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United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division
Software Approaches for the Dissemination of Statistical Information
UNECE Training Workshop on Dissemination ofMDG Indicators and Statistical Information
Astana, Kazakhstan 23 – 25 November 2009
Steven Vale, UNECE
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2April 20, 2023
Contents
How to choose software What options are available? Monitoring use Constant improvement Summary
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 3
How to Choose Software
Trade off between three constraints:
User needs
Technical infrastructure
Cost(money and staff)
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 4
Options Available
Database dissemination software in order of use in the UNECE region:• PC-Axis• DevInfo• SuperWeb• OECD.Stat• National database systems
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 5
PC-Axis
Set of statistical dissemination tools originally developed by Statistics Sweden
Components developed by other countries• PX-Map – Norway• PX-Graph – Denmark• PX-Edit – Finland• and several others….
www.pc-axis.scb.se
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 7April 20, 2023
PC-Axis Advantages
• Most popular data dissemination software• Flexible, user-driven data extractions• Strong user community• Many optional add-ons are free
Disadvantages• Annual license fee for core software• Need to translate user interfaces to own language
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 8
DevInfo
Developed and managed by UNICEF Specifically designed for disseminating
MDG information Supports tables, graphs and maps Endorsed by the UN Development
Group www.devinfo.org
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 10
DevInfo
Advantages• Free software and support• Used in many developing countries• Specifically designed for MDGs
Disadvantages• Specifically designed for MDGs• May not be suitable for other types of statistics• User interface not easy for first time users
April 20, 2023
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 11April 20, 2023
Other Options
Statbank / PC-Axis – developed and usedby some Nordic statistical agencies
SuperWEB – commercial software from Space-Time Research (Australia)
OECDStat – open source tools used byseveral international statistical agencies
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 12
National Database Software
Advantages• Tailored to national requirements
Disadvantages• Expensive to develop and maintain• Duplication of effort in other statistical agencies
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 13
Monitoring Use
It is essential to regularly check how users are using a database to make sure it remains relevant!• User surveys (discussed yesterday)• Other user feedback• Data downloads• Web site “hits”
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 14
Data Downloads
Most accurate measure of use - records when users find something interesting
Monthly, weekly or even daily download information creates a useful time series
Consider splitting by type of data, language, and other relevant criteria
ECE Statistical DatabaseData Downloads per Month by Statistical Domain
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Jan
- 200
7
Feb
- 2
007
Mar
- 2
007
Ap
r - 2
007
May
- 20
07
Jun
- 20
07
Jul -
200
7
Au
g -
2007
Sep
- 2
007
Oct
- 20
07
No
v -
2007
Dec
- 2
007
Jan
- 200
8
Feb
- 2
008
Mar
- 2
008
Ap
r - 2
008
May
- 20
08
Jun
- 20
08
Jul -
200
8
Au
g -
2008
Sep
- 2
008
Oct
- 20
08
No
v -
2008
Dec
- 2
008
Jan
- 200
9
Feb
- 2
009
Mar
- 2
009
Ap
r - 2
009
May
- 200
9
Jun
- 20
09
July
-200
9
Au
g-20
09
Sep
-200
9
Oct
-200
9
Gender Macroeconomic Transport Country Overview Forestry Total Total (Trend)
Russian Downloads % of Total
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%F
eb -
200
7
Mar
- 2
007
Ap
r -
2007
May
- 2
007
Jun
- 2
007
Jul -
200
7
Au
g -
200
7
Sep
- 2
007
Oct
- 2
007
No
v -
2007
Dec
- 2
007
Jan
- 2
008
Feb
- 2
008
Mar
- 2
008
Ap
r -
2008
May
- 2
008
Jun
- 2
008
Jul -
200
8
Au
g -
200
8
Sep
- 2
008
Oct
- 2
008
No
v -
2008
Dec
- 2
008
Jan
- 2
009
Feb
- 2
009
Mar
- 2
009
Ap
r -
2009
May
- 20
09
Jun
- 2
009
July
-200
9
Au
g-2
009
Sep
-200
9
Oct
-200
9
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2005* 2006 2007 2008
Th
ou
sa
nd
s
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 17
Web Site “Hits”
“Hits” refer to the number of times a web page is accessed
Some hits are due to automatic tools used by search engines, not real users!
Many tools for monitoring web site hits We use “Google Analytics” because:
• It is free!• It gives very detailed information
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 21
Constant Improvement
Information about users is only useful if it is used!
All statistical databases need regular updates and improvements
Consider increasing data for popular topics and removing less popular data sets
Remember that user needs change over time
Steven Vale - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 22
Summary
There are many possible dissemination database systems available
It is often quicker, easier and cheaper to adapt an existing system than to create a new one
Monitor the use of dissemination databases so that you can target improvements to better meet user needs