Census Mapping: Testing the Limts

Book excerpt: Plans for US Census Bureau mapping in support of the 1990 decennial census called for a revolution in map production techniques. Automation was the key element for every aspect of the mapping process. Awards for exceptional map design were sacrificed for speed, volume, cost and schedules. Creativity took on new meaning for Census Bureau cartographers in their efforts to accommodate challenging and oftentimes conflicting map design and production requirements. Conceptual automated mapping became virtual automatyed mapping. The timely dissemination of various map types not only supported census taking operations, but also complemented data products resulting from the 1990 census. The open distribution of the information in the TIGER data base and TIGER-derived maps propelled use of geographic information systems and 1990 census statistical data significantly. Freedom from copyright restriction increased user access to rpoducts and the data sets on which they were based, thereby stimulating not only public use, but also private sector development. By concentrating on automating mapping procedures rather than refinements in map design, the use of 1990 census statistics reached greater numbers of data users. Higher quality maps were sacrificed for increased numbers of map types varying by content and format, achieved at reduced cost and time.