A Vector Analytical Framework For Population Modeling
High resolution mapping of human populations is often achieved through the disaggregation of aggregate counts (e.g. census tabulations) from tabulation areas (source zones) to smaller areas (target zones), with the aid of ancillary spatial data characterizing the built environment (e.g. land cover/use, building footprints) with some known or presumed functional relationship with population density. Source zones and built environment data, found in a variety of raster/vector formats and resolutions, are often converted to a common raster resolution for analysis. This process is computationally efficient at coarse resolutions and existing software and methods facilitate modeling for those with an understanding of raster-based spatial analysis.