Geology ReportsSearch

USGS · fs20083010

A New Method for Mapping Population Distribution

Abstract

Human population counts are collected and commonly displayed uniformly across areas, such as U.S. Census Bureau block-groups and tracts. The limitation inherent in this type of representation is the assumption that people are evenly distributed across each areal unit, when in actuality many areas such as parks, open spaces, and industrial zones are uninhabited. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a geospatial tool that uses a 'dasymetric' mapping method to redistribute census population values to homogenous, inhabited, zones, enhancing visualization and accuracy.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Rachel Sleeter. 2008. A New Method for Mapping Population Distribution. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20083010

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

Water in, no water out—How a rain garden reduced stormwater at City Hall in Gary, Indiana

Introduction Urban stormwater runoff can be an issue in many communities because it may cause flooding, overwhelm sewage treatment plants, and negatively affect water quality in local streams, lakes, and other waterbodies. Stormwater runoff can be controlled by using "green infrastructure," which consists of engineered structures that imitate nature to collect stormwater runoff, reduce the amount of runoff, and improve water quality. In 2014, the city of Gary, Indiana implemented green infrastructure to reduce the negative effects of urban stormwater on Lake Michigan and its tributaries. From November 2016 to June 2017, the mostly impermeable parking lot in front of Gary City Hall was removed and rebuilt with a rain garden. The U.S. Geological Survey studied how the rain garden reduced stormwater runoff and published results in Scientific Investigations Report 2022–5101.

Fact Sheet