Videos Aid Thousands in Using Maptitude to Submit Map Boundaries to the US Census

NEWTON, MA (USA) - In a new video series, the Census Bureau demonstrates how to use custom Maptitude mapping software to identify, make, and report digital boundary updates.

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) annually to update information about the legal boundaries and names of all governmental units in the United States. The Census Bureau uses the boundary information to organize data for the decennial and economic censuses, and annual estimates and surveys such as the American Community Survey.

Caliper Corporation developed the Maptitude-based MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) for five major Census Bureau data programs, including BAS, for the 2010 Census. These applications are available as web and Windows versions to over 40,000 state, local, and tribal governments to enhance the Census Bureau’s Master Address File (MAF) and TIGER geospatial database of roads, legal and administrative boundaries, and geographical area reporting units for Census and survey data. These updates were essential for the success of the 2010 decennial population census and the many subsequent activities such as congressional, state legislative and local redistricting, the allocation of federal funds to local and state governments, and the publishing of Census data.

There are a number of reasons correct Census data are important to you. Census data are used not only to apportion seats in the House of Representatives but also to appropriate federal monies in over 1000 programs administered by 26 federal agencies. Most of the funds for these programs are distributed by formulas that use Census data such as total population, population by age group, gender, income, and housing characteristics. For instance, the 2010 numbers are used to decide how more than $400 billion per year is allocated for infrastructure projects, such as new hospitals and schools, and services like job training centers. Census data also provides the statistical support for grant applications that fund community social, economic, and environmental programs as well as other community improvements and enhancements. Census data helps your town to plan for future needs. For example, if Census data reveals that your community has a growing number of individuals nearing retirement age, you may have a future need for more assisted living options.

The Maptitude-based solution enabled the Census Bureau to meet a number of important goals such as reducing or eliminating the production, shipping, and handling of paper maps; making participation more convenient; reducing processing cycle time; and improving the accuracy of the Census geographic databases.