I really feel we do bear some of the burden of proof here. We do a terrible
job of making the case for data and for the big stuff in particular - so
called general purpose data are soft in their clear applications - being
implicit doesn't do it.
Part of the issues is just grandstanding on the part of politicians, but a
big part of it is we don't tell them what we do with the stuff. Have you
ever had a cocktail party conversation about, say, "why do you need to know
what time I leave for work?"
We are in a societal situation today where:
a.) There is great fear of govt snooping and a real lack of trust
b.) A massive amount of big data observation
c.) AND, the contrary crazy part, of some who will divulge just about
everything on their facebook etc. site.
d.) And don't forget the Bureau's unwillingness to publish much of the
data they collect because of disclosure.
Trust me with your money and your personal data just won't work anymore. We
have to do our homework and do a far better job of making the case for the
growing govt need for more and more data growing out of new mandates. Alan
PS the Bureau is good but not close to being best or leader in World.
Stats Canada, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Netherlands Bureau of
Statistics are the real leaders and a bunch more.
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net]
On Behalf Of Ken.Cervenka(a)dot.gov
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 5:37 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] The Case for ACS, the Economic Census, sampling and
Federal data-gathering
Hi Jonathan,
Some excellent observations, thanks for sharing.
An example of one of the underlying strengths of CTPP is that even though
CTPP 2000 flow data is now 13 years old, the journey-to-work data still
represents the "best available" data across the country, for use in
home-based work regional travel model validation checks. I am not referring
to simple HBW trip length frequency checks (for which much smaller samples,
e.g., the samples available from typical household surveys), I am talking
about district-to-district checks of predicted versus observed HBW person
trips by (let's say) 0-vehicle, 1-vehicle and 2+ vehicle socioeconomic
groups. Yes, the "observed" data is getting old, but can be "fratared" with
the growth rates in population and employment to be a reasonably good
representation of "current year" HBW flows. Many people think travel
forecasts are way off from reality because of problems with the mode choice
model and/or traffic assignment procedures, but I wonder how often the real
"problem" can be traced back to trip (or activity) generation and the
prediction of the zone-to-zone person trip (or activity flow) tables!
The next "best available" dataset of home-to-work commuter trips is going to
be the next available "five-year" CTPP, that is now very close to a public
release. There will of course be concerns that the overall number of raw
records in the new "five-year" CTPP is a lot less than what was obtained in
CTPP 2000, but all that really means, I think, is that one must be very
careful to never rely on the actual TAZ-to-TAZ numbers: but still feel very
confident with the prudent aggregation of TAZ-to-TAZ numbers into locally
meaningful district-to-district totals. In regards to the national sample,
the new CTPP will still be a pretty huge number of records, compared to just
about anything else that is not some type of "private" purchasable database.
It would be a shame if the about-to-be-released set of CTPP-based TAZ-to-TAZ
flows is the last one ever produced. If the NHTS sample size could come
anywhere close to the CTPP sample size, then maybe one wouldn't need the
CTPP, but that is not going to ever happen.
Ken Cervenka
FTA Office of Planning and Environment
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Lupton
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 3:36 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: [CTPP] The Case for ACS, the Economic Census, sampling and Federal
data-gathering
The loss of Census sampling (today the ACS), the Census of Agriculture, the
Economic Census, etc., would be disastrous in so many ways I find it hard to
believe anyone - even deeply partisan politicians - would advocate their
demise. The small gain to the Federal government's bottom line would be
undercut by huge (albeit hidden) losses to the private and public sectors.
The loss would be especially acute for small businesses.
1. There can be no serious doubt that Federal sample products leverage
their cost many times over in benefits to the economy. The benefits are so
widespread, and so implicit, that the burden of proof must lie on anyone
attempting to undo Federal data-gathering. And they will find no such proof.
2. The U.S. government has, in the past, set the world standard for
data-gathering. The widespread availability of free, accurate data runs
hand-in-hand with upholding the standard as the world's foremost democratic
society. To surrender the ACS and related products is not just a bad idea,
it is a retreat from leadership.
3. Answering ACS forms, or any other Federal questionnaire, is a
matter of personal responsibility. To survive, democracy depends not just on
the protection of personal rights; it also demands a sense of responsibility
by its citizens.
4. I have never heard of anyone going to prison, or even being fined,
for failing to provide data to Census takers. Everyone knows that there are
people and businesses which refuse to cooperate; the practice of
non-compliance is already tolerated. But compliance is the law, and this
sets a tone of legality which allows the ACS and other projects to gather
the necessary data.
