Approaches to Census Mapping: Chinese Solution in 2010 Rounded Census

Key words: 
• 6th census /
• census mapping /
• Chinese solution /
• geographic information system /
• remote sensing

Abstract: China still use sketch maps as control devices that guarantees consistency and accuracy of population counting in previous
census. Although the rapid advancement of geospatial technologies provides many possible solutions of digital census mapping, existing
researches do not answer which solution is suitable to China. Subject to many constraints originated from characteristics of China, a
practical solution of census mapping based on remote sensing imagery and auxiliary geographic information was proposed and proved to
be feasible through evaluation analysis and a three-stage pilot study. Imagery with 2.5 meters and higher resolution, innovative workflow
of census areas delineation, easy-to-use census mapping software packages and training organization all together provide the all-around
supports for the 2010 rounded census (the 6th census) mapping activities. A digital census geographic framework detailed at the level of
enumeration area was established in the 2010 rounded census which fills in the gaps in the field of modern geospatial census in China.
The spatially referenced digital census database, especially the detailed census units, is of great value in successive census, sampling
survey and many other census-related fields. Future work including quality evaluation of census areas, census mapping solution in the
Tibet Autonomous Region are also discussed.