Category Archives: magic

Congratulations Dr. Weixing Zhang

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Over the past five years, if you have contacted the UConn Library MAGIC and/or the Connecticut State Data Center either virtually or in person, you have likely had an opportunity to interact with our graduate assistant Weixing Zhang. At the end of Spring 2018, Weixing Zhang graduated with his PhD in Geography from the University of Connecticut!

 

Weixing_Zhang_graduation_2018

Dr. Weixing Zhang

During Weixing’s tenure at both the UConn Library MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center, he has assisted users on a number of data requests, developed custom maps, developed scripts to process and visualize data, and contributed or led a number of projects and initiatives. One of the largest and most in-depth projects Weixing helped make a reality was developing the 2017-2018 release of the 2015 to 2040 Population Projections for the State of Connecticut, a project which involved over 2.5 years of research, analysis, and working with multiple collaborators before the final projections could be developed and published to the Connecticut State Data Center and Connecticut Open Data websites.

 

Prior to his last day at the UConn Library MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center we asked Weixing about his experiences these past five years and he shared the following:

“I would like to highlight how MAGIC gave me opportunities to collaborate with individuals, agencies, and organizations throughout the region so that I could have a better understanding of the value of maps, census data, and geospatial technologies in society. I am sure that these skills and connections I have made while at MAGIC will benefit me tremendously in my future career.”

– Dr. Weixing Zhang

 

Dr. Weixing Zhang is one of a series of graduate assistants and undergraduate interns which the UConn Library MAGIC and/or the Connecticut State Data Center has had the opportunity to work with to develop resources and provide assistance to our users. We are especially appreciative of the Office of Policy and Management, UConn Department of Geography, and the UConn Library for making these graduate assistantships and internships possible.

 

Thank you Dr. Weixing Zhang for all your hard work, dedication, and collaborative initiatives you contributed to at the UConn Library MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center and we wish you well and best of luck on your new adventures post graduation!

Demographics of Oglala Lakota County

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The Keystone Pipeline is an oil pipeline running from the Canadian Tar Sands in Alberta to the Gulf Coast in Texas. The plan for the fourth phase of this project proposes to run a new section of this pipeline under the Missouri River, just upstream of the Oglala Lakota sacred land. The Lakota people rely on this river for their livelihood. In the wake of the Flint, Michigan crisis, the main concern of locals is possible contamination of the water. The implications would be catastrophic leading to the inability to use the river to fish, irrigate crop land or even have clean water to drink.

This map visualizes 2 sets of data obtained from the US Census Bureau on family income and minority populations. The 2 maps show striking similarities. Upon some calculations and research into the maps it was quite apparent that the Oglala Lakota County had the highest percent minority population of any county in the entire United States. Oglala Lakota County also has the 3rd lowest mean family income in the country. It is one of three counties in the United States completely encompassed by a Native American reservation. The Lakota tribe considers the Missouri River sacred since it has been the tribes main source of life since they inhabited the land nearly 1200 years ago.

-Cody J. Crane

UConn MAGIC 2017

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Cody-income-inequalty”]

Web Mapping Service Maintenance – 12/23/2015

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MAGIC_WMSThe Web Mapping Service (WMS) for the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC, a service that provides access to the 1934 aerial photography layer and historical maps for use within GIS applications and utilized within a number of the interactive map mash-ups for MAGIC is undergoing maintenance on 12/23/2015. During this maintenance period there may be periods of time when the WMS service could be temporarily unavailable or load times for layers may be impacted.

This maintenance will identify and address performance issues with the WMS server and we apologize for inconvenience any short duration outages of the server may cause.

For users needing access to aerial photography layers via a WMS, the Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO) site offers a WMS with several aerial photography layers which can be accessed at: http://cteco.uconn.edu/map_services.htm

 

Connecticut School Test Results

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Hello! I am one of UConn MAGIC’s interns for the Fall 2015 Semester.

