Enabling SDMX-based Retrieval and Spatio-statistical Analysis of National Census and Related Datasets

This paper describes a collaborative project between the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the University of Queensland eResearch Lab and a number of social science research centres across Australia - that provides programmatic access to ABS Census data sets to enable its re-use within a range of research projects. The project successfully demonstrates machine-to-machine access to 2011 Census data through a federated data hub model that dynamically delivers statistical datasets to the research community. Using an SDMX web services approach, combined with advanced data analytics and visualization services available through the AURIN workbench, social scientists are able to manipulate and visualize national census data overlaid with other related data sets through a sophisticated mapping interface. Integrated statistical analysis services (R-based) also enable social scientists to quantify correlations between different demographic and socio-economic parameters. A number of socio-economic use-cases are presented that illustrate how the system enables researchers to understand and quantify changes in industry sectors, labor force needs, employment, population needs and disadvantage, over space and time. The paper also outlines problems and limitations revealed through the demonstrator projects, lessons learnt and areas that will require further effort to deliver optimum access to national census data sets and associated e-social science infrastructure for both the Australian and global social science community.