AIRO is a research unit focused on improving evidence-informed planning in Ireland through collecting, analyzing, and providing spatial data and tools. It works with government, regional authorities, academics, and the private sector. AIRO helped visualize 2011 Census data through interactive maps on its website showing various demographic variables down to small area levels. It also developed all-island accessibility maps and holds data days and seminars on using Census data. AIRO makes datasets and outputs available through its open data store and provides QGIS training workshops to facilitate use of open source GIS software.

1. Dublinked Data Visualisation
Competition Launch Event, AIRO
Eoghan McCarthy, AIRO

2. What is the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO)
• AIRO is a research unit and spatial data website
focused on improving evidence informed planning
in Ireland
– Collects, analyses and provides evidence and
tools to support better planning and decision
making
• Maps, data, policy advice, research and
training
– Maximise the usage and benefit of publically
funded and readily available datasets
– Highlight the benefit of proper collection,
management and dissemination of datasets
• Who do we work with?
– Government Departments
– Semi-State bodies
– Regional Authorities, Local Authorities, Local
Partnerships etc
– Academics, Researchers, Public
– Private Sector

3. Census 2011 – Data visualisation through AIRO
• Working with the CSO to improve the dissemination of Census 2011
results
• Public sector reform, important collaboration between public sector bodies
to improve access to publically funded data
• Vital step in encouraging use of Census 2011
• Provide access for general public, government and private sector
• Individual Local Authority (34) and Regional Authority (8) Census
mapping tools available on the AIRO site
• InstantAtlas (GeoWise) software
• Full set of variables for 2006 and 2011 at ED and SA level
• 15 themes
• Interface operates using a dynamic display which links spatial maps
with graphs and comparison tables
• Let’s have a look (http://www.airo.ie/mapping-module)

4. Census 2011 – Data visualisation through AIRO
• National Census Mapping Viewer
• Requirement to display all 18k boundaries
• Published maps to ArcGIS for Server and displayed through ArcGIS Viewer
for Flex
– 260+ maps on all census themes
• Counts, percentages and ratios

5. Census 2011 – Data visualisation through AIRO
• All-Island Mapping Viewer
• All-Island Digital Atlas
– CSO and NISRA to develop comparable cross border indicators
• Hard-back Atlas
• Mapping Seminars and Workshops
– View

6. Census 2011 – Data visualisation through AIRO
• Census Seminars
• 30th January
– Demographics and Economy
• 8th April
– Housing and Transport (NIRSA)
• 30th April
– Health and Accessibility (Armagh)
» Followed by Acute Services session
• Final Seminar after summer (November)
– Official launch of Atlas

7. Census 2011 – Data visualisation through AIRO
• Data Days *4
• Border Region Authority (6 March)
• InterTradeIreland (3rd April)
• NIRSA (10th June)
• NIRSA (17th June)

8. All-Island Accessibility Mapping
Navtec Road Network, GeoDirectory, Dublinked NTA
Network Analyst in ArcGIS

9. All-Island Accessibility Mapping

10. All-Island Accessibility Mapping

11. Getting access to AIRO data outputs: AIRO Data Store

12. Getting access to AIRO data outputs: AIRO Data Store

13. Census 2011 – Getting Access to the Data

14. Census 2011 – Getting Access to the Data
• Accompanying boundary set in
.shp format (ESRI, QGIS, easy
translation for MapInfo)
• Perform own analysis of census data
in a GIS
• 20m generalised SA boundary set
• Provinces
• NUTS Boundaries (Regions)
• Administrative Counties
• Electoral Divisions
• Small Areas
• Gaeltacht Areas
• Local Electoral Areas
• Legal Cities and Towns
• Settlements
• OSi copyright
www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011boundaryfiles

15. QGIS – Open Source GIS Software

16. QGIS – Open Source GIS Software

17. QGIS – Open Source GIS Software
• Monthly 1-Day Workshops at AIRO, NUIM
• Irish Spatial Datasets
• Introduction to GIS
• Practical sessions with QGIS
• ICLRD: 3 ‘Data for Decisions’ All-Island
Census workshops
• ICLRD Conference Jan 2014

18. Open Source GIS Software

19. OpenStreetMap

20. OpenStreetMap

21. OpenStreetMap

22. Thanks
Questions
w: www.airo.ie
e: airo@nuim.ie
twitter: airo_nuim