As a way of establishing the basics of Tableau, I developed – and now present to you some information about Connecticut’s standardized test score results. I encourage you to have a look and draw your own conclusions.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Benjamin2-SATs”]

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Benjamin1-cmt-scores”]

Facts for Features – 4th of July

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On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

dec

2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970

316.2 million
The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.
Source: U.S. and World Population Clock

The Signers

56
Numbers of signers to the Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer, wrote most of the document.
It’s also worth noting that:

  • John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, was the first signer. This merchant by trade did so in an entirely blank space making it the largest and most famous signature – hence the term John Hancock, which is still used today as a synonym for signature. There are 7,354,043 businesses with paid employees in the U.S., according to the 2011 County Business Patterns.
  • Benjamin Franklin (age 70), who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest of the signers.
  • Franklin County, Pa., had an estimated population of 151,275 as of July 1, 2012. Edward Rutledge (age 26), of South Carolina, was the youngest.
  • Two future presidents signed, John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President). Both died on the 50th anniversary of signing the Declaration (July 4, 1826). There are 12 counties nationwide named Adams and 26 named Jefferson.
  • Robert Livingston, who represented New York, was on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence but was recalled by his state before he could sign it. Livingston County, N.Y., was home to an estimated 64,810 people as of July 1, 2012.

    Map of CT/RI in 1776, from MAGIC's map collection. Visit online by clicking the image.

    Map of CT/RI in 1776, from MAGIC’s map collection. Visit online by clicking the image.

  • Representing Georgia in 1776 were Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and GeorgeWalton. Gwinnett County, Ga. (842,046), Hall County, Ga. (185,416) and Walton County, Ga. (84,575) were named for these signers.
  • Charles Carroll, who represented Maryland, was the last surviving member of the signers of the Declaration. He died in 1832 at the age of 95. Carroll County, Md., named for him, had an estimated population of 167,217 as of July 1, 2012.
  • Roger Sherman, who worked as a land surveyor and lawyer, represented Connecticut. Today, there are an estimated 30,445 surveyors, cartographers and photogrammetrists employed full time, year-round, and 840,813 lawyers employed full time, year-round nationwide, according to the 2011 American Community Survey.
  • Nelson County, Va. (14,827) and Wythe County, Va. (29,251) were named for two of the six signers who represented the state of Virginia – Thomas Nelson Jr. and George Wythe.

Sources: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012, 2011 American Community Survey and 2011 County Business Patterns (NAICS)

Fireworks

$218.2 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2012, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($227.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $11.7 million in 2012, with Israel purchasing more than any other country ($2.5 million).

$231.8 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108

Flags

$3.8 million
In 2012, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.6 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$614,115
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2012. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $188,824 worth.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$302.7 million
Dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers in 2007, according to the latest published economic census statistics.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names

Fifty-nine places contain the word “liberty” in the name. Pennsylvania, with 11, has more of these places than any other state. Of the 59 places nationwide containing “liberty” in the name, four are counties: Liberty County, Ga. (65,471), Liberty County, Fla. (8,276), Liberty County, Mont. (2,392) and Liberty County, Texas (76,571).
One place has “patriot” in its name. Patriot, Ind., has an estimated population of 209.

The most common patriotic-sounding word used within place names is “union” with 136. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118), Jackson (96) and Lincoln (95).

Sources: TIGER Shapefiles, the Census Bureau’s geographic database (Place/MCD/County combined “used within name” count), Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011

The British are Coming!

$109.8 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

Fourth of July Cookouts

65.9 million
Number of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2013. Chances are that the pork hot dogs and sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 20.3 million hogs and pigs. North Carolina (8.9 million) and Minnesota (7.8 million) were also homes to large numbers of pigs.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6.3 billion pounds
Total estimated production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2012. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for nearly one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (estimated at5.1 billion pounds) or Kansas (estimated at 3.8 billion pounds).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6
Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was estimated at $1 billion or greater between December 2011 and November 2012. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

345 million
Acreage planted of potatoes in Idaho in 2012, the most in the nation. Washington followed with 165 million acres. The total 2012 potato crop is forecast to exceed 467 million hundredweight (cwt), the highest level since 2000 when 523 million cwt was produced. Potato salad is a popular food item at Fourth of July barbecues.
Source: USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Economic Research Service
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-11-2013.pdf
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/vgs-vegetables-and-pulses-outlook/vgs353.aspx

How Do We Know?

As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reflect on how our Founding Fathers enshrined the importance of statistics in our Constitution as a vital tool for measuring our people, places and economy. Since 1790, the U.S. Census has been much more than a simple head count; it has charted the growth and composition of our nation. The questions have evolved over time to address our changing needs. Today, the 10-year census, the economic census and the American Community Survey give Congress and community leaders the information they need to make informed decisions that shape our democracy. These statistics are how we know how our country is doing.

Visit http://www.census.gov/how to view and to learn more about “How Do We Know?” Follow @uscensusbureau on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest (#HowDoWeKnow) for updates.

Source:

CensusBureau

2012 Connecticut statewide 4-band aerial imagery

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The 2012 statewide aerial imagery is now available!

http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/help/info_orthos2012.htm

Some of the basic facts:

  • 4 bands (R,G,B,NIR)
  • 1 foot pixel resolution
  • Flown in March 2012 (leaf-off)
  • Each tile covers 2.3 square kilometers (0.897 sq mi) and is 97.696 MB

It was paid for through a partnership between Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT), and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) along with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) providing support through project management, contracting and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).

The download interface allows you to download a mosaic for a whole town in JP2 format, or as individual GeoTiffs or MrSIDs. Users can also access the layer remotely through CTECO’s Map Services.download_interface

Examples:

2012_ashforest

Forested area in Ashford, Bands 1, 2, 3

2012_ashforestIR

Forested area in Ashford – Bands 4, 2, 1

2012_hartford

Downtown Hartford, Bands 1, 2, 3

2012_hartfordIR

Downtown Hartford, Bands 4, 2, 3

Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – October 2012

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Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – October 2012

The Connecticut State Data Center (CtSDC) and the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) continue to expand upon our web resources to include more data, GIS datasets, interactive maps, historical maps, and aerial photography. During the month of October 2012, most web products experienced an increase in usage, when compared to the same time period one year prior, and the number of inquiries received continues to rise, including the amount of time devoted to each question. Included below are highlights from October 2012 which focuses on five main areas: User Inquiries, Web Content Views, Trends in Webpage Usage, Trends in Keywords, and Projects in Progress.


I. User Inquiries

Total User Inquiries
Included below are the statistics for user inquiries received by phone, email, and in-person during October 2012. As the data clearly visualizes, the number of inquiries continues to rise with the year to date totals representing a 129% increase when compared to the January 1- October 31 of the previous year.
Total Inquiries
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Inquiries
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
179
90%
1,702
98%
MAGIC
342
213%
1,526
165%

Total
521
157%
3,228
129%




II. Web Content Views

Total Unique Content Views
Included below are the web content unique views statistics for October 2012 which include comparisons with October 2011, the year to date (YTD) unique views and the change in the total number of unique views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – October 31)  from the previous year.

Web Resource
Unique Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Unique Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
1,723
23%
15,521
15%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
483
-18%
5,000
-44%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
21,988
51%
332,846
59%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
40
54%
370
31%
MAGIC Website
15,899
34%
126,998
15%
Outside the Neatline Blog
1,606
-13%
9,334
12%

Total*
41,739
40%
490,073
39%
* Total includes CT View

Total Content Views
With more users viewing web content more than once from MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center, the total views of web content provides a more detailed view of the trends in usage. The following table includes the usage trends for the total number of views, monthly change when compared to same month in 2011, the year to date (YTD) total number of views and the change in total views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – October 31) from the previous year.

