Method for spatially distributing a population

• US 7,247,024 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Dobson, Jerome E., Coleman, Phillip R., Bhaduri, Budhendra L., Bright, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng; Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US10/455,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20040101810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/130, 434/306, 434/365, 434/433, 273/308, 705/1, 705/2, 705/9, 705/10, 709/223, 455/12.1, 342/357.07, 235/385, 379/127.01
• US Class Current: 434/130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0061 Geography

Abstract

A process for spatially distributing a population count within a geographically defined area can include the steps of logically correlating land usages apparent from a geographically defined area to geospatial features in the geographically defined area and allocating portions of the population count to regions of the geographically defined area having the land usages, according to the logical correlation. The process can also include weighing the logical correlation for determining the allocation of portions of the population count and storing the allocated portions within a searchable data store. The logically correlating step can include the step of logically correlating time-based land usages to geospatial features of the geographically defined area. The process can also include obtaining a population count for the geographically defined area, organizing the geographically defined area into a plurality of sectors, and verifying the allocated portions according to direct observation.

Claims

1. A method for estimating a population count distribution within a geographically defined area, the method comprising the steps of:

logically correlating land usages to geospatial features in said geographically defined area;

allocating portions of the population count to regions of said geographically defined area having said land usages, according to said logical correlation; and

estimating a distribution of the population count in accordance with said geospatial features within said geographically defined area,

wherein the steps are performed by computer hardware in accordance with at least one computer software program that is executable by said computer hardware, and

wherein the at least one computer software program is stored in a memory readable by said computer hardware.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said logically correlating step comprises the step of logically correlating time-based land usages to geospatial features of said geographically defined area.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining a population count for said geographically defined area.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of organizing said geographically defined area into a plurality of sectors.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said allocating step comprises allocating portions of the population count to at least one said sector.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said sectors comprise a thirty (30) arc second resolution.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said sectors comprise a three (3) arc second resolution.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying said allocated portions according to direct observation.

9. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of weighing said logical correlation for determining said allocation of portions of the population count.

10. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for performing the steps of:

logically correlating land usages to geospatial features in said geographically defined area;

allocating portions of the population count to regions of said geographically defined area having said land usages, according to said logical correlation; and

estimating a distribution of the population count in accordance with said geospatial features within a geographically defined area,

wherein the steps are performed by computer hardware in accordance with the computer program that is executable by said computer hardware.

11. The machine readable storage of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

storing said allocated portions within a searchable data store;

obtaining a population count for said geographically defined area;

organizing said geographically defined area into a plurality of sectors;

allocating portions of the population count to at least one said sector;

verifying said allocated portions according to direct observation; and

weighing said logical correlation for determining the allocation of portions of the population count.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 10, wherein the logically correlating step comprises the step of:

logically correlating time-based land usages to geospatial features of said geographically defined area.

13. The machine readable storage of claim 11, wherein the organizing step comprises the step of:

organizing sectors of at least one of thirty (30) arc second resolution and three (3) arc second resolution.