VT Census Case Studies : Arlington County: Permitting

Created and last modified by molfe on 02 Jan 2016

Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:

Permit data will be sent through the FTP. General codebooks for the PermitPlus system used (SQL) are available. Look up tables will be provided. (To separate big projects from minor ones, could separate by fee value... will send table of various fees. The largest fees are for DES so can separate those out.)

Data is part of the CPHD.

Link: https://permits.arlingtonva.us/

Date Inventory Completed: 7/11/2011

Screening

  • Is the data collected opinion-based?
  • Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
  • Is there data available for 2013?
  • Is the data collected at the property or housing unit level? (delete if eduction data)
  • Can we access the data by August 15th?

Purpose

  • What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?

The Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (CPHD) is responsible for the development review process; comprehensive planning; zoning administration; inspections and code enforcement and data analysis for Arlington County. The department is responsible for planning both in Arlington’s neighborhoods and in the densely developed, transit oriented Metro corridors. CPHD is the lead department in implementing the County’s Smart Growth planning vision.

  • Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?

The data is collected for tax and fees purposes.

  • Who else uses the data?

Developers

  • Who do they sell the data to?

Unknown

 

Method

  • What is the data collection method? 

Permitting data is operator entry.

  • What is the type of data collected? 

Administrative

  • If designed, who created the questions?

  • What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)? 

Permitting records/applications


Description

  • What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?

Permitting

  • What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?

Unknown

  • Is data collected and available periodically?

Yes

  • How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided? 

Unknown exact time (told not long)


Selectivity

  • What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?

Permits taken out in Arlington County


Accessibility

  • How is the data accessed? 

Sent via email

  • Is it open data?

Yes

  • Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?

Nothing stated explicit. As agents of the state, we must protect the data like other county agencies.

  • Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

Free

Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? YES

Full Inventory

Description

  • Features
    • What is the temporal nature of the data: longitudinal, time-series, or one time point?

Longitudinal

    • Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?

Parcel id

 

Metadata

  • Is there information available to assess the transparency and soundness of the methods to gather the data for our purposes?

No

  • Is there a description of each variable in the source along with their valid values?

Tables

  • Are there unique IDs for unique elements that can be used for linking data?

Yes

  • Is there a data dictionary or codebook?

Lookup tables were provided

 

Selectivity

  • What unit is represented at the record level of the data source?

Permit

  • Does this universe match the stated intentions for the data collection? If not, what has been included or excluded and why?

Permitting system will only have those households that legally updated their housing structure.

  • What is the sampling technique used (if applicable)? 

  • What was the coverage?

Unknown

 

Stability/Coherence

  • Were there any changes to the universe of data being captured (including geographical areas covered) and if so what were they?

Unknown

  • Were there any changes in the data capture method and if so what were they? 

Unknown

  • Were there any changes in the sources of data and if so what were they? 

Unknown

 

Accuracy

  • Any known sources of error?

Unknown

  • Describe any quality control checks performed by the data’s owner.

Unknown

 

Accessibility

  • Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source, such as for confidentiality reasons)? 

Unknown

  • Is there a subset of variables and/or data that is must be obtained through a separate process? If yes, is there a separate legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source? Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

Unknown

 

Privacy and security

  • Was consent given by participant? If so, how was consent given?

Public data

  • Are there legal limitations or restrictions on the use of the data? 

None stated

  • What confidentiality policies does the source have? 

As agents of the county, we need to treat the data like any other county employee in regards to confidentiality and security.

 

Research

  • What research has been done with this dataset? (e.g., impact of policies, predictors of student success)

 None stated

  • Include any links to research if provided:
  • List any other data use notes provided by the supplier.

Gaps/Concerns

  • Feasibility - can all jurisdiction levels provide the data (if applicable)?
  • Data ownership - a lack of clarity in legal guidance stemming from a lack of clarity with who owns digital data?
  • Data collection authority - what data is reasonably private and what constitutes unwarranted intrusion?
  • Describe any other notes you have or any gaps/concerns you see with this dataset: