Identification info

Alternative title

Intermediate Geographies 2011

Metadata Language

English

Character set

UTF8

Dataset Reference Date (Publication)

2014-11-06

Dataset Reference Date (Revision)

2021-10-04

Identifier

www.gov.scot / SG_IntermediateZone_Bdry_2011

Presentation form

Digital map

Maintenance and update frequency

Not planned

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

• Statistical units

GEMET - Concepts, version 2.4

• statistical data

• population distribution

IPSV Subjects List

• Statistical analysis

Limitations on Public Access

Other restrictions

Other constraints

No limitations to public access

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Open Government Licence

Other constraints

Available under the terms of the Open Government Licence. The following attribution statement must be used to acknowledge the source of the information: Copyright Scottish Government, contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (insert year).

Other constraints

Dataset is complete for Scotland. Care should be taken when using this dataset with lookups to other postcode based geographies. Some postcode unit boundaries have changed since intermediate zones were created and therefore exact match of the boundaries are unlikely.

Spatial representation type

Vector

Denominator

10000

Topic category

• Boundaries
• Society

Code

S92000003

 

Code

EPSG:4258

Code

EPSG:27700

Distribution Information

 

Data quality info

Quality Scope

Dataset

Statement

The Intermediate Zone geography was first created for use within the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) programme to sit between the data zone and Local Authority geographies and used when statistics are not suitable for release at the data zone level because of the sensitive nature of the statistics or for reasons of reliability. This original dataset (built from 2001 Data Zones) was created by St. Andrews University in 2005 on behalf of the Scottish Government – a detailed methodology can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/society/snsigbi-00.

asp. Intermediate zone boundaries are managed by the Scottish Government's Geographic Information Science and Analysis Team (GI-SAT), who carry out any required updates at the request of the Office of the Chief Statistician and Performance (OCSP).

Following a consultation in 2010, it was decided that the 2001 Data and Intermediate Zone boundaries would be updated to reflect the results of the 2011 Census. The aim was to maintain the link with current Census data, to re-align to Local Authority boundaries (at the time of the Census), and to account for changes in population while keeping boundaries relatively comparable to those created for 2001. The criteria used in the definition of 2011 Intermediate Zones were:

• That they be built up from 2011 Data Zones;

• Maintain approximately equal resident populations of 2,500 to 6,000 people, with an absolute minimum of 2,125 people and a maximum population of 6,375;

• Be a continuous area without multiple extents, unless caused by water (e.g. intermediate zones including islands);

• Maintain a compactness of shape.

Following the consultation with Local Authorities on 2011 Data Zone boundaries, a first cut of intermediate zones were created using the aggregates of updated data zone boundaries, best-fit to 2001 Intermediate Zones.

Similar to the method used to update data zones, the resident population was summed for each 'best-fit' intermediate zone to assess whether it fell within the required population thresholds. Intermediate zones that had seen a dramatic increase in population to values greater than 6,375 were split into one or more new intermediate zones. Conversely, those that had populations below 2,125 were also modified to conform to the population thresholds. From the consultation responses, proposed changes were not always in the form of clear splits and merges, but in most cases a slight re-configuration of the boundaries (i.e. moving a particular data zone from one intermediate zone to another). Many responses requested that intermediate zones respect settlement boundaries as far as possible. Updates to intermediate zones were a largely manual process.

The finalised set of boundaries consists of 1,279 intermediate zones. Each 2011 Intermediate Zone has been given a new unique code, following the Scottish Government’s standard naming and coding convention. The Intermediate Zone 2011 codes range from S02001236 to S02002514 (the previous 2001 codes ranged from S02000001 to S02001235). Census 2011 total, resident and household counts have been summed for each intermediate zone and included in the attribute table. Standard area measurements in hectares and square kilometres have also been attached, calculated from Census Output Area totals. This follows the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Standard Area Measurement methodology, as agreed in 2005. This was done to ensure that total areas remained consistent when comparing geographies. For more information on ONS Standard Area Measurement, please see http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/products/other/uk-standard-area-measurements--sam-/index.html.

Note that the intermediate zones nested exactly into Local Authorities at the time of the Census. However, the intermediate zone boundaries are not updated to reflect any changes made to Local Authority boundaries in-between Censuses.

 

Metadata

File identifier

389787c0-697d-4824-9ca9-9ce8cb79d6f5 XML

Metadata Language

English

Resource type

Dataset

Metadata Date

2021-11-22T14:30:20

Metadata standard name

UK GEMINI

Metadata standard version

2.3