Web Resource
Total Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Total Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
2,330
11%
22,443
10%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
4,130
-32%
42,551
-51%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
21,988
51%
332,846
59%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
66
83%
534
58%
MAGIC Website
23,351
25%
197,100
14%
Outside the Neatline Blog
2,139
18%
12,722
13%

Total*
54,004
25%
608,210
21%
* Total includes CT View

III. Trends in Webpage Usage – October 2012
Ever wondered what the most popular pages are at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center? Included below are the top 5 most popular pages for October 2012.

Most Popular pages – Connecticut State Data Center
Page
Total Views
623
600
292
179
107

Most Popular pages – MAGIC 
Page
Total Views
4,171
 3,708
3,183
1,216
1,087


Most Popular pages – Outside the Neatline Blog 
Page
Total Views
509
Raster vs Vector         
     214
114
99
82


IV. Trends in Keywords – October 2012
At the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC each month we analyze keyword searches conducted on our websites to determine areas to focus increasing accessing to maps, data, and resources. Keyword provide us with an opportunity to see trends, areas for improvement, and have been integral to providing guidance on website development and improvements. Included below are keyword trends for October 2012.

Most Frequent Keywords – Connecticut State Data Center
Keyword
East Hartford
  
Most Frequent Keywords – MAGIC
Keyword
Stratford
land use
Bridgeport
campus map
Colchester Connecticut

V. Projects in Progress – October 2012
Each month the students and staff at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center are working on a series of projects, tasks, data sets, and resources which users typically don’t know about until we add the resource to our website. Included below is a list of projects that are currently underway which will be completed in the coming months and made available in their final forms via our websites.

  • Connecticut Population Projections 2015-2025 – The population projections were completed during the month of October and are being released on November 1, 2012 to include data visualizations, downloadable datasets, in-depth methodology description, and a summary report are being created for individual towns which will be added to the site in the coming months.View the preliminary projections and the interactive data interface at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/projections.html
  • Data Visualization – The Connecticut State Data Center has added additional data visualizations which include census tract, town, regional planning organization, and other geographies to visualize census data from the American Community Survey (ACS). View the latest visualizations at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/dataviz/
  • 2012 Aerial Photography for Connecticut – We are in the process of receiving the 2012 Aerial Photography for Connecticut and in the coming months this data will be made available via MAGIC and CT ECO. Once all the data is received, a downloadable index of aerial photography images will be included on MAGIC’s website and a map service will be added to CT ECO thanks to the efforts of the CT DEEP and CLEAR.
  • Slavery Ship Logs Mapping Project – Work continues on trascribing ship logs from 1757-1758 as part of a collaborative project between MAGIC and the Connecticut State Library. This project involves transcribing the log books into a spreadsheet which can be used to create a map of the voyages. A few samples of the logs are available from the Connecticut State Library website at: http://www.cslib.org/slaverlog.htm
  • Bridgeport and Waterbury Historical Mapping Project – Two interns at MAGIC this semester are in the process of georeferencing scans of historic Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from Yale University for Bridgeport and Waterbury. These maps will be used to help map out data from the 1920s census for Waterbury and to examine census data in Bridgeport. Samples of the Bridgeport project are included on a poster which is on display at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT for Geography Awarness Month/GIS Day.
  • ACS 2011 – 1 Year Estimates – Connecticut State Data Center has processed and added downloadable data for the 2011 ACS 1 Year estimates datasets. The datasets will include spreadsheet, codebooks, and geodatabase files for state, county, congressional districts, unified school districts, and the 8 largest towns in Connecticut and are available for download from the Connecticut State Data Center website at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/connecticut_census_data.html
  • ACS 2011 – 3 Year Estimates – Connecticut State Data Center is in the process of creating downloadable datasets for the 2011 ACS 3 Year estimates datasets. The datasets will include spreadsheet and geodatabase files for state, county, congressional districts, and the 54 largest towns in Connecticut and will be made available to the public once completed via the Connecticut State Data Center website at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/connecticut_census_data.html
  • Connecticut State Data Center website enhancements – This past month the Connecticut Census Data page (http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/connecticut_census_data.html) was revised to include direct links to the Data Codebooks for the American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census data. This enables users to quickly determine which table includes the data they need while also enabling both spreadsheet and geodatabase users to have quick access to the complete listing of data and tables available for download for Connecticut.
Have an idea for a project or suggestions for improvements to MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center’s website and web offerings? Leave us a comment or contact us at magic@uconn.edu.  



Each month we will be posting a “Month in Review” article so check back next month to see the latest information on usage trends at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center.


Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – September 2012

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Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – September 2012

The Connecticut State Data Center (CtSDC) and the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) continue to expand upon our web resources to include more data, GIS datasets, interactive maps, historical maps, and aerial photography. During the month of September 2012, most web products experienced an increase in usage, when compared to the same time period one year prior, and the number of inquiries received continues to rise, including the amount of time devoted to each question. Included below are highlights from September 2012 which focuses on five main areas: User Inquiries, Web Content Views, Trends in Webpage Usage, Trends in Keywords, and Projects in Progress.


I. User Inquiries

Total User Inquiries
Included below are the statistics for user inquiries received by phone, email, and in-person during September 2012. As the data clearly visualizes, the number of inquiries continues to rise with the year to date totals representing a 124% increase when compared to the January 1- September 30 of the previous year.
Total Inquiries
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Inquiries
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
210
99%
1,347
100%
MAGIC
254
116%
1,360
156%

Total
464
149%
2,707
124%




II. Web Content Views

Total Unique Content Views
Included below are the web content unique views statistics for September 2012 which include comparisons with September 2011, the year to date (YTD) unique views and the change in the total number of unique views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – September 30)  from the previous year.

Web Resource
Unique Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Unique Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
1,570
19%
13,798
14%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
454
-22%
4,517
-46%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
36,648
110%
310,858
59%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
37
95%
330
28%
MAGIC Website
11,553
-1%
111,089
12%
Outside the Neatline Blog
787
-27%
7,728
12%

Total*
51,049
59%
448,334
39%
* Total includes CT View

Total Content Views
With more users viewing web content more than once from MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center, the total views of web content provides a more detailed view of the trends in usage. The following table includes the usage trends for the total number of views, monthly change when compared to same month in 2011, the year to date (YTD) total number of views and the change in total views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – September 30) from the previous year.

Web Resource
Total Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Total Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
2,150
9%
20,113
10%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
4,051
-19%
38,421
-53%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
36,648
110%
310,858
59%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
51
132%
468
54%
MAGIC Website
17,497
-3%
173,749
13%
Outside the Neatline Blog
1,128
-25%
10,583
13%

Total*
61,525
40%
554,206
21%
* Total includes CT View

III. Trends in Webpage Usage – September 2012
Ever wondered what the most popular pages are at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center? Included below are the top 5 most popular pages for September 2012.

Most Popular pages – Connecticut State Data Center
Page
Total Views
526
514
275
224
117

Most Popular pages – MAGIC 
Page
Total Views
3,619
 3,053
1,087
1,043
853


Most Popular pages – Outside the Neatline Blog 
Page
Total Views
99
Raster vs Vector         
     91
83
78
58


IV. Trends in Keywords – September 2012
At the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC each month we analyze keyword searches conducted on our websites to determine areas to focus increasing accessing to maps, data, and resources. Keyword provide us with an opportunity to see trends, areas for improvement, and have been integral to providing guidance on website development and improvements. Included below are keyword trends for September 2012.

Most Frequent Keywords – Connecticut State Data Center
Keyword
Weston, CT
Suffield
  
Most Frequent Keywords – MAGIC
Keyword
uconn map
beers
birds eye willimantic
fairfield
GIS Day

V. Projects in Progress – September 2012
Each month the students and staff at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center are working on a series of projects, tasks, data sets, and resources which users typically don’t know about until we add the resource to our website. Included below is a list of projects that are currently underway which will be completed in the coming months and made available in their final forms via our websites.

