CIMES, a tool for describing European Official Statistics Microdata

Presented by

Arnaud Szulek CASD/GENES

Luxembourg, European Data Access Forum, March 24-25, 2015

What is CIMES ?• Centralising and Integrating Metadata from European Statistics

• A web-based application providing a comprehensive overview of official microdata over Europe

• CIMES metadata describes: the data the access procedures to them The different type of files (PUF, SUF, ScUF) and conditions of access for each type

• CIMES stores them into a structured database compatible with DDI standard

• CIMES does not provide access to the microdata, it provides links with the providers whether NSIs statistical departments, data archives

Why CIMES ?

• Official microdata over Europe: a rich resource underused by researchers Historical perspective Increasing possibilities for comparative and longitudinal and approaches with

administrative data that can be linked

• However fragmented information or no information for the researchers even at national level, worse at European level Currently few Data Archives catalogues include metadata about official microdata Not always available on Nsis or on other producers websites Open data initiatives mostly on aggregated data at the moment Different metadata standards and language issues

• A step towards a single point of access without silos (could be harvested on the future CESSDA catalogue)

• As well as a specific tool for users of official microdata

A Three-levels Schema

• Series: a group of studies• Study: the actual collection of data• Dataset: a set of files disseminated

Public Use Files (SUF), Scientific Use Files (SUF) , Secure Use Files (ScUF)

In order to give a large and comprehensive overview of official microdata available in Europe, a simple schema is needed. The variable level is not documented.

Example: A Two- or Three-levels Nested Hierarchy

German Microcensus

German Microcensus

2007

Life Events and Health

Survey 2006

German Microcensus

2007 SUF

German Microcensus

2008 SUF

Life Events and Health

Survey 2006 PUF

German Microcensus

2007 PUF

Series

Study

Dataset

German Microcensus

2008

3 levels2 levels

Fields and controled vocabulary

CIMES: Technical Aspects

• HTML5 Web-based tool • MySQL database and PHP scripting engine.• Javascript (Mootools framework) and CSS3 client side.• Works with any standard compliant browser (and even with Internet Explorer 8…).

• DDI2 import functionality

The CIMES tool can be hosted on any web server (Apache, IIS) with minimal configuration/modification.

There is no other client software installation needed.Every update and bug fix is immediately made available to all the users.

State of play and perspectives • Currently 277 series including 1893 studies and 2244 datasets in 31 countries

studies

• Perimeter Surveys, censuses, administrative microdata/ registers From NSIs, statistical departments, government agencies For integrated European microdata only provides links with providers (Eurostat,

BCE …) and MISSY

• A product of several DwB partners coordinated by CNRS-Reseau Quetelet in partnership with CASD/GENES

• Currently maintained and developed by CNRS in partnership with CASD/GENES, open to other partnerships

Thanks for Listening

DwB website: http://www.dwbproject.org/

Cimes website: https://cimes.casd.eu

Contact: arnaud.szulek@casd.eu