SCAD Launches a Project for "Updating of Buildings, Housing, Households and Establishments Frames- 2010"

Abu Dhabi, 20th April 2010 (WAM) -- Statistics Center- Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has announced the launch of the second stage of the Centers large-scale national project for "Updating of the frames of buildings, housing, households and establishments-2010" from April 25 to 10 June, which is largest field statistical operation ever to be carried out in the emirate in terms of geographical coverage of all areas, buildings, housing, households, establishments and individuals, as well as in terms of its approved budget, the number of staff members engaged and the technology used in its implementation.

The expected results of the projects are likely to have important implications for Abu Dhabis Policy Agenda and Economic Vision-2030 development goals and the other set objectives.

The announcement was made in press conference held yesterday at the Centre, in the presence of HE Butti Ahmed Mohammed Bin Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of SCAD and a number of the Centers officials.

Al Qubaisi explained that the project aims to provide extensive, updated and highly accurate data on buildings, housing, households and establishments in the various regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The project data will also serve the strategic initiatives the Abu Dhabi Government in general and strategy of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi in particular.

He emphasized the increasing importance of data and statistical figures relating to the different characteristics of establishments, which represent the statistical unit in economic surveys, since the results of such surveys are indispensable tools in the formulation of development plans and other economic programs.

"The implementation of this project requires huge number of aerial photographs and maps for the buildings and real estate units in the emirate to ensure full coverage and accuracy during the updating operation. It also requires a visit to each building to account for all of its parts (units) regardless of the status of occupancy of these parts, and collect data on the characteristics of each dwelling or establishment in the building" he added.

Appeal for cooperationHe called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate with SCADs field enumerators and supervisors by giving full and accurate answers to the questions asked, as the success of the frames updating project hinges on the cooperation of the entire population, government and semi-government entities, and civil society institutions in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, stressing SCADs commitment to the confidentiality of the information collected, and its use exclusively for statistical and planning purposes for the wellbeing of nationals and resident in the emirate, pursuant to the law establishing the center.

He further added that that the frames updating project includes a third stage that will focus on the enumeration of individuals and the characteristics of residents in the housing units and establishments that will be counted during the current stage (Stage 2).

Visits by Enumerators:This project will follow the complete count method in the enumeration of buildings, housing, the population and establishments through field visits during which field staff collect detailed data, each within their designated area of work, covering such particulars as the proprietor or the officer of an establishment, head of the household, etc. The project will cover all areas of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; i.e. Abu Dhabi region (urban / rural), Al-Ain region (urban / rural), the Western Region and Abu Dhabi islands.

Updating of FramesElaborating further on the project Al-Qubaisi said: "The term "frame updating" refers to the "total process of collecting, processing, tabulation and dissemination of digital data coverage, without omission or duplication". The project secures detailed data on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the population, housing conditions, the composition and conditions of households and the statistics and characteristics of buildings. The project therefore seeks to build a state-of-the-art database and provide an accurate frame with full coverage of establishments of various economic activities in the emirate. Such frame is considered essential in the design and sampling for the implementation of specialized statistical surveys".

Objectives of the Project The importance of the frames updating project lies in the fact that it is the sole process for obtaining comprehensive data on the number of establishments, their geographical distribution, type of economic activity, manpower strength, mode of operation, total revenue, ownership and type of legal entity, paid-up capital, and the percentage UAE and non-UAE capital of all establishments in various economic activities, thereby making it possible to design appropriate annually samples (to be updated form the administrative sources available) for the economic surveys of the coming years such as the industrial, trade transport and services surveys.

In addition to providing detailed data on the population, housing and establishments according to the current master plan of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, besides providing an updated frame for households that is suited for a number of household surveys, such as household expenditure and income survey, labor force survey, family health survey and the multipurpose survey, to support decision and policy makers, serve the competent authorities and the general public, and to put into effect the local governments strategy for the next five years in all its facets, vision, mission, objectives, priorities and initiatives.

The project helps in the training of national cadres in the planning and implementation stages such projects, through their practical participation in the updating of frames to acquire the necessary experience to conduct statistical field surveys. Moreover, the frames updating project contributes towards composing a broad data base to be used for research and study, and to serve as a reliable source of numerical information on the emirate for international institutions. The project data will also ensure access to the data and indicators needed to measure the change in housing and demographic characteristics over time, make local, regional and international comparisons and assess future projections. Prominent among the project objectives is the promotion of statistical culture through the work of the field staff in explaining the importance of the general census to the population for the emirate, whether in terms of planning or implementation.

Methodology of the Project Al-Qubaisi explained that the project methodology centers on 3 issues:I- Preparation, which involves budgeting, setting up a functional structure, the designing forms, defining terminology, producing training manuals and guides, selecting the project staff and working out a manual on the administrative divisions of the emirates regions.

II "Field work", which includes training of the project staff and providing them with PDAs and necessary printed matter, designation of work areas and counting of establishments, buildings and housing units and the populationIII: "Compilation of results", the process that involves the analysis and dissemination of data.

This massive amount of statistics and information will be collected according to the latest recommendations and standards of the United Nations, while ensuring that the requirements of ministries, planners, researchers and decision makers are duly met.

Again the latest technology will be used to collect and validate data to compile results shortly after the completion of field operations. The results will be announced in dedicated press conference to be held afterwards.

Stages of the project According to SCADs Director General the project passes through three stages, the first being the quick count stage which was carried out from 16/3 to 5/4/2010. This stage provided data on the numbers and types of buildings distributed into housing units and establishments. Stage 2 of the project is the housing and establishments enumeration stage and provides data on the numbers and characteristics of housing units and establishments counted during the first stage (the quick count stage). This stage is scheduled for the period 25/4/ to 10/6/2010. Finally, stage 3 of the frames updating project will involve enumeration of the population to provide data on the numbers and characteristics of the population living in housing units and establishments counted in the second stage (counting of housing and establishments). Stage 3 of the project is due to take place over the period 3/10- 20/10/2010: Gearing up or each stage:Each stage goes through several steps and preparatory activities, such as determining the objectives and content of each stage in line with the overall objectives of the project, drafting the data tabulation scheme, working out a communication plan, and testing of candidates for selection and appointment of the project staff, and to identification of technical documentation, design of maps and questionnaire forms, determination of data validation rules and field work mechanisms, selection and testing of IT systems, pilot testing, setting up field stations, catering to the requirements of field work, training of the project staff, distribution of work areas on handheld devices for each enumerator and field deployment of enumerators to collect data for the three stages.

1000 Enumerators of the ProjectThe frames updating project will be conducted a large team of trained and experienced staff, hired with the aid of recruitment consultancies.

The projects manpower strength will vary from one stage to another, with the total number so far standing at1000 people, with possible increase upon the commencement of stage 3.

Training The duration of staff training varies from one stage to another. The project staff are trained for a minimum of --- days, according to job title and the duties and functions of each job. The training covers theoretical and technical aspects, the first dealing the concepts, terminology, the statistical classification in use, of use and how to complete the questions set. The technical aspect deals with the use handheld devices in data collection.

Results of stage 1 Partner Support SCADs Director General praised the unstinting support of the Executive Council to complete the work as planned, acknowledging the contribution of the Centers strategic partners to the success of the project. In this regard, it is pertinent to note that, prior to the commencement of the project, the Center had sent official letters to all governmental departments and agencies to in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to learn about the data requirements and call on them cooperate and contribute to the project. And in response to this, some parties participated actively in this project as Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), Abu Dhabi municipalities, and the Military Survey Dept. by providing SCAD with aerial maps.

SCADs Frames Updating ProjectState-of-the-art Statistical Technology to be Used by the Centers Field StaffStatistics Centre - Abu Dhabi is implementing a project for "updating of frames" with the aid of an integrated set high-tech systems, to ensure better statistical output.

SCAD has set up a quality control team to work simultaneously with the field staff and provided it with data bases and advanced technology to correct and guide field staff and bring any observations to their attention in a timely manner, in order to improve the quality of the statement and therefore the statistical product as a whole.

As for planning, the databases and the geographical systems were used in the determination of operation areas and the distribution of loads among the working teams. The projects field operations are supported through assistance in locating various work areas and monitoring and ensuring full coverage of targeted buildings as well as in the reduction of omissions, as well as in checking and quality control.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi equipped researchers with modern electronic devices for data collection, loaded with maps, satellite images and geographical coordinates transponders, so that statistical data is sent daily to the supervisory centers and the central operations room for checking and quality control.

The Centre has, in collaboration with contracted technology companies, built an advanced center to support and manage the project. It is fitted with a control panel and receives daily reports that are conveniently displayed to the project management team, while the data is automatically updated to follow-up on work efficiency and assess the progress made by the project team deployed all over the cities, villages and neighborhoods of the Emirate.

The advanced systems in use enable the tracing of field staff through coordinates, maps and databases, thereby helping to enumerators to locate remote and places. This project marks the first time that such integrated systems are ever used in statistical work, making Statistics Center - Abu Dhabi a pioneer in this regard, both locally and globally as it offers a new experience for statistical bureaus worldwide to build upon in the future. Abstracts SCADs work in this regard will be put within the reach of those concerned.

The projects of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi for the year 2010 are characterized by effective adaptation of the technologies at all stages, with extensive use of mobile computing, databases, maps and geographical information systems in planning, implementation and quality control as well as in building a geographical statistical database for dissemination and samples extraction purposed.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.