Census workers collecting GPS coords for your front door? (county, money, government)

[Little-Acorn]

Apparently government workers are fanning out across the country now, in preparation for the coming 2010 census. But they're not knocking on doors and asking how many people live there. They are simply stepping up to your door, pressing a few buttons on a handheld device to capture the latitude and longitude, and walking away.

No, I'm not joking. How many here have seen them?

This is quite aside from wondering if they have any Constitutional authority to collect this data in the first place.

My question is, for what do they need this data?

Any guesses? I admit I'm puzzled.

[afoigrokerkok]

They have come to my house.

I'm perplexed as to why they need the data, though I think it's to map every home on some type of GPS system.

[CharlottePirateFan]

How will they know where to send the smart bombs?

[North Beach Person]

The stated reason, and each jurisdiction (state, county, town, township, etc.) got information from the Census Department last summer, is to physically verify the address-make sure a house is there, that it's not a garage and so on.

[Little-Acorn]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

The stated reason, and each jurisdiction (state, county, town, township, etc.) got information from the Census Department last summer, is to physically verify the address-make sure a house is there, that it's not a garage and so on.

And if they find a guy is living in a garage or tool shed without a house on the property, they do what?

Their job is to count the people living at the address. Doesn't matter if it's a house, a garage, a pup tent, or an underground bomb shelter.

Once again, what do they need GPS coordinates for?

[ovcatto]

Little-Acorn

"Apparently government workers are fanning out across the country now, in preparation for the coming 2010 census. But they're not knocking on doors and asking how many people live there. They are simply stepping up to your door, pressing a few buttons on a handheld device to capture the latitude and longitude, and walking away."

Any guesses? I admit I'm puzzled.

Once again, what do they need GPS coordinates for?

As I wrote above, the Census Bureau will be giving each census taker a GPS to get them to where they need to go.

NaviGadget -- GPS Navigation Systems, GPS Tracking Devices, GPS Phones, Receivers, Reviews, and Hacks

This is quite aside from wondering if they have any Constitutional authority to collect this data in the first place.

Surely you jest?

[jtur88]

How is that different from collecting your street address?


The year before the census, they have always gone around with the data they had from various sources, and verified the accuracy of it. So next year, the census takers will have accurate and up-to-date maps of exactly where occupied residences are, so the census can be conducted accurately.

[Little-Acorn]

Originally Posted by jtur88

How is that different from collecting your street address?

Street addresses have always served to verify that the census taker hasn't inadvertently counted the same person twice. And still suffices to this day.

What do they need to write down your GPS coordinates for?

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by Little-Acorn

Street addresses have always served to verify that the census taker hasn't inadvertently counted the same person twice. And still suffices to this day.

What do they need to write down your GPS coordinates for?

I have answered your question twice. Apparently you really don't care about the answer.

[jtur88]

To make it easier for the census enumerators, with precisely accurate maps, to know exactly where every occupied dwelling it. To save you taxpayers money.