GeoConvert is an online tool with functions providing
- Postcode-related information
- Matching of a range of current and historical UK geographies
- Conversion of data between geographies
and is available at: http://geoconvert.mimas.ac.uk.
GeoConvert has been updated with information derived from the May 2009 version of the National Statistics Postcode Directory (NSPD), produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and now incorporates information on
- Current and historical postcodes to April 2009
- The new Travel To Work Areas (2007)
- 2008 Ward boundaries
- New Enterprise Regions in Scotland (2007)
- A correction to the statistical ward boundary in Pembrokeshire
- The NUTS and LAU areas for England and Wales (2007), Scotland (2004)
- Ward Allocation changes in Northern Ireland (2007)
All previous matching and conversion information has been retained within GeoConvert for continued use.
In addition to the information derived from the NSPD, GeoConvert also provides a direct matching of postcodes to LSOA-level Indices of Deprivation 2007 information, as well as Indices of Deprivation 2004 information.
Information on dates of geographies has been improved to include an ONS-supplied date of last recorded change for geographies from the May 2009 NSPD.
GeoConvert's functions are based on analysis of information contained in versions of the National Statistics Postcode Directory (NSPD). The NSPD and its precursors contain a wealth of useful information about the changing relationships between a wide range of the different and changing geographies used within the UK (postcodes, super output areas, wards, primary care trusts, etc, amongst around 40 others). However, in their raw state, the size of these datasets, and the complexity of the methods required to identify relationships between geographies can soak up valuable time and resources, and present a considerable deterrent to their use.
The main aims of GeoConvert are to simplify and expand the use made of the information contained in the postcode directories within the UK academic community by providing a range of commonly required functions that are quick and easy to use, and are based upon robust and consistent methods.
GeoConvert is available free of charge to members of UK academic organisations. Details of how to register UK Federation and Athens accounts in order to use GeoConvert, as well as other services provided by the ESRC Census Programme are available on the Census.ac.uk website at http://census.ac.uk/Register_start.aspx.
GeoConvert has been developed by the Census Dissemination Unit (CDU), based within Mimas at the University of Manchester. The CDU is one of the units of the ESRC Census Programme.
