Page 148 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 2

CPS1485 Pasi P.

Accessibility statistics to meet the needs of
customers of Statistics Finland
Pasi Piela
Statistics Finland

Abstract
Accessibility research has been a relevant part of today’s geographic
information science. The data sources of official statistics offer plenty of
relevant administrative data on the population itself and on various services
available to the population. These are also combined into statistical products
for customers of Statistics Finland. Many aspects of accessibility are taken into
account. Naturally, the road network based application is better than the
linear approach. First, the enrichment proposal for the remoteness (index)
estimation for the Ministry of Finance is presented. Studies funded by the
ministry clearly promote the use of a road network based estimation. The
need for cultural accessibility statistics has also been raised recently at
Statistics Finland. In this case the challenge comes from the many data
sources required: theatres, libraries, orchestras, museums, festivals etc. The
elementary school accessibility is presented as well. This kind of approach
offers valuable information for the municipal authorities. Statistical
commuting remains as the most challenging accessibility concept at Statistics
Finland. It targets on travel time estimation and requires data integration from
many data sources. In this paper the specific experimental sustainable
commuting model is presented as well. Green commuting, bicycling, has
received the most attention, however. Besides sharing concrete examples this
paper motivates the future accessibility research in which UN SDG indicators
are taken into account too.

Keywords
Accessibility, proximity, network analysis, sustainable development goals.

1. Introduction
Statistical accessibility has been at the centre of geographic information
science for quite a long time. Alasia, A. et al (2017) noted that some of the
existing indices of accessibility and remoteness developed in the 1989s have
been used with only minor revisions.
It is obvious that the development of communication technologies and
transportation itself have changed the meaning of perception of distance. But
geographic proximity remains an important determinant of socioeconomic
outcomes.

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