  • Connecticut Population Projections 2015-2025 – Additional scripting and development for the upcoming release of the population projections for Connecticut at the State, County, Regional Planning Agency, and Town levels has prepared the projections for review. During the review phase of these projections, examination of the data provided an opportunity to revised the scripts to enable future updates as new data is provided, and the ability to provide custom cohorts (upon request) and multiple formats for the final data. The projections will be released in October 2012 and this project is still underway and the public is able to view a preliminary version (population estimates are subject to change and revised methodology will be utilized for the final release). View the preliminary projections and the interactive data interface at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/projections.html
  • Data Visualization – The Connecticut State Data Center has developed a series of data visualizations using Tableau Public. The visualizations include national, town, and census tract based examples which can be viewed at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/dataviz/
  • Slavery Ship Logs Mapping Project – MAGIC and the Connecticut State Library are collaborating to map out the ship logs from 1757-1758 between New London, CT and West Africa. This project involves transcribing the log books into a spreadsheet which can be used to create a map of the voyages. A few samples of the logs are available from the Connecticut State Library website at: http://www.cslib.org/slaverlog.htm
  • Bridgeport and Waterbury Historical Mapping Project – Two interns at MAGIC this semester are georeferencing scans of historic Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from Yale University for Bridgeport and Waterbury. These maps will be used to help map out data from the 1920s census for Waterbury and to examine census data in Bridgeport.
  • ACS 2011 – 1 Year Estimates – Connecticut State Data Center is in the process of creating downloadable datasets for the 2011 ACS 1 Year estimates datasets. The datasets will include spreadsheet and geodatabase files for state, county, congressional districts, and the 8 largest towns in Connecticut and will be made available to the public once completed via the Connecticut State Data Center website at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/connecticut_census_data.html
Have an idea for a project or suggestions for improvements to MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center’s website and web offerings? Leave us a comment or contact us at magic@uconn.edu.  



Each month we will be posting a “Month in Review” article so check back next month to see the latest information on usage trends at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center.


Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – August 2012

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Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – August 2012

The Connecticut State Data Center (CtSDC) and the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) continue to expand upon our web resources to include more data, gis datasets, interactive maps, historical maps, and aerial photography. During the month of August 2012, most web products experienced an increase in usage, when compared to the same time period one year prior, and the number of inquiries received continues to rise, including the amount of time devoted to each question. Included below are highlights from August 2012 which focuses on five main areas: User Inquiries, Web Content Views, Trends in Webpage Usage, Trends in Keywords, and Projects in Progress.


I. User Inquiries

Total User Inquiries
Included below are the statistics for user inquiries received by phone, email, and in-person during August 2012. As the data clearly visualizes, the number of inquiries continues to rise with the year to date totals representing a 120% increase when compared to the January 1- August 31 of the previous year.
Total Inquiries
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Inquiries
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
153
99%
1,137
97%
MAGIC
143
240%
1,106
150%

Total
296
149%
2,243
120%




II. Web Content Views

Total Unique Content Views
Included below are the web content unique views statistics for August 2012 which include comparisons with August 2011, the year to date (YTD) unique views and the change in the total number of unique views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – August 31)  from the previous year.

Web Resource
Unique Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Unique Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
1,480
22%
12,228
13%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
386
-34%
4,063
-48%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
30,075
50%
274,210
55%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
48
167%
293
23%
MAGIC Website
13,490
39%
99,536
14%
Outside the Neatline Blog
823
-48%
6,941
19%

Total*
46,302
40%
397,285
37%
* Total includes CT View

Total Content Views
With more users viewing web content more than once from MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center, the total views of web content provides a more detailed view of the trends in usage. The following table includes the usage trends for the total number of views, monthly change when compared to same month in 2011, the year to date (YTD) total number of views and the change in total views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – August 31) from the previous year.

Web Resource
Total Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Total Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
2,058
15%
17,963
10%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
2,986
-36%
34,370
-55%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
30,075
50%
274,210
55%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
67
191%
417
48%
MAGIC Website
20,562
34%
156,252
15%
Outside the Neatline Blog
1,136
-44%
9,455
20%

Total*
56,884
30%
492,681
19%
* Total includes CT View

III. Trends in Webpage Usage – August 2012
Ever wondered what the most popular pages are at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center? Included below are the top 5 most popular pages for August 2012.

