Location Data Knowledge Base

Download and install instructions for the Spatial data installs.

Download and install instructions for the Data (US) install on AWS3.

Download and install instructions for the Data (US and Canada) data installs.

Question I am curious about how the Gallery (Allocate) estimates ZIP Code demographics that might differ from what the Census Bureau does on their American Factfinder site. Would this be caused by the source of the Zip Codes? Or are we using a different method of pulling demographics for Zip Codes? Answer ZIP Codes and ZCTAs are different.  A major difference is ZCTAs are created at the time of the Census in 2010 and not typically updated.  ZIP Codes in the Gallery are updated quarterly.  So the physical area of the ZIP Codes being compared might be different even though they reference 2010 data.  They could be looking at physically different areas. If one could visualize the ZIP Codes and ZCTAs on a map, the physical differences between the geographies would be easier to see.  Here are a few informative links from the Census Bureau:  https://ask.census.gov/faq.php?id=5000&faqId=10488 and http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/zctas.html.    Another note - The Gallery does not include ZIP Codes with Points but Allocate does, when registered).  ZIP Code Points can be Post Office Boxes, business ZIP Codes in an office building, etc..  If a ZIP Code cannot be found check to see if it categorized as a polygon or point type.   Want to trouble shoot the validity of a ZIP Code on your own?  Here are a few links: Post Office web site: https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action?mode=1&refresh=true MelissaData web site:  http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/cityzip.asp  

Per Experian:   "CAPE data is always in nominal dollars (i.e. it includes inflation) – for CYE estimates, it cannot be any other way since we release the estimates a few months after the reference date (e.g. in end of September 2015, we released the estimates for the 2015B update that referred to July 1st, 2015). For FYP, however, it’s important to mention that CAPE estimates incorporate inflation projections – this also ensures consistency with CYE estimates. Although we may use ‘real dollar’ values (i.e. stripped from inflation effects) to project Consumer Expenditure target estimates, none of our final CAPE estimates are in ‘real dollars’.   - Thanks to Data Products for getting this information from Experian

Here we are in 2015.  The 2010 Census is five years behind us and the 2020 Census is five years away.  Have you wondered about the next Census?  How will data be collected?  Will the questionnaire catch up with current technology?  What happens to non-responders?  Since much of our demographic data is based upon the results from each Census (whether from the Census Bureau or demographic vendors like Experian), I went looking on the Census Bureau's web site for a preview of coming attractions.  And I found a page at A cost-effective 2020 Census answering my questions.    The decennial Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. If you answered the Census in 2000, you took black/blue pen to paper for either a short or long-form questionnaire. No Internet access back then.  In 2010 you still used a black/blue pen on paper and answered 10 simple questions even though the Internet was integrated in much of our day-to-day life.  Are we relegated to a black/blue pen on paper to answer the 2020 Census Questionnaire?  Based on information at census.gov, the next Census will encourage self-response via the Internet.  Nice!  And for those who do not respond, other existing governmental data may be used as a supplement.  This equates to cost reductions with fewer physical offices, fewer staff and less followup with non responders.  In 2010 there were 500+ Census offices and more than 750,000 staff on the ground.  The 2020 Census may have as few as 150 Census offices and 200,000 staff on the ground.   Technology may also influence another component of the U.S. Census - the Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) database.  These are reference maps, created for the Census, used to visualize geographic and statistical data.  Maps are the basis for companies such as TomTom who offer enhanced versions for licensing and inclusion in navigation products.  Alteryx users can find mapping layers in the Map Input, Reporting and Browse tools as backdrop references for spatial objects.   As referenced on census.gov, existing maps and address lists may be updated using technology, data and GPS to collect interviews efficiently.  In the past enumerators walked EVERY block in EVERY neighborhood in the United States gathering responses and information.  You can read more about the Census Bureau's 155-year history of mapping here:  155 years of mapping   From what I read, these changes have the potential to save taxpayer dollars, maintain a high level of accuracy and make responding to the Census easier.  So what happens next?  Testing these new processes began this year on a small-scale and national basis.  On April 1, 2017, Congress will be delivered the 2020 Census "topics."  On April 1, 2018, "question wording" will be delivered.  April 1, 2020 is Census Day!  On December 31, 2020 apportionment counts are delivered to the President.  Results of the Census were historically not instantaneously available but were released over a period of a few years.  But who knows what WILL be available in another 5 years.   http://census.gov/ is an excellent resource for information on the Census, American Community Survey (ACS), geographies, news and events. 

Question Are seasonal population figures included in total population counts? Answer It is very important to note that the CAPE ‘Seasonal Population’ only refers to the proportion of the population that is temporarily living in housing units that are defined as ‘For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use’. The CAPE ‘Seasonal Population’ therefore needs to be combined with the permanent ‘Residual Population’ to estimate the overall level of the population in each area by quarter.

