File>APIGateway enables access to demographic-economic subject matter via API calls. Query, view, analyze, download data to the census block and block group levels using API technology.  Use the APIGateway to extract the specific subject matter, for the specific geographic level, for the specific geography that you need -- using a common user interface.

 

Availability

Levels Viewer,1,2, 3 as option

All features overview

 

Using Census 2010 Summary File 1 Census Block Data

 

See overview in ProximityOne Blog

 

Install VDA Desktop (11/16/13 version or more recent)

- install now

Expand the Washington, DC GIS Project Files http://proximityone.com/dmd/2013_dc_dp.zip to folder c:\cvxe\1.

(for all narrative descriptions to operate correctly use of this folder is required)

 

With VDA Desktop running, start APIGateway

Use File>APIGateway from main menu bar.  The APIGateway form appears as shown below.

 

The Batch Extraction operation involves two steps.

1 – Click main menu Settings>Batch Operation and specify settings.

2 – Close the Setting form. Click Tools>Batch Extraction to start processing.

 

The Batch Operations setting form is shown below.

This view shows available options using the VDA Desktop Viewer version. Grayed out options are available to registered users.

 

These settings will operate with no modification.

To use these settings,  close the form and click Tools>Batch Extraction to start processing.

The output file c:\cvxe\1\blk_sf1_2010_p003p004.dbf is created (Output Dataset) and contains the fields shown in the Field Names edit box.

The output file created will contain ALL records that meet the criteria of the Control File Query (substr(geoid,1,11)=’11001004100′) and processing blocks contained in the Control File (c:\cvxe\1\tl_2013_11_tabblock_dp.dbf).

 

Using the default settings, the output file opened in excel is shown below.

 

The VDA Desktop Viewer version of the APIGateway will create datasets for any area of the U.S.

The Batch Operation in basic VDA Desktop versions operates only with Census 2010 SF1 block level data.

The full version operates with many types of source data and supports wide ranging geographic levels — including ACS block group level data.

 

Using the Dataset Generated

There are at least two main ways the output dataset can be used.

1 – the block level data may be aggregated/analyzed in a tabular manner.

2 – the dbase version of the output dataset is structured in a manner that can be immediately joined with a shapefile for mapping and geospatial applications.

 

More about the Sample Dataset

The first row of the dataset shows selected data for census block 11-001-004100-1000.  P0030001 is the fieldname/shorthand for Census 2010 total population.  See the list describing these items using the table shells (xls) — see table P3 in the xls file. Field/item.column p0030002 is the White alone population.  Field name spelling is nitpicky; one character missed, incorrect or out of place can cause an error.  See sequential page 184 (numbered page 6-22 in the matrix section)in the SF1 technical documentation (pdf) to view the exact spelling of the field names and an alternative view of the table structure.

 

API Settings Form Details and Options

 

Notes on using the VDA Desktop Viewer version ...

 

Dataset

Source dataset; default value: 2010 Census SF1

-- no other options are available in the no fee version; see more detail above regarding other options available.

 

Geo Summary Level

Geographic summary level for data extraction; default value: Census Block (101)

-- no other options are available in the VDA Desktop Viewer version; see more detail above regarding other options available.

 

Control File

Default value:c:\cvxe\1\tl_2010_11_tabblock10.dbf

Any TIGER/Line census blocks shapefile dbf (tl_2010_??_tabblock10 or more recent) can be used.

For example, the tl_2010_48_tabblock10.dbf file can be used for Texas operations.

This dbf must have the field named GEOID (not GEOID10).

Registered users have access to all ready-to-use state control files (see below).

 

Control File Query

Default value: substr(geoid,1,11)=’11001004100′

Processes all blocks contained in the Control File (c:\cvxe\1\tl_2010_11_tabblock10.dbf) up to the number specified in the Records edit box.

Optional SQL-like query placed on Control File

 

Records

The Records edit box enables a way to control the number of records extracted.

The purpose of this feature is to enable test runs before running a much larger set of blocks.

The number of records is set to 10 in the default setting.

The number of records may be set to a larger number or ALL (three characters) to process all blocks in the Control File.

 

Output Dataset

Default value:  c:\cvxe\1\blk_sf1_2010_p003p004.dbf

See below for information on creating the Output Dataset structure.

 

The Output Dataset is automatically generated when using the Build Structure operation.