Most Popular pages – Connecticut State Data Center
Page
Total Views
518
512
263
197
133

Most Popular pages – MAGIC 
Page
Total Views
5,210
 3,218
1,300
1,081
1,026


Most Popular pages – Outside the Neatline Blog 
Page
Total Views
99
     91
83
78
58


IV. Trends in Keywords – August 2012
At the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC each month we analyze keyword searches conducted on our websites to determine areas to focus increasing accessing to maps, data, and resources. Keyword provide us with an opportunity to see trends, areas for improvement, and have been integral to providing guidance on website development and improvements. Included below are keyword trends for August 2012.

Most Frequent Keywords – Connecticut State Data Center
Keyword
No Trends this Month 
  
Most Frequent Keywords – MAGIC
Keyword
Scotland
campus map
Arkansas
England
Florida

V. Projects in Progress – August 2012
Each month the students and staff at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center are working on a series of projects, tasks, data sets, and resources which users typically don’t know about until we add the resource to our website. Included below is a list of projects that are currently underway which will be completed in the coming months and made available in their final forms via our websites.

  • Connecticut Population Projections 2015-2025 – Additional refinements are being made to the population projections methodology to prepare for the finalized version of the population projections for Connecticut at the state, county, regional planning organization, and town levels. This past month considerable effort has been spent on scripting the development of the town level population projections, which will enable future revisions to the projections to be provided in an expedited time frame. This project is still underway and the public is able to view a preliminary version (population estimates are subject to change as we refine the methods over the next month). View the preliminary projections and the interactive data interface at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/projections.html
  • Data Visualization – After testing multiple data visualization software packages and APIs, Tableau Public has been selected for additional testing as it enables an interactive interface with sliders, charts, graphs, tables, and maps. This past month a successful test of adding census tract boundaries to Tableau for Connecticut showcased the full potential of this tool as additional geographies can be added which are not included as a default within the software. 
  • Google Floor Maps – Preparations began for editing floorplans for the Homer Babbidge Library which will be uploaded to the Google Floor Maps project. In coming months these maps will be available within Google Maps for Android users and will provide detailed information to help navigate each floor to locate materials, services, and other important locations. Learn more about this in the following article from Wired.
Have an idea for a project or suggestions for improvements to MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center’s website and web offerings? Leave us a comment or contact us at magic@uconn.edu.  



Each month we will be posting a “Month in Review” article so check back next month to see the latest information on usage trends at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center.


Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – July 2012

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Month in Review – CtSDC & MAGIC – July 2012

The Connecticut State Data Center (CtSDC) and the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) continue to expand upon our web resources to include more data, gis datasets, interactive maps, historical maps, and aerial photography. During the month of July 2012, MAGIC’s collections on Flickr had the largest number of views since we began using Flickr in 2009, user inquiries continue to increase, and several web resources experienced increases when compared to the same period just one year ago. Included below are highlights from July 2012 which focuses on five main areas: User Inquiries, Web Content Views, Trends in Webpage Usage, Trends in Keywords, and Projects in Progress.



I. User Inquiries

Total User Inquiries
Included below are the statistics for user inquiries received by phone, email, and in-person during July 2012. As the data clearly visualizes, the number of inquiries continues to rise with the year to date totals representing a 116% increase when compared to the January 1- July 31 of the previous year.
Total Inquiries
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Inquiries
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
149
166%
835
67%
MAGIC
114
171%
849
112%

Total
263
168%
1,947
116%




II. Web Content Views

Total Unique Content Views
Included below are the web content unique views statistics for July 2012 which include comparisons with July 2011, the year to date (YTD) unique views and the change in the total number of unique views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – July 31)  from the previous year.

