Voting District Project

OMB Control No: 0607-0988
Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Instructions for Using the
Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS)

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
census.gov

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide

This page intentionally left blank

Table of Contents
Tables ................................................................................................................. vi
Figures ...............................................................................................................viii
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement .............................................................. .ix
Section 1.

Introduction ............................................................................... 1

1.1

Background ............................................................................................ 1

1.2

Purpose .................................................................................................. 1

1.3

Document Structure ................................................................................ 1

Part 1.

VTDP Overview .......................................................................... 3

Section 2.

Suggested Workflow ................................................................. 3

2.1.

Voting District Boundary Updates ........................................................... 4

2.2.

Linear Feature Review............................................................................ 4

2.3.

Area Landmark and Area Hydrography Review ..................................... 5

2.4.

Legal Boundary Review and Update ...................................................... 5

2.5.

Congressional and State Legislative District Review .............................6

2.6.

VTD Criteria Review ............................................................................... 6

2.7.

Review Change Polygons....................................................................... 6

2.8.

Work Delegated? .................................................................................... 6

Section 3.

New Tools in GUPS ................................................................... 8

3.1

Split Linear Feature ................................................................................ 8

3.2

Switch to BBSP Style.............................................................................. 8

3.3

Export Tabular Equivalency File ............................................................. 8

3.4

GUPS Data Settings ............................................................................... 8

3.5

Updating Congressional and State Legislative Districts..........................9

3.6

Ability to replace VTD current layer at any time...................................... 9

3.7

Ability to Lock/Unlock multiple VTDs at one time.................................... 9

3.8

New QGIS Platform................................................................................. 9

3.9

Opening Google Map or BING Imagery................................................. 10

Section 4.

File Submission through Secure Web Incoming Module .......11

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Part 2.

Participating in VTDP Using GUPS ........................................ 12

Section 5.

Getting Started ........................................................................ 12

5.1

GUPS Hardware and System Requirements ........................................ 13

5.2

Installing GUPS and Census Bureau Spatial Data ............................... 14

5.3

Downloading Partnership Shapefiles .................................................... 18

Section 6.
6.1

GUPS Basics and Map Management ..................................... 22

Starting GUPS ...................................................................................... 22

6.2
VTD Page Layout ................................................................................. 29
Section 7.
Starting a VTD Project............................................................. 49
7.1

Create New Blank VTD Layer ............................................................... 51

7.2

Import Tabular Equivalency File ........................................................... 52

7.3

Import VTD Shapefile ........................................................................... 55

Section 8.

VTD Update Activities in GUPS .............................................. 58

8.1

Using the Modify Area Feature Tool to Update Area Features ............. 58

8.2

Updating VTDs ..................................................................................... 63

8.2.1

Adding Area to Existing VTDs ........................................................... 63

8.2.2

Locking VTDs .................................................................................... 65

8.2.3

Creating New VTDs .......................................................................... 68

8.2.4

Modifying VTD Attributes .................................................................. 71

8.2.5

Deleting VTDs ................................................................................... 74

8.3

Updating Linear Features ..................................................................... 76

8.3.1

Adding a Linear Feature .................................................................... 76

8.3.2

Splitting a Linear Feature .................................................................. 78

8.3.3

Deleting a Linear Feature .................................................................. 82

8.3.4

Restoring Deleted Linear Features ................................................... 84

8.3.5

Editing Linear Feature Attributes ....................................................... 85

8.4

Reviewing and Updating Area Landmarks............................................ 88

8.5

Legal Boundary Updates .....................................................................100

8.6

Congressional and State Legislative District Updates ........................ 108

8.7

VTD Criteria Check and Change Polygon Review ............................... 109

8.8

Managing Data Files and Sharing Projects and Work ......................... 125

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Section 9.

