Affiliations: [a] Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [b] School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Maria do Carmo Dias Bueno, Centro de Documentação e Disseminação de Informações, Rua General Canabarro, 706, sala 227, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20271-205, Brasil. Tel.: +55 21 2142 4702; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract: Statistics has been traditionally based on administrative boundaries
(country, states, etc.) and, in few cases, on operational boundaries
(enumeration areas, output areas). Climate hazards, however, disregard these
boundaries. Statistics based on the geography of climate hazards need to be
considered. The level of granularity of statistical data is quite low in
most cases but a reduction in the size of aggregation units is necessary to
meet the geography needs of climate hazards. Nowadays, these tasks are
easier to perform due to the technological advances in GIS and its growing
use in national statistical offices. This paper discusses a case study in Brazil that uses aggregate Population
Census microdata in small and regular geographical units to characterize the
population settled in areas susceptible to geological hazards and flooding
on the northern coast of São Paulo. The paper finds that Census data, combined with data on the geography of
climate hazards, can significantly improve our understanding of hazards and
vulnerability, but many steps are necessary before this result can be
achieved. The existence of georeferenced statistical or environmental data
is not enough. A common spatial unit or basis for both data types is
required so that data integration can be simple, quick, and effective.
Keywords: Data integration, population grid, census, vulnerability, climate change
