Mapping and Reporting Data: How to Read a Map

Mapping Layers can be used to visualise spatial data and comparing its index with other locations. There are two main types of mapping layers to be mindful of:

• Index Penetration Maps - Most common maps used in the explorer.

• Custom Maps - Custom built maps by RDA .

There are three key factors to understand about these Mapping Layers to interpret them successfully:

• Index: How the map is visualised - The index score is calculated for each Census Area and coloured accordingly to the displayed Legend.

• Mean: Used to define the Index, the average penetration represents the Index’s benchmark. This mean excludes areas where there are null/zero values and only uses areas which hold values for the variable being viewed.

• Benchmarking region: The region with which the variable is being benchmarked against.

Understanding an Index

An Index Score of 100 represents an Area with the equivalent proportions - or average amount - as the Benchmark Region.

If an Area has 50% females, in a country with 50% females, the Index Score will be 100

When the score is below 100, that Area has less than the Benchmark Region.

If an Area has 25% females, in a country with 50% females, the Index Score will be 50

When the score is above 100, that Area has more than the Benchmark Region.

If an area has 75% females, in a country with 50% females, the Index Score will be 150

This Score can be inferred as saying how many times greater - or less - the presence of a characteristic is, by dividing the Score by 100.

150 = 1.5 therefore it is 1.5 times greater than the average for the Benchmark Region

200 = 2 therefore it is 2 times greater than the average for the Benchmark Region

80 = 0.8 therefore it is 0.8 times - or 80% -  of the average for the Benchmark Region

These assign an individual value to each Census Area corresponding to the categories in the Legend. For example, geoSmart Segment Mapping Layer.

geoSmart Segments

Selecting the geoSmart segments mapping layer will present its 11 key level groups on the map. As shown below, selecting show “Show 55 Level Segments” will go into greater detail, displaying the full list of segments. Hovering over a segment on the list will cause them to move on the map.

Locate an information page for a particular segment by selecting it on the list or where it appears the map.

Urban Census Areas have their boundaries coloured in according to the Mapping Layer Legend, whereas Non-urban Census Areas are represented by dots that are coloured according to the same Legend. This is done to give a fairer representation of the population density differences that occur between Urban and Non-urban areas. These dots are population weighed centroids derived from household locations within each Census Area. This ensures the dots are an accurate reflection of the distribution of people within Non-urban Areas.

The definition of what constitutes an Urban Area is unique to each country's Census Areas:

• Australia - Explorer defines urban environments according to those which are Urban Centres and Localities, and Significant Urban Areas. With any SA1 not meeting their criteria classified as non-urban and represented as a dot.

• New Zealand - Urban environments use the Urban Area classification, with any SA1 not meeting the criteria classified as non-urban and represented as a dot.

• USA, United Kingdom and Canada - Note *