5. If the data business becomes mostly private in nature, the cost of
obtaining data will largely limit its availability to large corporations
that could afford to purchase it, creating another disadvantage to small
businesses and business start-ups.
6. Here in Little Rock we host one of the country's largest
data-gathering agencies, the Acxiom Corporation. It's an open secret that
Acxiom, and other companies like it, hold vast amounts of data about just
about everybody. While Census data is protected by confidentiality laws,
disturbingly intimate corporate data can be sold to the highest bidder.
7. While the anti-census anti-government lobby argues unconvincingly
about government as "Big Brother," there is therefore another, less
accountable version of "Big Brother," existing in secret corporate
data-gathering. Such data could become the only basis for information about
our society. Without Federal laws, and Executive and Congressional
oversight, who could prevent this private data from being falsified? Without
the credibility of ACS and related programs as a "cross-check," false
information could be fed into the system, and could be manipulated by
private power brokers.
8. Here in Little Rock we have a small spinoff company which has used
Acxiom data to attempt census-like products. Around 2009, they privately
gave me a total for the state's largest county (Pulaski) that disagreed with
my careful estimates. They ended up being high by about 7 percent, compared
with the Census 2010 count that appeared a few months later. My own
estimate, based on housing records, was within 1 or 2 percent. A corporate
representative thought their figures were inarguably correct; I thought
their methods for counting people were flawed. Guess who was right.
9. Data-gathering by the Census Bureau and related agencies isn't
perfect, but it has oversight through the democratic process. I'll trust a
process that's been around since 1790 before I trust a private company that
answers first to shareholders.
It is my earnest hope that the effort to kill the ACS is so blatantly
foolish that it will never make it to a vote by the U.S. Congress or Senate.
I ask those who keep their ear to Congress to please keep the data community
well-informed about this disturbing development.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock, Arkansas
501-372-3300
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature
database 8345 (20130517) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature
database 8350 (20130519) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
Hi, Diana
May 22, Wednesday's training is for CTPP2000. That's why we call it a refresher. Once the CTPP 2006-2010 is launched in August 2013, we will do training on new CTPP then.
Thanks,
Liang
________________________________________
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net] on behalf of Diana Portillo [diana.portillo(a)dot.ca.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 2:31 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013 - 3:00 Eastern
Hi Penelope,
As I understand this training is for CTPP 2000 not 2010...right? Since there will be a new access tool for 2006-2010, training will not be available until tool is launched.
Diana Portillo, Research Program Specialist
Office of Travel Forecasting and Analysis
Division of Transportation Planning
916-653-3182
"Weinberger, Penelope" <pweinberger(a)aashto.org>
Sent by: <ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net>
05/17/2013 12:48 PM
Please respond to
<ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
To
"ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net" <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>, "TMIP-L(a)LISTSERV.TMIPONLINE.ORG" <TMIP-L(a)LISTSERV.TMIPONLINE.ORG>
cc
"Murakami, Elaine" <Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov>
Subject
[CTPP] Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013 - 3:00 Eastern
Hello Data People,
Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013 - 3:00 Eastern
In anticipation of the release of CTPP 5 year data based on 2006 to 2010 ACS (with which we know you will want to do trend analysis…) CTPP is presenting a refresher on accessing, using and understanding the CTPP2000 data package.
This webinar is free to attend, does not require registration, and will be recorded for future posting. The webinar room and phone line are limited to 100 participants, so please attend this technical training if you would like a refresher course on CTPP2000, and plan to arrive on time.
We will discuss the contents and caveats of the data set, and show a demo of accessing the data through the embedded software.
The web address for this training is: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/ctpp1
The call in number is: 1-888-675-2535 Pc = 5860415#
Penelope Z. Weinberger
CTPP Program Manager
AASHTO
202-624-3556
ctpp.transportation.org
_______________________________________________
ctpp-news mailing list
ctpp-news(a)ryoko.chrispy.nethttp://ryoko.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
Hi Penelope,
As I understand this training is for CTPP 2000 not 2010...right? Since
there will be a new access tool for 2006-2010, training will not be
available until tool is launched.
Diana Portillo, Research Program Specialist
Office of Travel Forecasting and Analysis
Division of Transportation Planning
916-653-3182
"Weinberger, Penelope" <pweinberger(a)aashto.org>
Sent by: <ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net>
05/17/2013 12:48 PM
Please respond to
<ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
To
"ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net" <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>,
"TMIP-L(a)LISTSERV.TMIPONLINE.ORG" <TMIP-L(a)LISTSERV.TMIPONLINE.ORG>
cc
"Murakami, Elaine" <Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov>
Subject
[CTPP] Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013
- 3:00 Eastern
Hello Data People,
Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013 - 3:00
Eastern
In anticipation of the release of CTPP 5 year data based on 2006 to 2010
ACS (with which we know you will want to do trend analysis…) CTPP is
presenting a refresher on accessing, using and understanding the CTPP2000
data package.
