How to map DANE data without losing statistical context
Steps for retaining population universe, denominator, cutoff, territorial code and licence when integrating DANE statistics into coverage and prioritisation maps.
To map DANE statistics, preserve the universe, denominator, period and territorial code of every figure before performing the geographic join. A map can be technically correct and still support the wrong conclusion when it compares incompatible populations, years or units.
DANE publishes services such as the 2025 National Geostatistical Framework and explains its Geoportal's licence and conditions of use, which identify CC BY 4.0 for the stated content. Preserve attribution, the licence link and an indication of changes. Each product can have its own cutoff and metadata, so review them before integration.
Write the question and universe first
“Where is the gap?” is not yet a specification. Define the target population, territory, period and decision. Service coverage, facility location and commercial segmentation may use the same geographic units while requiring different denominators and criteria.
Create an indicator card with:
- exact name and definition;
- numerator and denominator;
- universe and exclusions;
- source, statistical operation and date;
- published geographic level;
- rules for missing or reserved values.
Do not combine two similarly labelled columns until they are shown to measure the same thing.
Join codes, not typed names
Use official unit identifiers where available. Names can change spelling or repeat. Validate length, leading zeroes and relationships between levels. If a table and cartography belong to different years, document boundary changes and decide whether a correspondence table is required.
Do not automatically assign a municipal aggregate to every parcel or block. That operation creates detail the source does not contain. If the analysis estimates a distribution at another scale, state the method, auxiliary variables and uncertainty, and keep it distinct from the published official value.
Make indices and maps auditable
Every visualisation should show cutoff, unit and source. For rates, publish or expose the denominator. For a composite index, document normalisation, weights and sensitivity. A weighting change is not a DANE update; it is a new analytical decision.
Geospatial data interoperability can publish catalogues, metadata and services without separating a layer from its context.
Test a decision before a dashboard
Start with a small number of defensible indicators, reproduce the join and review outputs with people who understand operations. Confirm that another analyst can retrieve the same figure and interpret missing values. GeoSAT's territorial intelligence with DANE data can structure this workflow. It does not identify individuals, prove causality or replace decisions about budget, equity and operational feasibility.