Socio-economic data
Important decisions in urban development are often derived from socio-economic data. In Western Europe and North America the national statistical authorities conduct regular multi-purpose statistical surveys providing reliable demographic and socio-economic characteristics. While population and housing census provide important demographic information, they often do not contain housing, economic, and transportation information. Thus many residential, business and infrastructural needs may remain unmet.
In developing countries population censuses are probably the single method of socio-economic data collection. But in many cases, the lack of trained stuff, complex questionnaires, and ignorance of informal housing often produce biased census results.
Another problem typical both for developed and developing countries is that the census tracts do not coincide with urban socio-economic units. In many countries or regions administrative units currently in use by statistical offices do not meet the urban planning criteria: statistical tracts are too large. Neighborhoods or even smaller 1 x 1 km areas are more appropriate to urban planning goals.
Geo-localized socio-economical information
Zesmill utilizes statistical, field, geolocation, remote sensing, traffic and people counting technologies to collect GIS-assisted and geo-localized socio-economical information including:
- population data detailed to neighborhood, city block, or even street level
- demographic profiles
- dwelling occupation
- density of construction (per sq.km/mi, unit, neighborhood)
- development types including mixed-used developments
- local businesses
- grocery stores, malls, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, restaurants, cafes and fast food distribution
- education, health care, community center, park, store proximities (walking and driving distances)
Zesmill’s method of population estimate
Zesmill employs its unique method of population estimate by areas, neighborhoods, and blocks, within cities, towns, and suburbs. This method based on remote sensing data and field surveys and is not dependent on census data. Moreover, in the most cases it allows for obtaining more accurate data with a higher degree of completeness than official demographic sources.
Another advantage is a possibility to measure the actual number of people in certain area — daytime population and residential population, local residents and out-of-town visitors. The ratio between day and night population varies from 1:1 to 3:1. Typical examples are business and government districts in New York, Washington, DC, London, Brussels, and Tokyo. The ratio between local residents and tourists can vary even more.
Spatial data for transportation modeling
Zesmill also collects crucial spatial data for transportation modeling:
- population data detailed to neighborhood, city block level
- local land use data
- accessibility to employment and education
- proportions of area within 200 m, 500 m, 1000 m of bus/tram route, or metro/subway station
- location of parcels suitable for new development
- environmental constrains
- Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and their derivatives — slope, aspect, contour maps etc.
Also Zesmill offers various services and solutions for road inventory, maintenance and traffic monitoring:
- road inventory survey
- parking survey
- travel time measurement