GEOSPATIAL DATA REPORT : Finding and Using GIS Data

http://www.huduser.org/Datasets/nsp_foreclosure_data.html

HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) local level foreclosure data is a statistically generated dataset to estimate a foreclosure rate as small as at a tract level. The data was created, under a new law, Economic Recovery Act of 2008, to assist local efforts to sustain high risk neighborhoods by acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties. Since foreclosure data is not readily available (no public & nationwide data sources available), some users may find the data useful. Remember: the data is not actual data but estimated numbers using public datasets – read the methdoroloogy document!

[Image left - HUD NSP Foreclosure Rate in Chicago metropolitan area (sorry, I forgot to add a legend!) - click on the image to enlarge]

http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/usgrid/

“The U.S. Census Grids provide raster data sets that include not only population and housing counts, but a wide variety of socioeconomic characteristics. These gridded data sets transform irregularly shaped census block and block group boundaries into a regular surface – a raster grid – for faster and easier analysis. Data sets are currently available for the year 2000. Data sets for 1990 are scheduled for release in early 2007.” Accessed on 1/19/09.

Visit also Berkeley/Penn Urban & Environmental Modeler’s Dataset for similar raster datasets.

http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/plue/cenguide.html

I prefer to use block data for community analysis as long as data is available. You probably know you can obtain 1990 & 2000 census block level data (SF1/STF1 and also boundary files) quite easily, but if you want to map 1980 data at a block level, you need this CIESIN’s archival dataset!

The Archive of Census Related Products is a collection of georeferenced data files containing census information. 1980 Census boundary files, including blocks, are available from here in the BNA format – see under “Boundary Files“. Once you download BNA files, you can convert the BNA files to MapInfo MIF format files using BNA2MIF.exe (DOS executable – download from ftp://ftp.ciesin.org/pub/census/usa/contrib/bna2mif/), and then convert MIF to Shapefiles using ArcView tool, MIF to Shape (available in ArcView 3.x or ArcCatalog’s ArcView 8x Tools set.)

Here is how the BNA2MIF.exe works:

1. Save bna2mif.exe and input files (.bna file) in the same directory.
2. Open a command prompt (cmd.exe), change directory (cd) to the directory where bna2mif.exe and input files reside.
3. Run (syntax: start) the executable using the following syntax:

Syntax: (program)   (input)             (output)
bna2mif     bxxxxx.bna     bxxxxx

4. This will generate:  bxxxxx.mif and bxxxxx.mid, MapInfo import files. Note: Input and output files do not necessarily need to have the same name.

<Example>
C:\>cd C:\thedirectory
C:\thedirecoty>start bna2mif bxxxxx.bna output

Once you have the 1980 block boundary files, all you need is accompanying attribute data. Obtain 1980 block statistics attribute data, Census of Population and Housing 1980 Summary Tape File 1B, from ICPSR, http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR07975

http://www.nhgis.org/

Download historical census data & cartographic boundary files (states, counties & tracts.) The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a project to create and freely disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information for the United States between 1790 and 2000.  Registration (free!) is required to access files.

Census tract data was first collected in 1910 for selected cities only (NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Baltimore, Boston, and Pittsburgh) and was later expanded to the whole nation in 1940 (still urbanized areas only.) [Reference - learn more about the Census tract data history from this Census's history website or from the following book: Bulmer, Martin. 1986. The Chicago School of Sociology. P. 157-.]

http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/

Another resource for GIS census data. TIGER base line data, streets & railroads, and also detailed boundary files, blocks, (not available from the US Census boundary files site above) are available. Users can also download accompanying basic demographic and housing data from the 2000 Census Summary File 1 for various geographic levels.

Click on “Preview and Download” on the left to access the files.

http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/estat/toukeiChiri.do?method=init

Click on the second item, ダウンロード, to access downloadable files. Since the previous GISPlaza (統計GIS in Japanese) site isn’t accessible (http://gisplaza.stat.go.jp/GISPlaza) I am guessing this is the newer version of the GIS data and statistics website..

The GIS Plaza of Statistics provides small area statistics including censuses and industry/business surveys (down to either cities/places or wards if applicable)  and thematic maps showing the distribution of statistical indicators for small areas (i.e. subdivision of municipalities.) Here are step-by-step instructions on how to download boundary data & data tables, http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/NetHelp10/WordDocuments/_95.htm.  Here is another instructional document on how to use the interactive mapping website, http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/NetHelp10/WordDocuments/_16.htm. Note: text in Japanese only – use Google Translate or other language tools to get some ideas. .  Visit also http://www.stat.go.jp/english/ for other statistics on Japan in English.