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Frequently Asked Questions
Postcodes/Streets
Why does the wrong area appear when I enter my postcode?
Postcodes do not match up exactly to administrative boundaries,
houses with the same postcode may lie on either side of a boundary.
Postcodes are allocated to higher geographies using a 'centroid' grid-reference.
This is based on all the properties within that postcode and uses the grid reference of the property nearest the average point.
For example 12 houses with the same postcode
- 10 lie in ward A and 2 lie in ward B, the house nearest the 'centroid' lies in ward A so the postcode (and all the houses) will be allocated to ward A.
This is why when you enter a postcode you may get a profile for a neighbouring area.
A paper with further details on postcodes and geo-referencing is available
here.
Can I obtain a copy of the lookup table which links postcodes to geographic areas?
Yes - the Northern Ireland Central Postcode Directory (CPD) lists all postcodes and the geographic areas they are allocated to.
The CPD is available for download in either Access 2000 or Text file (dollar ($) separated variables) format from the
NISRA Geography website.
However, users must sign and return the Terms and Conditions document available
here to receive a password for access to download CPD
from the
NISRA Geography website.
Can I search by street name?
Yes - a street search facility has been added to the postcode search page. Users can enter a postcode or street to find road, number of delivery addresses and higher geography information.
Links are also provided to the appropriate area profiles.
To view the postcode or street search page click here: Postcode/Street search.
Do you have a list of all streets in a particular ward?
No - at present users can only search for postcodes or individual streets.
To view the postcode or street search page click here: Postcode/Street search.
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Data
Do you have data on x?
The quickest way to find out if data is available is to look in the Data Catalogue page.
All the data available on the NINIS web site can be viewed and downloaded from this
page. The information is sorted by themes, click on the appropriate theme to view the datasets.
The Data Catalogue is available here.
Alternatively a list of datasets available can be viewed here.
How do I obtain an area profile if I do not know a postcode in the area?
While the postcode is the quickest way to get an area profile, you can also choose your area from a map.
On the NINIS homepage, choose the Area Profile button on the homepage. A map and list of Local Government Districts will appear, select your area of interest by clicking either on the map or list.
It will be highlighted in red, if you want a profile for this level click on 'View profile of x LGD', if you want an area within this LGD click on 'Show wards in x LGD' and repeat the procedure.
How do I obtain an area profile if I only have an area code and no name?
Download the following spreadsheet which contains all codes and names used on the website: Names and Codes.
Once you have identified the area name from this spreadsheet, you can obtain the area profile by choosing the areas from a map or list.
Follow the steps described in the question above.
Can the area profiles be merged automatically for an area I am interested in or can you do this for me?
At present no, automatic merging of profiles is not available on NINIS, this is something we may look into for the future.
If you wish to recreate an area profile for a geographic area not used on NINIS, you will need to download the necessary spreadsheets from the Data Catalogue.
We can not do this for customers on an individual basis.
Does NINIS have a Disclosure Control Policy?
A document detailing the NINIS Statistical Disclosure Control Policy is now available to download.
The document gives background to the National Statistics Protocol on Data Access and Confidentiality and
outlines the five main statistical disclosure control methods used on NINIS.
To view the document click here.
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Calculations
How do I calculate a percentage?
To calculate a percentage simply divide the smaller number by the bigger number and multiply by 100.
The smaller number is the cases you are interested in (number of females, number of terraced houses etc.) and the larger number is the overall population (total population, total over 65s, all houses etc.).
For example, if there are 50 houses in an area and 27 of these are detached, what percentage of houses are detached?
27 / 50 then multiply by 100 = 54%
In the User Defined Profile the formula would look as follows:
(number of detached houses / total number of houses) * 100
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How do I calculate percentage change over time?
Percentage changes are always based on the original (oldest) value. Work out the difference between the two values,
then divide by the oldest value. Then multiple the result by 100 to make it into a percentage.
( ( new - old ) / old ) * 100
For example, if the average rates bill in an area was £500 in 2004 and £560 in 2005, what is the percentage change between 2004 and 2005?
Calculate the difference between the two
560 - 500 = an increase of 60
60 / 500 = 0.12
0.12 multiplied by 100 = an increase of 12%
In the User Defined Profile the formula would look as follows:
((average rates bill 2004 - average rates bill 2003) / average rates bill 2003) * 100
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Geography
What
is a Super Output Area?
