We’ve updated Build a custom area profile

Categories: Census, Data, dataviz, design
Build a custom profile screenshot

One of the tools we launched for census was Build a custom area profile. This tool was designed to help people get census data that didn’t fit standard geographies. Read about it in a previous blog post.

We’ve recently launched an update to the tool that allows you to request more up-to-date population data (using the 2022 mid-year estimates) as well as adding a few new datasets that work at a larger geography known as Lower-level Super Output Area (LSOA) such as energy efficiency of housing (EPC), residential property sales, live births and deaths.

With the new datasets we’ve had to change a few things in the tool. Here’s an overview of what’s different.

A new way to select an area

We’ve implemented a new way to select an area. The primary way to select an area is to draw a polygon of the area you want, either through the polygon or circle tool. The circle tool has preset radius distances to choose from.  Using the shape tool on build a custom area profile product.

To remove an area, you can use the eraser tool, which removes a circle from the section with preset radius available.

Image of using the eraser tool on build a custom area profile product.

A new landing page

The landing page gives information about how the tool works, and census topics and non-census datasets available.

Screenshot of datasets available from the homepage on the build a custom area profile products.

The profile page

The profile page now has new categories for datasets and topics, which you can expand.

List of topics on build a custom area profile product.

There’s also a new section that explains the best-fit shape, and how it appears from the chosen area based on both Output Areas and Lower-level Super Output Areas.

Image of the information that describes how a best fit area is created on build a custom area profile.

The data tiles also provide more information about the time period, source and geography of the dataset.

Images of data tiles on build a custom area profile product.

Glossary

The glossary includes more detailed information about each of the datasets and census topics.

Screenshot of glossary page on build a custom area profile product.

Why these changes were needed

The further away we get from census, which happened in 2021, the less accurate those estimates become, when we know we have more up-to-date statistics for certain topics such as the population of an area. We also have more datasets available at LSOA level, so it made sense to allow users to query those with the custom profile interface.

Same as before

There are many features that still exist in the new version:

  • you can still search for an area as before
  • clear and undo
  • save and load an area
  • show and copy embed code
  • add the nine-character Government Statistical Service (GSS) codes after the URL on the build and draw page to go straight to that area, for example, Build a custom profile for the South East
  • copy Output Area codes from the download area menu
  • download data as a .csv file
  • save the profiles as images or print them, for example, to a PDF

What’s next

We plan on keeping the datasets up to date as well as adding more datasets when they become available.

Let us know what you think

We’re looking for feedback about the updates. Get in touch via our survey or email the team at explore.local.statistics@ons.gov.uk.