File Submission through SWIM ............................................ 142

9.1

Login Page ......................................................................................... 142

9.2

Welcome Page ................................................................................... 143

9.3

Geographic Program Page ................................................................. 144

9.4

Select a State ..................................................................................... 145

9.5

Select a Zip File to Upload.................................................................. 145

9.6

Thank You Page ................................................................................. 146

Appendices ..................................................................................................... 147
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B

Updates Allowed by MTFCC ................................................. A-1
Street Type Abbreviations .................................................... B-1

APPENDIX C

MTFCC Descriptions .............................................................C-1

APPENDIX D

Shapefile Data Dictionary ....................................................D-1

APPENDIX E

Acronyms................................................................................E-1

APPENDIX F

VTD Participation Support.....................................................F-1

APPENDIX G Switch to BBSP Style Button ...............................................G-1

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Tables
TABLE 1: GUPS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................ 13
TABLE 2: HOW TO INSTALL THE GUPS APPLICATION ........................................................................................................................ 15
TABLE 3: DOWNLOAD PARTNERSHIP SHAPEFILES FROM FTP SITE.................................................................................................... 19
TABLE 4: DOWNLOAD BLOCK SIZE SHAPEFILES FROM FTP SITE........................................................................................................ 21
TABLE 5: OPEN GUPS AND START A NEW PROJECT.......................................................................................................................... 22
TABLE 6: HOW TO START A GUPS PROJECT ...................................................................................................................................... 24
TABLE 7: OPENING AN EXISTING PROJECT IN GUPS .................................................................................................. 26
TABLE 8: IMPORTING A GUPS PROJECT SOMEONE IS SHARING WITH YOU FOR REVIEW IN GUPS ...................................... 27
TABLE 9: GUPS MENU BAR ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
TABLE 10: STANDARD TOOLBAR GROUPING...................................................................................................................................... 33
TABLE 11: VTD TOOLBAR BUTTONS, NAMES, AND FUNCTIONS ...................................................................................................... 36
TABLE 12: ADD DATA TOOLBAR BUTTONS, NAMES, AND FUNCTIONS............................................................................................. 38
TABLE 13: ADDING A SHAPEFILE (VECTOR DATA) ..................................................................................................... 39
TABLE 14: ADDING A WEB MAPPING SERVICE .................................................................................................................................. 41
TABLE 15: TABLE OF CONTENTS TOOLBAR BUTTONS, NAMES, AND FUNCTIONS ............................................................................ 44
TABLE 16: ORGANIZE LAYERS IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................... 45
TABLE 17: STATUS BAR ELEMENT AND FUNCTION/DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 48
TABLE 18. THREE TYPES OF TABULAR EQUIVALENCY FILES ............................................................................................................... 50
TABLE 19: CREATE NEW BLANK VTD LAYER ..................................................................................................................................... 51
TABLE 20: IMPORT TABULAR EQUIVALENCY FILE............................................................................................................................... 52
TABLE 21: IMPORT VTD SHAPEFILE ................................................................................................................................................... 55
TABLE 22: MODIFY AREA FEATURE TOOL BUTTONS AND FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................. 58
TABLE 23: USING THE MODIFY AREA FEATURE TOOL TO UPDATE AREA FEATURES ........................................................................ 59
TABLE 24: ADDING TO EXISTING VTDS .............................................................................................................................................. 63
TABLE 25: ADDING TO A VTD WHILE LOCKING SURROUNDING VTDS ............................................................................................ 65
TABLE 26: CREATING NEW VTDS ...................................................................................................................................................... 68
TABLE 27: MODIFYING VTD ATTRIBUTES.......................................................................................................................................... 72
TABLE 28: DELETING A VTD ................................................................................................................................ 74
TABLE 29: ADDING A LINEAR FEATURE .............................................................................................................................................. 76
TABLE 30: SPLIT/EDIT A LINEAR FEATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 79
TABLE 31: DELETE A LINEAR FEATURE................................................................................................................................................ 83
TABLE 32: RESTORE A LINEAR FEATURE ............................................................................................................................................. 84
TABLE 33: EDIT A LINEAR FEATURE ATTRIBUTION ............................................................................................................................. 85
TABLE 34: REVIEW AREA LANDMARKS............................................................................................................................................... 89
TABLE 35: ADD AREA TO AN AREA LANDMARK ................................................................................................................................. 90
TABLE 36: REMOVE AREA FROM AREA LANDMARK/AREA HYDROGRAPHY ..................................................................................... 92
TABLE 37: CREATE A NEW AREA LANDMARK..................................................................................................................................... 94
TABLE 38: MODIFYING AREA LANDMARK .......................................................................................................................................... 97
TABLE 39: DELETING AREA LANDMARKS ........................................................................................................................................... 99
TABLE 40: BOUNDARY CHANGES .....................................................................................................................................................101
TABLE 41: SUBMIT LEGAL CHANGES ................................................................................................................................................102
TABLE 42: SUBMIT A BOUNDARY CORRECTION ...............................................................................................................................104
TABLE 43: ADD A NEW LEGAL ENTITY ..............................................................................................................................................105
TABLE 44: DELETE A NEW LEGAL ENTITY .........................................................................................................................................107
TABLE 45: VTD CRITERIA REVIEW TOOL ERROR AND WARNING MESSAGES.................................................................................109
TABLE 46: THE VTD CRITERIA REVIEW TOOL ..................................................................................................................................110
TABLE 47: UNASSIGNED FACES ........................................................................................................................................................111
TABLE 48: ADDRESSING NON-CONTIGUOUS VTDS ........................................................................................................................114
TABLE 49: REVIEW CHANGE POLYGONS ..........................................................................................................................................120

