in the field. The Department took part in the following:

1.       Delineation of enumeration areas phase

The maps were used to recognize the required boundaries of the enumeration area in the process of delineation of the enumeration areas and localities. The Department carried out the continuous process of following up through telephone calls and field visits as well as the intensive work to provide solutions at the office to the problems that faced the supervisors in defining the boundaries of some of the enumeration areas.

2.       The phase of numbering the buildings, housing units, and establishments in the filed

The observer was assigned to number the buildings, housing units, and establishments on the ground and to write such numbers on the map of the enumeration area. When the numbering process and the counting booklets were completed, the observer  would update the map if necessary. The updating process includes drawing the buildings that are not already on the map. Also, removing what is on the map but does not exist on the ground and adjusting the numbers of the housing units and the floors in each building according to the existing situation upon the observers inspection and numbering of the building. The Department contributed at this stage by providing the necessary directives and consultations and solving many problems through telephone calls, field visits, and intensive office work.

§         Dissemination of census data

The Cartography and GIS Department created a specialized site on the Statistical Atlas of Palestine website to post statistical maps from the data of the Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 2007. GIS were used in producing and disseminating such statistical maps, which covered the most important indicators of the census in all population, social, geographic, and economic statistical areas at all geographic levels. The department also produces a hard copy of the statistical atlas, which covers the most important census indicators at all geographic levels. Moreover, the department produces several statistical maps of the census data for the different statistical departments of PCBS.