Web Resource
Unique Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Unique Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
1,256
14%
10,748
12%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
410
-53%
3,284
-49%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
43,822
115%
244,135
55%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
24
-20%
245
11%
MAGIC Website
10,916
23%
86,046
11%
Outside the Neatline Blog
867
19%
6,118
44%

Total*
57,278
79%
350,983
37%
* Total includes CT View

Total Content Views
With more users viewing web content more than once from MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center, the total views of web content provides a more detailed view of the trends in usage. The following table includes the usage trends for the total number of views, monthly change when compared to same month in 2011, the year to date (YTD) total number of views and the change in total views when compared to the same time period (January 1 – July 31) from the previous year.

Web Resource
Total Views
Monthly Change
vs. 2011
YTD Total Views
for 2012
YTD Change
vs. 2011
Connecticut State Data Center
1,769
10%
15,905
10%
MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
2,646
-64%
31,384
-56%
MAGIC  Flickr Collections
43,822
115%
244,135
55%
MAGIC News Blog (Retired)
40
33%
350
36%
MAGIC Website
16,863
21%
135,690
13%
Outside the Neatline Blog
1,190
24%
8,319
42%

Total*
66,330
50%
435,797
18%
* Total includes CT View

III. Trends in Webpage Usage – July 2012
Ever wondered what the most popular pages are at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center? Included below are the top 5 most popular pages for July 2012.

Most Popular pages – Connecticut State Data Center
Page
Total Views
488
371
263
201
146

Most Popular pages – MAGIC 
Page
Total Views
3,359
  2,806
1,082
985
783


Most Popular pages – Outside the Neatline Blog 
Page
Total Views
105
     73
72
70
49


IV. Trends in Keywords – July 2012
At the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC each month we analyze keyword searches conducted on our websites to determine areas to focus increasing accessing to maps, data, and resources. Keyword provide us with an opportunity to see trends, areas for improvement, and have been integral to providing guidance on website development and improvements. Included below are keyword trends for July 2012.

Most Frequent Keywords – Connecticut State Data Center
Keyword
gross state product
1980 census
2030 ct population
ACS data base
  
Most Frequent Keywords – MAGIC
Keyword
Stonington
campus map
Fairfield
New Haven
1934

V. Projects in Progress – July 2012
Each month the students and staff at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center are working on a series of projects, tasks, data sets, and resources which users typically don’t know about until we add the resource to our website. Included below is a list of projects that are currently underway which will be completed in the coming months and made available in their final forms via our websites.

  • Connecticut Population Projections 2015-2025 – This project involves developing updated population projections based on the 2010 Census, Birth and Mortality data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and developing derived migration based on these data for multiple levels of geography. Over the past month we have been refining the methods by incorporating additional data which will enable additional age groupings to be provided while also providing the ability to calculate more detailed rates of survival to improve the projections. Throughout this process we have been preparing scripts to help process the data for the projections which will enable future updates to be conducted on an annual basis (if necessary). This project is still underway and the public is able to view a preliminary version (population estimates are subject to change as we refine the methods over the next month). View the preliminary projections and the interactive data interface at: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/projections.html
  • Data Visualization – This project involves testing new tools and methods for visualizing data at the Connecticut State Data Center and MAGIC. Testing has included Tableau, Google Fusion Tables, and ArcGIS Online to determine which solution(s) are best depending upon the data visualization needed (maps, graphs/charts, or combinations).
  • Google Floor Maps – in collaboration with colleagues from the UConn Libraries Undergraduate Education team, we have begun developing updated floor maps for the storrs campus libraries (regional campuses will be included at a future date) to contribute these maps to the Google Maps Floor maps for Android. We have uploaded our first map and once approved, google maps users will be able to view a generalized floor map to help navigate public areas within the building. Learn more about this in the following article from Wired.
Have an idea for a project or suggestions for improvements to MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center’s website and web offerings? Leave us a comment or contact us at magic@uconn.edu.  





Each month we will be posting a “Month in Review” article so check back next month to see the latest information on usage trends at MAGIC and the Connecticut State Data Center.