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TABLE 50: CONDUCTING THE SMALL AREA CHECK ..........................................................................................................................121
TABLE 51: CONDUCTING THE FIND HOLES CHECK ...........................................................................................................................123
TABLE 52: CHANGING YOUR GUPS WORKING DIRECTORY ............................................................................................................125
TABLE 53: CLEANING GUPS DATA BY PROJECT (DELETING ALL GUPS DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A PROJECT) ...................... 129
TABLE 54: CLEANING GUPS DATA BY PROGRAM ...........................................................................................................................131
TABLE 55: CLEANING ALL GUPS DATA ...........................................................................................................................................133
TABLE 56: OPENING GUPS WITH THE EXPLORER BUTTON .............................................................................................................135
TABLE 57: TEF VERSION AND EXAMPLE FORMATS .........................................................................................................................137
TABLE 58: EXPORT TO TABULAR EQUIVALENCY FILE .......................................................................................................................137
TABLE 59: EXPORTING A ZIP FILE TO SHARE WITH ANOTHER PARTICIPANT ....................................................................................138
TABLE 60: CREATING VTD SUBMISSION FOR THE CENSUS BUREAU ...............................................................................................139
TABLE 61: AREA LANDMARK UPDATES PERMITTED................................................................................................. A-1
TABLE 62: LINEAR FEATURE UPDATES PERMITTED ................................................................................................. A-2
TABLE 63: STREET TYPE ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................................................... B-1
TABLE 64: COMPLETE LIST OF MTFCC DESCRIPTIONS............................................................................................. C-1
TABLE 65: SHAPEFILE LAYER NAMES/TABLES.........................................................................................................D-1
TABLE 66: AMERICAN INDIAN AREAS - LEGAL ........................................................................................................D-2
TABLE 67: AMERICAN INDIAN /ALASKA NATIVE AREAS - STATISTICAL.........................................................................D-3
TABLE 68: AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL SUBDIVISIONS - LEGAL ....................................................................................D-4
TABLE 69: AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL SUBDIVISIONS - STATISTICAL ............................................................................D-5
TABLE 70: ALASKA NATIVE REGIONAL CORPORATIONS ............................................................................................D-5
TABLE 71: BLOCK SIZE INDICATOR .......................................................................................................................D-6
TABLE 72: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS .................................................................................................................D-7
TABLE 73: HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS ....................................................................................................................D-8
TABLE 74: SCHOOL DISTRICTS.............................................................................................................................D-9
TABLE 75: STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS (UPPER/SENATE) ......................................................................................D-9
TABLE 76: STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS (LOWER/HOUSE) ....................................................................................D-10
TABLE 77: URBAN GROWTH AREAS ...................................................................................................................D-11
TABLE 78: CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS ...................................................................................................................D-12
TABLE 79: CENSUS BLOCKS - CURRENT...............................................................................................................D-12
TABLE 80: CENSUS BLOCKS - CENSUS 2010 ........................................................................................................D-12
TABLE 81: CENSUS TRACTS ..............................................................................................................................D-13
TABLE 82: CENSUS DESIGNATED PLACES.............................................................................................................D-13
TABLE 83: CONSOLIDATED CITY ........................................................................................................................D-14
TABLE 84: COUNTY AND EQUIVALENT AREAS.......................................................................................................D-15
TABLE 85: COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS - LEGAL (MCD) ..............................................................................................D-15
TABLE 86: COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS - STATISTICAL (CCD) ........................................................................................D-16
TABLE 87: INCORPORATED PLACE......................................................................................................................D-16
TABLE 88: STATES AND EQUIVALENT AREAS ........................................................................................................D-17
TABLE 89: SUBARRIOS.....................................................................................................................................D-17
TABLE 90: EDGES (ALL LINES)...........................................................................................................................D-18
TABLE 91: AREA LANDMARK ............................................................................................................................D-19
TABLE 92: HYDROGRAPHY AREA .......................................................................................................................D-19
TABLE 93: POINT LANDMARKS..........................................................................................................................D-20
TABLE 94: TOPOLOGICAL FACES - GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY RELATIONSHIPS....................................................................D-20
TABLE 95: TOPOLOGICAL FACES - AREA LANDMARK RELATIONSHIPS ........................................................................D-21
TABLE 96: TOPOLOGICAL FACES - HYDROGRAPHY AREA RELATIONSHIPS ...................................................................D-22
TABLE 97: ADDRESS RANGES............................................................................................................................D-22
TABLE 98: LINEAR FEATURE NAMES...................................................................................................................D-22
TABLE 99: VOTING DISTRICTS...........................................................................................................................D-23
TABLE 100: ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................... E-1
TABLE 101: SWITCH TO BBSP STYLE ...................................................................................................................G-1

