What?
This Project has been updated on BetaWorks with a new prototype based on your valuable feedback. Thank you!
In 2011, the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) was replaced by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The ASGS comprises a hierarchy of geographic regions on which the ABS will release area based statistical data.
The ASGS separates geographies built and defined by the ABS from those not defined by the ABS such as Local Government Areas. This is facilitated using a small building block region called the Mesh Block, to which data is coded, but generally not released. This allows ABS Statistical Areas to be designed to reflect functional, rather than administrative areas, as well as meeting the specific population and geographic requirements of individual statistical collections. It also allows them to be far more stable, they will only be updated every 5 years rather than every year as currently occurs. This will facilitate far better comparability of data between geographic regions and over time.
Over the last five years, ABS Geography have engaged with ABS business areas, particularly the Census of Population and Housing, Labour Force and the Demography areas, as well as a range of external specialists, clients and data providers to develop the design concepts and boundaries for the ASGS. The implementation of the ASGS into ABS statistical collections is the final stage in the development of the ASGS.
The aim of the ASGS Boundaries Online Phase 1 project is to enable a user to quickly search for a location, visualise ASGS boundaries at various scales and compare between different boundaries. In addition, ASGS Boundaries Online provides information on the ASGS.
It is a web based mapping application developed using ARCGIS Server. The focus of the system is to present, search and investigates the ASGS and the design of the application is tailored specifically to that aim. No ABS statistics are available through this system.
Why?
The ASGS is fundamentally different from the previous geography standard, the ASGC. There is a requirement to inform external users of the ASGS and to support it implementation. To this end a visualisation mechanism that is widely available through a web interface would enable the key users and the general public to both understand the new structures of the ASGS and to interact with the ASGS boundaries.
#1: Tami
Hi Geography Team,
I work NIRS in the ABS and found this mapping tool one of the most useful tools to show people .I have had no complaints from clients so far. Thanks for this product.
#2: Susan
A very useful tool for comparing regions. Can you add 2006 UCL boundaries so we can compare them with 2011 UCL boundaries?
#3: Betaworks
Sophia
Yes, Remoteness Areas and Urban Centres and Localities will be added to ASGS Boundaries Online. The aim of the application is to allow users to learn about, and compare between all ASGS boundaries (and even some old ASGC ones).
It is expected that a new beta version, which will include 2011 RAs and UCLS will be release shortly.
#4: sophia
It there a plan for this map to identify remoteness areas according to ASGS? no remoteness information is shown on this map. Doctorconnect map shows remoteness based on ASGC-RA. I thought remoteness classification had been changed from 2011 (ABS release Jan 2013) but I cannot find any map to show that.
many thanks for your help
#5: Betaworks
Abby,
There will be a way to save a map, but at the moment because of how Betawork implements security, this fails to work as designed.
When this application is released on the full ABS web site users will be able to click on the "Map Link" button which will provide a web link (a URL) that can be stored as a bookmark or emailed to others.
The URL stores all the parameters required to recreate the map the user has constructed.
I hope that helps.
#6: Betaworks
Mel,
Thanks for the feedback. Sorry to hear you had problems with the application loading. We are actively working to improve performance and a new improved version will be provided on Betaworks shortly.
This issue with the keyboard navigation of a map interface is particularly difficult to solve. We will try and improve the situation.
I'm afraid the ASGS Boundaries Online application will not allow users to add their own boundaries. There are limits to what can be achieved within a web application and the priority is to provide a fast and simple tool to visualise the ASGS.
#7: Betaworks
Heather,
Thanks for the positive feedback. ASGS Boundaries Online has been designed as a general tool for learning about and investigating the ASGS. Geography is hard to explain without a picture!
It should enable the National Information Referral Service to communicate more easily with clients.
Try the Download/Display and Hyperlinks options again. We are updating this application as we make improvements. If it still does not work send a email to geography@abs.gov.au
#8: BetaWorks
Geoff,
You can find SA1 number 10101100422 by selecting the Search button, in the ASGS Hierarchy search expanding
Main Statistical Area Structure (Main ASGS) > New South Wales > Capital Region > Goulburn - Yass > Yass Region
and selecting region 1100422.
