Thank you Andy - this does help a lot. Most of the responses I've had
assume either access to Edina or lots of money to spend on data, neither is
applicable unfortunately.
I'd already found the GROS in Scotland and I've found this also on the
National Statistics web site but can't find the England and Wales postcode
boundaries on the Nat.Stat. site. Are you sure it is there and, if so, what
is it called?
Thanks and regards,
..matthew
Andy Wightman wrote:
> Matthew,
>
> Obtaining digital boundary datasets remains problematic despite askgiraffe
> website and others. As one who does freelance research I am particularly
> aware of this problem. Recent academic research I was involved in allowed me
> access to Digimap http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/ where you can download
> postcode data. The other key source is http://edina.ed.ac.uk/ukborders/
> However, these is only available to those with academic posts or
> affiliations.
>
> however, undertaking analysis of the 2001 census recently, I realised that
> using the freely available geography product availabel from GROS in Scotland
> and National Statistics(?) in England and Wales, you can build your own
> geographical boundary datasets in a GIS by aggregating output area polygons
> using the various lookup tables to postcode sectors, postcode sectors,health
> board areas etc.
>
> Since some datasets from ukborders are not terribly precise (eg. Scottish
> parishes), this is a good method for anyone wishing to obtain such data to
> do so cheaply and easily (well you have to spoend the time merging lots of
> polgon datasets!)
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Regards
>
> Andy
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