Times may vary for remote users, however, due to Internet traffic and local connection speeds. The mapping function fot USA Counties should be available this summer. Another area of development is in the expansion ot data available in the 1990 census database. The GISP currently contains reports only for states, counties and places. Tracts and BNAs are small statistical subdivisions within counties.
Block groups are even smaller subdivisions within tracts and BNAs.
Information at this level of detail is invaluable for providing a picture of small areas, which is not usually reported in the standard statistical compendia. Users can compare such variables as income, race, or age across neighborhoods within a city or areas within a county. Qing Yang, the former graduate research assistant at the GISP, has written the programs necessary to provide reports at the tract, BNA, and block group level for the 1990 census. Only more hardware is needed to be able to mount all the CDs necessary to provide the information on the Web site. Another enhancement being considered for the future is to provide image maps which show the location of tracts and block groups.