#9: Geoff
SA1 number 10101100422 does not show up on the map, but has data and a considerable area. Can you tell me where it is within the Yass Region please (and whether its apparent omission has affected another SA1). This is the only glitch I have found in what is an exceptionally helpful program. Congratulations on opening this data up to ordinary users.
#10: Heather
I thought this would be a good tool for Indigenous area enquiries but they're not available in the 'Identify' section. Could these please be added? This would be extremely useful especially for the 'compare' geographies.
n.b. Drainage divisions are not a highly sought after geography boundary type...could it be swapped if there is no more room?
[This is an excellent tool for printing out detailed maps, with location references, which is often why I refer clients to this tool.]
#11: Abby
Is there any way that I can save a map? Everytime I try to save it as a picture it only shows a portion of the area.
#12: Ruth
I couldn't believe how long it took me to find this! I have registered to use Table Builder, but couldn't find anything anywhere on the ABS web-site to help me select the SA1s that I needed. This map needs to be right on the front page, like it used to be for the 2006 Census.
I hope that you can add to the boundaries that can be shown on the map, it would be very helpful, especially a 2006/2011 boundary comparison. But if you don't provide it, could you at least provide pdf map files that people can download if they need that information? Not everyone has mapping software you know! I recall many years ago there was a big boundary redraw, and you could go into the ABS office and view the maps that showed the two layers, so if they could do it 20 years ago you can surely do it now.
#13: Mel
Found maps a bit slow to load, and cumbersome to navigate using the keyboard. But otherwise, fantastically useful tool to visualise relationships between different boundaries, and to see all the geographic details about a specified address. Would be great if there were an option to load user-defined shapefiles (eg Medicare Locals) to compare with ABS boundaries at a glance.
#14: Heather
I referred a client to this during a call to NIRS. Very useful! (Yet I only 'found' it today.)
Great for area comparisons and printing maps with the desired orientation, scale, area code, with map/road detail - rather than the blank grey "immovable" maps in geography publications. GPS coordinates in the online version will be extremely useful for many clients.
I couldn't get the Display/Download or Hyperlink options to work. The identify button is fantastic for pinpointing location details at a glance with all the relevant codes listed in one spot!
Also liked the forward/back arrows so you don't lose your location : )
Any other hints? Please contact NIRS and let us know so we can help clients!
#15: BetaWorks
Chris & Nick,
Thanks for your feedback. We're glad you find this a productive tool.
This product is being actively developed at present and we will make improvements as our knowledge of online web mapping applications matures.
#16: BetaWorks
John,
Thanks for your comments. Glad you noticed the base map. MDS derived and maintained this base map from authoritative PSMA Australia Ltd data and therefore it aligns with the statistical geography.
ASGS Boundaries Online is being actively developed and we are considering adding 2006 Collections Districts.
#17: Chris
I compared the SA1s making up the Tas SEDs. The product worked very well and would be very useful in any assessments of post-Census Tas SED boundary changes.
#18: Nick
Just found this on the ABS site - it does exactly what I wanted, which is to map my organisation's boundaries against ASGS. Satisfied customer!
#19: Karina
This is a fabulous, very useful tool, and would be great for showing clients the changes between the old and new boundaries. We get quite a few queries about that. When comparing SA3 & SA4 boundaries, the maps were quite a bit out from the geography. Just a technical hitch I'm sure, but thought I'd let you know. Hope this product is further developed as we would use it in Client Services when engaging with clients in State or local government.
#20: John
The maps work great - congratulations. Nice to be using Australian base mapping from MDS. It would be helpful if the 2006 CCD boundaries were available so we could compare SA1s with CCDs.
#21: BetaWorks
Edward, thanks for your feedback.
I'm sorry ASGS Boundaries Online didn't work for you. While we have made the application as small as possible, it does require some data describing the boundaries to be downloaded. This can take different amounts of time depending on your internet connection and computer system.
If possible it would be useful if you could provide details on the type of internet connection (Cable, ADSL, dialup) and your computer system to the ABS geography Section email (geography@abs.gov.au)
#22: Edward
After waiting for the s/w to load for 2 minutes and then a second time for 3 minutes, I gave up.
#23: Alister
THe display/download and search tabs are partially obscured and don't work when using either safari or firefox from home