 

Fields

The maximum number of fields in any one run is limited to 10 fields.

The limit for the commercial version enables extraction of up to 250 fields on one run.

Contact us for details about the commercial version.

 

Field Names

Default value: p0030001,p0030002,p0030003,p0030004,p0030005,p0030006,p0030007,p0030008,p0040003

 

The Field Names list is automatically generated when using the Build Structure operation.

 

Select Fields/Build Structure

Use this feature to automate the process of using the automated features to build the Output Dataset structure and load the Field Names list.

 

Click the Select Fields button to start the Field List Manager (FLM).  The FLM appears as shown below.

The form is pre-populated with all Census 2010 Summary File 1 items as shown in the left list box.

Click on item(s) is the Available Fields list then click arrows to move the item to the Selected Fields list.

 

When all desired fields are showing in the Selected Fields listbox, click the Build Structure button.

An OpenFile dialog appears.  Enter the name of an output file.

As the Build Structure process operates ...

1. the Output Dataset edit box will be assigned the name of the output file selected.

2. the Field Names list will be populated with the field names showing in the Selected Fields listbox.

The GEOID field is automatically added to the field structure.

 

With the Control File and Control File Query set as desired, the Run button or APIGateway Tools>Run Batch may now be clicked to start data extraction processing.

 

Assistance Using these Resources

Join the ProximityOne User Group to obtain resources that can make using the Census 2010 SF1 API data access resources easier.

-- join by checking the User Group option at http://proximityone.com/contact.htm

 

Using the VDA Desktop GIS Level 1 software, create Output Dataset (see above) structures and view/process dbase files.

User Group members may download Census 2010 census block Control Files (see above).

--  the Census 2010 census block Control Files are available for all states for individual states.

 

Census 2010 Census Block Control Files Downloads (User Group ID required for remainder of this section)

 

Terms of use.  These files are provided exclusively for with the VDA Desktop GIS software to facilitate APIGateway access to Census 2010 Summary File 1 census block demographics.  Redistribution of these state by census block files is not authorized.  There is no warranty regarding any aspect of the these files nor any data acquired using the APIGateway.  The user is solely responsible for any use.

 

The state by Census 2010 census block dbase files available via the scroll section below have been derived from the Census Bureau Census 2010 census block shapefiles. The structure and content of the files are the same for each state as shown in the table shown below.  The structure of the file is identical to the Census version except that the field GEOID10 has been replaced with GEOID.

 

Field Name	Width+Type	Description
STATEFP10	2 String	2010 Census state FIPS code
COUNTYFP10	3 String	2010 Census county FIPS code
TRACTCE10	6 String	2010 Census census tract code
BLOCKCE10	4 String	2010 Census tabulation block number
GEOID	15 String	2010 Block identifier; a concatenation of 2010 Census state FIPS code, county FIPS code, census tract code and tabulation block number.
NAME10	10 String	2010 Census tabulation block name; a concatenation of ‘Block’ and the current tabulation block number
MTFCC10	5 String	MAF/TIGER feature class code (G5040)
UR10	1 String	2010 Census urban/rural indicator
UACE10	5 String	2010 Census urban area code
FUNCSTAT10	1 String	2010 Census functional status
ALAND10	14 Number	2010 Census land area
AWATER10	14 Number	2010 Census water area
INTPTLAT10	11 String	2010 Census latitude of the internal point
INTPTLON10	12 String	2010 Census longitude of the internal point

 

State by Census 2010 census block dbase files -- expand zip file to c:\cvxe\1\

 

Creating Output Dataset Structures

These steps show an optional way to create the Output Dataset structure.

Output Dataset structure must correspond to the items being accessed as named in the Field Names section.

The following example illustrates how to create the structure for three items from SF1 table H004.

With VDA Desktop running. use File>Database>dBCreate/Modify

 

 

The field names and attributes are entered and the file is saved as c:\cvxe\1\sf1_h004.dbf.

"c:\cvxe\1\sf1_h004.dbf" would be entered in the Output Dataset edit box (no quotes).

 

Using this example, the Field Names edit box would contain "h0010001,h0040002,h0040003" (no quotes)

 

Illustrative Application

The API Setting form for the above operation would appear as shown below.

 

Closing the API Settings form and using Tools>Run Batch creates a 10 record sample file as displayed using Tools>dBrowse: