The Cadastral-based Expert Dasymetric System (CEDS) for mapping population distribution and vulnerability in New York City

Juliana A. Maantay, Lehman College, City University of New York (CUNY)
Andrew R Maroko, Lehman College, City University of New York (CUNY)

We discuss the importance of determining an accurate depiction of total population and specific sub-population distribution for urban areas to develop an improved “denominator,” enabling the calculation of more correct rates in GIS analyses involving public health, crime, hazard and risk assessment, and urban environmental planning. Rather than using data aggregated by arbitrary administrative boundaries such as census tracts, we use dasymetric mapping, an areal interpolation method using ancillary information to delineate areas of homogeneous values. Previous dasymetric mapping techniques (often using remotely-sensed land-cover data) are contrasted with our technique, Cadastral-based Expert Dasymetric System (CEDS), which is particularly suitable for hyper-heterogeneous urban areas. CEDS uses specific cadastral data, land-use filters, modeling by expert system routines, and validation against census enumeration units and other data. The CEDS method produces a more accurate estimation of population density and distribution, resulting in more robust analyses of environmental justice, health disparities, and hazard vulnerability.