ABSTRACT

This chapter will explore the value of census data for academic research and public policy analysis using spatial microsimulation. It will begin with a broad overview of methods and an explanation of the rationale for the creation of synthetic microdata from neighbourhood statistics. Applications will be considered in relation to three problem domains: urban mobility; diet and nutrition; and consumer choices. Case studies will be used from real-world examples in both local government and commercial environments. The use of complementary data sources will also be highlighted, placing emphasis on the combined value of census data with emerging sources of data for lifestyles and behaviour. This will lead on to a broader discussion of issues in relation to the cross-validation of different data sources and, in particular, the robustness of census data. There is also a commentary on trends in the utility and value of alternative data sets in a world which is ostensibly overflowing with ‘big data’.