Linkage of the 1981 and 1991 U.K. censuses using surface modelling concepts

Problems involving the comparative analysis of data for the 1981 and 1991 U.K. censuses are explored. The authors note that "the integration of 1981 and 1991 data is far from straightforward because of changes in census geography and definitions, in the administration of the census, and in the format and nature of the data. It is explained how, by a further refinement of population surface modelling concepts, these two data sets can be transformed into a single, consistent geographical database independent of the two original and inconsistent zonal structures....The resulting models permit intercensal analysis with considerable spatial flexibility and a number of computational advantages. Illustration is made of the types of analysis that can be supported, and attention is drawn to the availability of the remodelled data to the academic community."