We are trying to understand the difference between employees and daytime population.   It looks like some of the population may be double counted.  Can you explain what rows are used for the 2014 Total Daytime population #.      Methodologies are different for Employees and Daytime Population.   Employees & Establishments in Business Summary are sourced from the D&B Business list and summarized to a geographic level although delivered in the Experian CAPE release.  The employee counts are as accurate as the D&B employee value but are also subject to block centroid allocation used for population. Employment fields from the Occupation & Employment folder are based upon the American Community Survey, modeled to a current year value and are part of CAPE. Daytime Population is sourced from Experian and are compiled values using several CAPE fields.  The excerpt below is pulled from the Tech Overview delivered to clients.      Daytime PopulationDaytime Population – Current Year Estimates (CYE) The Daytime Population database is created using a variety of methodologies applicable for different subsets of the Total Daytime Population. These subsets are then added together to create the Total Daytime Population. The process starts by identifying key subsets of the residential population that are assumed to stay in or close to their home location during the day. In particular, the following subsets of population are assumed to remain in the same Block Group during the day as the Block Group in which they live (or reside): Residential Population : Children aged less than or equal to 2 Residential Population : Civilian aged 16+ population that are unemployed Residential Population : Civilian aged 16+ population that work at home Residential Population : Population aged 65+ who are retired Residential Population : Population aged 16+ who are homemakers Residential Population : Population aged 16+ who are in the Armed Forces All of the above variables can be directly obtained from previously calculated CAPE – Demographics – Current Year Estimate (CYE) residentially-based variables, except for the ‘Residential Population : Population aged 16+ who are homemakers’. This variable is calculated by applying suitable localized proportions to the existing ‘larger population’ variable of the ‘Civilian aged 16+ population who are ‘Not in Labor Force’. Applying these proportions determines the subset of this ‘larger population’ that are estimated to be homemakers. Once these initial subsets of Daytime Population who are assumed to stay in their residential Block Group during the daytime are defined and accounted for, then the daytime location of other population types are modelled. It is assumed that these remaining population types are much more likely to travel out of their residential Block Group to reach their typical daytime location than is the case for the population groups previously accounted for. However, flows from home address to daytime address that occur completely within the same Block Group are also possible for these types. First, the estimate of daytime population at place of work that has already been modelled for the Mosaic Workplace database is accounted for. This variable is: Daytime Population, Civilian 16+, at WorkplaceAfter the above, the main population groups left to be modelled are: Within the work to create Mosaic Workplace, this variable is estimated using Census Tract-to-Tract flows of workers from residence to workplace, and National Business Database data to update these flows and allocate them from Tract level to Block Group level. Daytime Population, Students : Prekindergarten to 8th grade Daytime Population, Students : 9th grade to 12th grade Daytime Population, Students : Post-secondary students Daytime Population: Any remaining Civilian aged 16+ population that are ‘Not in Labor Force’ and have not yet been accounted for. All of the three student populations are modelled using a variety of data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and also information from key institutions (i.e. universities/colleges) themselves. After making allowance for students registered at an institution but very unlikely to travel to that institution on a typical day (for example, students undertaking online courses), this information is compiled and modelled to create an initial estimate of the typical number of students that spend the day at the location (or campus) of each institution. These figures are then calibrated so that the initial estimates of students who spend a typical day at the location of each institution, and those who stay within their residential Block Group during a typical day, are balanced to equal the national number of students within each category (i.e. Prekindergarten to 8th grade, 9th grade to 12th grade, Post-secondary students). Once all students have been accounted for, current estimates of each relevant daytime population sub-group are tallied and compared to the national estimate of ‘Residential Population: Civilian aged 16+ population that are Not in Labor Force’. The above work does not yet account for a proportion of this population group. The, as yet unaccounted for, proportion of this group is therefore calculated and assumed to spend a typical day within the Block Group in which they live. Having allocated all of the relevant subsets of residential population to either the Block Group in which they reside, or to another Block Group which they are estimated to travel to in order to spend a typical day, then the two final variables in the database are calculated: Daytime Population Aged 16+ Total Daytime Population (i.e. all ages)

If you can't find the ZIP code you are looking for, it is likely that it is a ZIP point, ZIP codes are assigned to military basis, college campuses and other large facilities. These ZIP Codes are not registered by default, to be added to Allocate they have to be registered. For this you will need to have Admin rights to your computer to do this. If you don't, you could try right clicking on the Allocate product and selecting Run as administrator. If this does not work, you will need your IT to register the file for you. First, open the stand alone Allocate product (outside of Alteryx):                                                 Choose the dataset you are using in the first window:                       Next, go to the Pick Geography tab and go to File > Manage Virtual Geographies…                       The below window will pop up, click on Register:                                Go to the Program Files (x86)AlteryxDataProductsPortfolio[your dataset]Data folder (or the folder for the dataset you are using):                        And select the ZIPs with Points VGF files, click Open:                        You will see that the Zip Codes w/Points is now loaded in the list, click OK:                                  Allocate will say it needs to restart, click OK. Once open again, go to the Pick Geography tab and the Zip Codes w/Points is now selectable and will also be available in the Allocate tool within Alteryx.                       

The attached document contains the Mosaic USA Group and Segment Descriptions

This two-page document provides concise, color-coded groupings and descriptions of the 71 Mosaic USA clusters.

Census data is calculated based on census designated boundaries which range in increasing size from Blocks - Block Groups - Tracts - Counties - etc.  However, when solving most business issues, custom polygons are often used.  Since custom polygons almost never perfectly mirror Census Blocks, a method to subdivide Blocks must be created. Block Centroid Retrevial Alteryx utilizes Block Centroid Retrieval when allocating demographic data to irregular polygons such as custom radii, ZIP Codes, and custom trade areas.  For the US datasets, this retrieval is based on the centroids of the US Census 2010 Blocks.  Each record is tagged with the percent of the household and population it represents as a fraction of its associated block group.  Development changes in the years since the census are not reflected in this inventory of block centroids.   To address this requirement, Alteryx designed a methodological approach to update block groups to reflect areas of growth.  By utilizing the Experian household database of 127 million U.S. consumer households in conjunction with the Census Bureau, Alteryx has created additional points, within the block inventory dataset, utilized by Allocate to represent population and household growth during the time since the previous census.