This webinar is free to attend, does not require registration, and will be
recorded for future posting. The webinar room and phone line are limited
to 100 participants, so please attend this technical training if you would
like a refresher course on CTPP2000, and plan to arrive on time.
We will discuss the contents and caveats of the data set, and show a demo
of accessing the data through the embedded software.
The web address for this training is:
https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/ctpp1
The call in number is: 1-888-675-2535 Pc = 5860415#
Penelope Z. Weinberger
CTPP Program Manager
AASHTO
202-624-3556
ctpp.transportation.org
_______________________________________________
ctpp-news mailing list
ctpp-news(a)ryoko.chrispy.nethttp://ryoko.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
Martin--forget the 'MAY send' just send it! I know I may going out on a
limb here but for me the strongest argument that gets over looked in all
of this is that our country and public policy is built upon participles
of democracy. Embedded in those principles is the notion that public
policy is open to debate by both the "aristocrats" (senate) and the more
common folk (house of representatives). As the country evolved we have
extended the franchise to the general public and place a high regard on
having a participatory process. What all this means, is if we are
going to have a participatory process, there needs to be some base line
data to inform the debate that everyone will have. To do otherwise
means that only some can participate which flies in the face of where
our public policy has evolved. Forget budgets and logic it is a matter
of principles.
Catala, Martin wrote:
> Dear Jonathan,
>
> THANK YOU.
>
> Well said, I may send verbatim to my member of congress.
>
> Thank you for your thoughts…and passion.
>
>
>
> Martin Catala
>
> 813-974-9791
>
> catala(a)cutr.usf.edu
>
>
>
> *From:* ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net
> [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net] *On Behalf Of *Jonathan Lupton
> *Sent:* Friday, May 17, 2013 3:36 PM
> *To:* ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
> *Subject:* [CTPP] The Case for ACS, the Economic Census, sampling and
> Federal data-gathering
>
>
>
> The loss of Census sampling (today the ACS), the Census of Agriculture,
> the Economic Census, etc., would be disastrous in so many ways I find it
> hard to believe anyone – even deeply partisan politicians – would
> advocate their demise. The small gain to the Federal government’s bottom
> line would be undercut by huge (albeit hidden) losses to the private and
> public sectors. The loss would be especially acute for small businesses.
>
> 1. There can be no serious doubt that Federal sample products
> leverage their cost many times over in benefits to the economy. The
> benefits are so widespread, and so implicit, that the burden of proof
> must lie on anyone attempting to undo Federal data-gathering. And they
> will find no such proof.
>
> 2. The U.S. government has, in the past, set the world standard
> for data-gathering. The widespread availability of free, accurate data
> runs hand-in-hand with upholding the standard as the world’s foremost
> democratic society. To surrender the ACS and related products is not
> just a bad idea, it is a retreat from leadership.
>
> 3. Answering ACS forms, or any other Federal questionnaire, is a
> matter of personal responsibility. To survive, democracy depends not
> just on the protection of personal rights; it also demands a sense of
> responsibility by its citizens.
>
> 4. I have never heard of anyone going to prison, or even being
> fined, for failing to provide data to Census takers. Everyone knows that
> there are people and businesses which refuse to cooperate; the practice
> of non-compliance is already tolerated. But compliance is the law, and
> this sets a tone of legality which allows the ACS and other projects to
> gather the necessary data.
>
> 5. If the data business becomes mostly private in nature, the cost
> of obtaining data will largely limit its availability to large
> corporations that could afford to purchase it, creating another
> disadvantage to small businesses and business start-ups.
>
> 6. Here in Little Rock we host one of the country’s largest
> data-gathering agencies, the Acxiom Corporation. It’s an open secret
> that Acxiom, and other companies like it, hold vast amounts of data
> about just about everybody. While Census data is protected by
> confidentiality laws, disturbingly intimate corporate data can be sold
> to the highest bidder.
>
> 7. While the anti-census anti-government lobby argues
> unconvincingly about government as “Big Brother,” there is therefore
> another, less accountable version of “Big Brother,” existing in secret
> corporate data-gathering. Such data could become the only basis for
> information about our society. Without Federal laws, and Executive and
> Congressional oversight, who could prevent this private data from being
> falsified? Without the credibility of ACS and related programs as a
> “cross-check,” false information could be fed into the system, and could
> be manipulated by private power brokers.
