I need to collect data (a lot of it) in regards to US demographics (population per block track level) 2010 for New York and San Francisco area. Aside from manually clicking on each block and recording the data in an Excel spreadsheet, is there an easier way? Is it possible to access a text file for this data??
In Ye Olde Methods of data collection, pre-Google Earth, it'd usually be easier to find the information by going through the census website (http://www.census.gov) and poking around. Depending on the demographic information you want, you may be able to find stuff pretty quickly through searching. Is population all you want, or do you want economic census information / housing information / demographics and race / whatever else as well? The information is all collected at different times, I get the impression.
Curiously, the release schedule for the 2010 information (http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2010/glance/index.html) seems to suggest we'd get data by February at the earliest - does Google have some kind of in, or is the data out there already, or are they working off estimates? Given the page for Google Earth Pro, it looks like it might be the latter? I haven't had to use census data for some time ;-)
This probably isn't helpful for Google Earth, and there might be faster ways to go about it, but this is what I'd do, off the top of my head: If you had access to a proper GIS program (not familiar with Google Earth Pro), I'd think that it would be easier to find the 2010 GIS datasets (or whatever estimates you are using), use the appropriate commands to combine the data tables for the information you want (and delete the information you don't), and then import the resulting data file (probably a .dbf) into Excel. It's like three commands or so.
The resources you'd need are a proper GIS program and a series of datasets with the proper information. There are a variety of open-source GIS programs out there - check out QGIS or MapWindow GIS.
As for the information, I guess it'd depend on what you needed. I think the datasets are on the census website somewhere - if not, the local state website might have it.
Or, you could just get the dbfs for each datset that has information you want, and combine them by tract information (either in some kind of database program or by sorting the data in both the 'base' dataset - probably population - and any other tract-based information you might have by tract id, and then copy over into one file while spot-checking to make sure that the information all lines up), obviating the need for GIS entirely. (I personally prefer to look at geographic information to get a 'feel' for what I'm looking at, but it's not always necessary.)
Also, if you have the .kml file that is the basis for the map stored on your computer, you can probably open it in a text editor to get a look - it should be an xml-formatted, human-readable file. There's a way to import XML-based files into Excel (http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/import-xml-data-HP010206405.aspx) once you know the schema.
apologies for not starting a new thread: I am curious to know if either of the above mentioned open source GIS apps have a 3D export functionality (for building heights, topo, etc)
GIS isn't really known for its ability to work well in the third Dee. I'd imagine that the information most useful for you is topographic and building information - you probably don't actually need GIS to export the shapefiles.
I once saw a tutorial that showed a pretty clear process for importing vector and DEM terrain information into Rhino. However, I can't find it now, but this source looks more interesting:
If you're doing actual analysis with GIS and want to import the results using open-source software, you might find some utilities using GRASS GIS (for which QGIS can be used as a graphical front, but I don't have a lot of experience with using the software in this way).
Google Earth Pro Question
I need to collect data (a lot of it) in regards to US demographics (population per block track level) 2010 for New York and San Francisco area. Aside from manually clicking on each block and recording the data in an Excel spreadsheet, is there an easier way? Is it possible to access a text file for this data??
In Ye Olde Methods of data collection, pre-Google Earth, it'd usually be easier to find the information by going through the census website (http://www.census.gov) and poking around. Depending on the demographic information you want, you may be able to find stuff pretty quickly through searching. Is population all you want, or do you want economic census information / housing information / demographics and race / whatever else as well? The information is all collected at different times, I get the impression.
Curiously, the release schedule for the 2010 information (http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2010/glance/index.html) seems to suggest we'd get data by February at the earliest - does Google have some kind of in, or is the data out there already, or are they working off estimates? Given the page for Google Earth Pro, it looks like it might be the latter? I haven't had to use census data for some time ;-)
This probably isn't helpful for Google Earth, and there might be faster ways to go about it, but this is what I'd do, off the top of my head: If you had access to a proper GIS program (not familiar with Google Earth Pro), I'd think that it would be easier to find the 2010 GIS datasets (or whatever estimates you are using), use the appropriate commands to combine the data tables for the information you want (and delete the information you don't), and then import the resulting data file (probably a .dbf) into Excel. It's like three commands or so.
The resources you'd need are a proper GIS program and a series of datasets with the proper information. There are a variety of open-source GIS programs out there - check out QGIS or MapWindow GIS.
As for the information, I guess it'd depend on what you needed. I think the datasets are on the census website somewhere - if not, the local state website might have it.
Or, you could just get the dbfs for each datset that has information you want, and combine them by tract information (either in some kind of database program or by sorting the data in both the 'base' dataset - probably population - and any other tract-based information you might have by tract id, and then copy over into one file while spot-checking to make sure that the information all lines up), obviating the need for GIS entirely. (I personally prefer to look at geographic information to get a 'feel' for what I'm looking at, but it's not always necessary.)
Also, if you have the .kml file that is the basis for the map stored on your computer, you can probably open it in a text editor to get a look - it should be an xml-formatted, human-readable file. There's a way to import XML-based files into Excel (http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/import-xml-data-HP010206405.aspx) once you know the schema.
apologies for not starting a new thread: I am curious to know if either of the above mentioned open source GIS apps have a 3D export functionality (for building heights, topo, etc)
GIS isn't really known for its ability to work well in the third Dee. I'd imagine that the information most useful for you is topographic and building information - you probably don't actually need GIS to export the shapefiles.
I once saw a tutorial that showed a pretty clear process for importing vector and DEM terrain information into Rhino. However, I can't find it now, but this source looks more interesting:
http://www.educationgis.com/2010/10/geomodeling-plugin-for-rhino-4-free.html
If you're doing actual analysis with GIS and want to import the results using open-source software, you might find some utilities using GRASS GIS (for which QGIS can be used as a graphical front, but I don't have a lot of experience with using the software in this way).
Also, this looks helpful:
http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/gis/manual/rhinoterrain/index.htm
I remember a GIS app in school (arcmap?) that had a sketchup export functionality--really slick for elevating buildings and topo lines in the z
I wouldn't be surprised if it's ArcMap. However, ESRI software is awfully expensive, which is why I suggested open-source software.
If all you're doing with software that expensive is elevating topo lines and buildings, you aren't getting your money's worth ;-)
I didn't pay, the school did!
thanks though
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