Proximity Measures Database 2021

Detailed information for 2021

An implementation of a set of proximity measures to services and amenities.

Data release - June 27, 2023

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Proximity Measures Database (PMD) is a nation-wide set of measures that quantify the proximity of dissemination blocks (DBs) to a variety of different amenities and services. The index values are calculated using a gravity model which accounts for the attractiveness of a destination (mass) and the the distance between the origin DB and the destination DB.

Data sources and methodology

Instrument design

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Sampling

This methodology does not apply.

Data sources

Data are extracted from administrative files and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Statistics Canada's Business Register (BR) was used to compute masses for places of employment, grocery stores, pharmacies, health care facilities, and child care facilities.

The Open Database of Education Facilities (ODEF) was used to generate the masses for education facilities.

The Open Database of Healthcare Facilities (ODHF) was used as a supplement to generate masses for the healthcare facilities.

OpenStreetMap (OSM) was used to generate the routing network, the representative points of dissemination blocks, and to generate the masses of the remaining amenities.

Error detection

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Imputation

Imputation was used in a variety of facets of the project. For example, ISCED levels were imputed, when necessary, based on grade ranges or the name of the school. Business variables such as revenue and employment were imputed using Business Register allocation factors when not available at the location level.

Estimation

Values are estimated using a gravity model that accounts for the distance between a reference dissemination block (DB) and all the DBs in which the service is located (within a given distance) and the size of the services. The measure accounts also for the presence of services within the DB of reference.

Quality evaluation

All measures were analyzed spatially as a validation check.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

All divorce counts are rounded.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data accuracy

This methodology does not apply.