This paper suggests that those countries, which do not have adequate amounts of resources for digitizing their ED boundaries, consider an alternative method, not a new nor a sophisticated but a less costly method, for presenting small area statistics through a grid square database approach. The paper explains how to do this allocation. Also, the paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Costs of Creating and Maintaining GIS Maps make it easier to present, analyze and disseminate census results. They facilitate the identification of local patterns of important demographic and social indicators.
Maps are thus an integral part of policy analysis in the public and private sectors.
However, there have been many warnings and reservations for creating GIS because of costs. Like any new technology or organizational transformation, the introduction of GIS involves a change in routine and significant expense, not only for software and hardware but also for data purchase, training, planning and organizational restructuring. The indirect costs, in particular, are often underestimated and may lead to the failure of a GIS project. The cost of implementing a GIS facility would outweigh any benefits unless a sophisticated user group exists within the country that could contribute towards the development costs associated with such a venture. Innovative and economical approaches for less advanced NSOs.