>
> 8. Here in Little Rock we have a small spinoff company which has
> used Acxiom data to attempt census-like products. Around 2009, they
> privately gave me a total for the state’s largest county (Pulaski) that
> disagreed with my careful estimates. They ended up being high by about 7
> percent, compared with the Census 2010 count that appeared a few months
> later. My own estimate, based on housing records, was within 1 or 2
> percent. A corporate representative thought their figures were
> inarguably correct; I thought their methods for counting people were
> flawed. Guess who was right.
>
> 9. Data-gathering by the Census Bureau and related agencies isn’t
> perfect, but it has oversight through the democratic process. I’ll trust
> a process that’s been around since 1790 before I trust a private company
> that answers first to shareholders.
>
> It is my earnest hope that the effort to kill the ACS is so blatantly
> foolish that it will never make it to a vote by the U.S. Congress or
> Senate. I ask those who keep their ear to Congress to please keep the
> data community well-informed about this disturbing development.
>
>
>
> Jonathan Lupton AICP
>
> Research Planner
>
> Metroplan
>
> Little Rock, Arkansas
>
> 501-372-3300
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> ctpp-news mailing list
> ctpp-news(a)ryoko.chrispy.net
> http://ryoko.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA RC-TST-PLN
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
The loss of Census sampling (today the ACS), the Census of Agriculture, the
Economic Census, etc., would be disastrous in so many ways I find it hard to
believe anyone - even deeply partisan politicians - would advocate their
demise. The small gain to the Federal government's bottom line would be
undercut by huge (albeit hidden) losses to the private and public sectors.
The loss would be especially acute for small businesses.
1. There can be no serious doubt that Federal sample products leverage
their cost many times over in benefits to the economy. The benefits are so
widespread, and so implicit, that the burden of proof must lie on anyone
attempting to undo Federal data-gathering. And they will find no such proof.
2. The U.S. government has, in the past, set the world standard for
data-gathering. The widespread availability of free, accurate data runs
hand-in-hand with upholding the standard as the world's foremost democratic
society. To surrender the ACS and related products is not just a bad idea,
it is a retreat from leadership.
3. Answering ACS forms, or any other Federal questionnaire, is a
matter of personal responsibility. To survive, democracy depends not just on
the protection of personal rights; it also demands a sense of responsibility
by its citizens.
4. I have never heard of anyone going to prison, or even being fined,
for failing to provide data to Census takers. Everyone knows that there are
people and businesses which refuse to cooperate; the practice of
non-compliance is already tolerated. But compliance is the law, and this
sets a tone of legality which allows the ACS and other projects to gather
the necessary data.
5. If the data business becomes mostly private in nature, the cost of
obtaining data will largely limit its availability to large corporations
that could afford to purchase it, creating another disadvantage to small
businesses and business start-ups.
6. Here in Little Rock we host one of the country's largest
data-gathering agencies, the Acxiom Corporation. It's an open secret that
Acxiom, and other companies like it, hold vast amounts of data about just
about everybody. While Census data is protected by confidentiality laws,
disturbingly intimate corporate data can be sold to the highest bidder.
7. While the anti-census anti-government lobby argues unconvincingly
about government as "Big Brother," there is therefore another, less
accountable version of "Big Brother," existing in secret corporate
data-gathering. Such data could become the only basis for information about
our society. Without Federal laws, and Executive and Congressional
oversight, who could prevent this private data from being falsified? Without
the credibility of ACS and related programs as a "cross-check," false
information could be fed into the system, and could be manipulated by
private power brokers.
8. Here in Little Rock we have a small spinoff company which has used
Acxiom data to attempt census-like products. Around 2009, they privately
gave me a total for the state's largest county (Pulaski) that disagreed with
my careful estimates. They ended up being high by about 7 percent, compared
with the Census 2010 count that appeared a few months later. My own
estimate, based on housing records, was within 1 or 2 percent. A corporate
representative thought their figures were inarguably correct; I thought
their methods for counting people were flawed. Guess who was right.
9. Data-gathering by the Census Bureau and related agencies isn't
perfect, but it has oversight through the democratic process. I'll trust a
process that's been around since 1790 before I trust a private company that
answers first to shareholders.
It is my earnest hope that the effort to kill the ACS is so blatantly
foolish that it will never make it to a vote by the U.S. Congress or Senate.
I ask those who keep their ear to Congress to please keep the data community
well-informed about this disturbing development.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock, Arkansas
501-372-3300
Hello Data People,
Training Opportunity - CTPP2000 refresher webinar Wed. May 22, 2013 - 3:00 Eastern
In anticipation of the release of CTPP 5 year data based on 2006 to 2010 ACS (with which we know you will want to do trend analysis...) CTPP is presenting a refresher on accessing, using and understanding the CTPP2000 data package.
This webinar is free to attend, does not require registration, and will be recorded for future posting. The webinar room and phone line are limited to 100 participants, so please attend this technical training if you would like a refresher course on CTPP2000, and plan to arrive on time.
We will discuss the contents and caveats of the data set, and show a demo of accessing the data through the embedded software.
The web address for this training is: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/ctpp1
The call in number is: 1-888-675-2535 Pc = 5860415#
Penelope Z. Weinberger
CTPP Program Manager
AASHTO
202-624-3556
ctpp.transportation.org
Penny:
Will there be files for download, similar to the ACS detail tables, and will they be available sooner?
Peter H. Van Demark
12 Bayridge Lane
Rockport MA 01966-1354
On May 17, 2013, at 1:38 PM, "Weinberger, Penelope" <pweinberger(a)aashto.org> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> The CTPP five year data product is coming, here is some information on it. Updates and info will be published at: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/5-Year-Info.aspx
>
> What:
> CTPP based on 5-year ACS – 2006 - 2010; residence based, workplace based, and flow data for geographies ranging from the Census TAZ or tract to the nation.
> Tables include means of transportation univariate and crossed with travel time, household income, vehicle availability, age, time leaving home, and (new) presence of children, minority status, number of workers in household and median household income. A complete list of available tables can be found here: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/5-Year-Info.aspx
> There are plans for an API, and plans to download large files (entire states, for example) are under development.
>
> How:
> A new data access software is being developed for the 5-year data, it will include the 3-year data, and eventually, we hope to include both older and future data sets, so they can be found in one easy place. The software will allow for table manipulation – so you can get a table looking the way you like before download, download formats will include tables, .shp files, .gml and .TAB files. The software has a robust mapping component.
>
> When:
> A fully executed product is expected around August 2013. As of this writing, the US Census Bureau has delivered data to the software vendor and the vendor is processing it. Beta testing of the data and software is scheduled to begin in June with comments and modifications processed in July.
>
> Please feel free to contact me on or off list with any questions.
>
> Penelope Z. Weinberger
> CTPP Program Manager
> AASHTO
> 202-624-3556
> ctpp.transportation.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> ctpp-news mailing list
> ctpp-news(a)ryoko.chrispy.net
> http://ryoko.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
Hi All,
The CTPP five year data product is coming, here is some information on it. Updates and info will be published at: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/5-Year-Info.aspx
What:
CTPP based on 5-year ACS - 2006 - 2010; residence based, workplace based, and flow data for geographies ranging from the Census TAZ or tract to the nation.
Tables include means of transportation univariate and crossed with travel time, household income, vehicle availability, age, time leaving home, and (new) presence of children, minority status, number of workers in household and median household income. A complete list of available tables can be found here: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/5-Year-Info.aspx
There are plans for an API, and plans to download large files (entire states, for example) are under development.
How:
A new data access software is being developed for the 5-year data, it will include the 3-year data, and eventually, we hope to include both older and future data sets, so they can be found in one easy place. The software will allow for table manipulation - so you can get a table looking the way you like before download, download formats will include tables, .shp files, .gml and .TAB files. The software has a robust mapping component.
When:
A fully executed product is expected around August 2013. As of this writing, the US Census Bureau has delivered data to the software vendor and the vendor is processing it. Beta testing of the data and software is scheduled to begin in June with comments and modifications processed in July.
Please feel free to contact me on or off list with any questions.
Penelope Z. Weinberger
CTPP Program Manager
AASHTO
202-624-3556
ctpp.transportation.org
My apology if someone had posted this question before, but I could not
find an easy way search in the achieve (
http://ryoko.chrispy.net/pipermail/ctpp-news/).
Could somebody reconfirm If 5 year ACS 06-10 is still uses 2000 PUMA
boundary/code-number? If yes, then I am curious to know if is there is any
plan to sink these data into the new 2010 based PUMA/code.
Birat Pandey, PE
Senior Transportation Engineer/Modeler
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Offices @ McHenry Row
1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21230
Ph: 410-732-0500 x1050
bpandey(a)baltometro.orgwww.baltometro.org