The Northern Ireland
Statistics and Research Agency has developed geographical units called ‘Super
Output Areas’ (SOAs). These are aggregates of 2001 Census Output Areas and are
a relatively small scale unit, containing an average of just less than 2000
people. For further information on how SOAs were created please click here. There are a total of 890 SOAs in Northern Ireland – you can see images
of all NI SOAs in the Map Catalogue.
Super Output Areas are the core reporting geography of the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure (2005).
I live in X SOA is this the
same as X ward?
Not necessarily.
- Some wards remained the same and became whole SOAs (for example the Ardboe ward in Cookstown is also Ardboe
SOA)
- Some wards were split into SOAs and these will
have numbers in the title (for example the Fortwilliam ward in Belfast was
split into 3 SOAs and these are called Fortwilliam 1, Fortwilliam 2 and
Fortwilliam 3)
- Some wards were combined to make an SOA (for
example, the Ballylough ward and the Bushmills wards in Moyle were
combined to form Ballylough & Bushmills SOA)
Can I obtain copies of the digital boundary sets used on NINIS?
Further details on digital products are available at the
NISRA Geography website.
You can access and download a range of digital products that support the use of geography in developing statistics.
The range of digital products are for use within both Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and also the main statistical software systems.
Information is available on 2001 Census Geography, Postal Geography, Urban/Rural Geography, Neighbourhood Renewal Areas, Peacelines and Travel to Work Areas.
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Using the Information
Can I use the maps in my report?
Land and Property Services (LPS) provides all maps for the NINIS website. Single maps can be provided to outside customers as long as they are for private use and will not be reproduced, Crown copyright information (see
here) should also be included on the map.
Where multiple copies are required, or publication will occur (including the Internet), a single use license is required from Land and Property Services at a cost of £40.60. Contact Copyright Administration on 028 90255722 or e-mail
ray.lowry@osni.gov.uk to obtain authorisation.
The Northern Ireland Mapping Agreement (NIMA) is a corporate supply agreement
for the use of Ordance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) Digital Geographic
Information to be used by all Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Departments,
Agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and Local Councils to support
policy making, operational delivery and communication with the public. It
provides open access to OSNI data for all NICS Departments, Agencies, NDPBs and
Local Councils. Further information about NIMA can be obtained from the following link below http://www.osni.gov.uk/index/government.htm.
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Can I use the information in my report?
Yes, all the data and text featured on this site may be downloaded to file or printer for the purposes of research and private study without requiring specific prior permission.
Please reference the data using the following statement:
Source: Neighbourhood Statistics (NISRA) Website: www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO
Customers wishing to reproduce Neighbourhood Statistics material, other than for the purposes of research or private study,
require a Click-Use Licence from HMSO's online licensing system and whenever such material is published must accredit the material as shown above.
To apply for the Click-Use Licence please follow the here.
First time users must register for a user account. Registration is free and should only take a few moments of your time.
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Training
Do you provide training on how to use the NINIS website?
We provide both monthly seminars which incorporate PC-based training on how to use the NINIS website in McAuley House (Belfast city centre) and ad-hoc commissioned seminars region-wide. Further details and the registration form for the monthly seminars can be found here or click on the logo below.
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Useful Materials
Can you send me email updates when new features are added to the site?
Yes - if you send us your contact details we can add you to our customer database (email ninis.nisra@dfpni.gov.uk).
We produce a NINIS Newsletter which provides updates on new data and features that have been added to the NINIS website and email this to all our customers.
Are guidance materials available for the NINIS website?
Guidance materials have been produced to assist users in utilising and navigating the NINIS website. These are as follows:
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Interactive Mapping
Can I map the data on the website?
Yes, in addition to the Create-a-Map tool which allows users to undertake detailed analysis of one or more areas through thematic mapping, there are atlases of pre-created thematic maps or 'Interactive Maps' which can be easily manipulated.
Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) maps are available for Census 2001 Key Statistics tables at Super Output Area level, ward and Local Government District level, for the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005 at Super Output Area level and Local Government District level and for
Investing for Health Health and Wellbeing Indicators at Local Government District and Health and Social Services Board level.
The Interactive Maps section is available here.
Why do the Interactive Maps not work for me?
Before viewing the maps you will need to download and install an SVG viewer file from the Internet.
Download Adobe SVG Viewer by clicking
here.
Some users may need to click on each section of the map before it will function, the words "click to activate and use this control" may appear when you hover over the maps.
This is an issue with windows, the maps will function normally once you have clicked to activate.
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