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Figures
FIGURE 1. GUPS PAGE LAYOUT ......................................................................................................................................................... 28
FIGURE 2. GUPS MENU AND TOOLBARS .......................................................................................................................................... 28
FIGURE 3. GUPS TOOLBARS .............................................................................................................................................................. 31
FIGURE 4. STANDARD TOOLBAR ......................................................................................................................................................... 31
FIGURE 5. TOOLBAR GROUPINGS ....................................................................................................................................................... 32
FIGURE 6. MAP VIEW BOOKMARK ..................................................................................................................................................... 34
FIGURE 7. VTD TOOLBAR ................................................................................................................................................................... 34
FIGURE 8. GUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 41
FIGURE 9. GUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS, EXPANDED EDGES LAYER MENU ....................................................................................... 42
FIGURE 10. TABLE OF CONTENTS TOOLBAR ....................................................................................................................................... 42
FIGURE 11. ADD PRESET LAYER .......................................................................................................................................................... 44
FIGURE 12. VISIBILITY PRESETS POP-UP SCREEN ............................................................................................................................... 45
FIGURE 13. STATUS BAR ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45
FIGURE 14. FACES SELECTED FOR ADDITION TO 09375 VOTING DISTRICT...................................................................................... 67
FIGURE 15. FACES NOT LOCKED ADDED TO 09365 VOTING DISTRICT ............................................................................................ 68
FIGURE 16. LOCKED VTD WARNING ................................................................................................................................................. 68
FIGURE 17. LINEAR FEATURE TO SPLIT/EDIT ..................................................................................................................................... 78
FIGURE 18. AREA LANDMARK SYMBOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 88
FIGURE 19. GUPS DATA SETTINGS TOOL ........................................................................................................................................123
FIGURE 20. GUPS DATA SETTING TOOL LOCATED ON THE STANDARD TOOL BAR ........................................................................126
FIGURE 21. GUPS DATA SETTINGS WINDOW.................................................................................................................................127
FIGURE 22. SWIM LOGIN SCREEN ..................................................................................................................................................140
FIGURE 23. SWIM ACCOUNT REGISTRATION SCREEN....................................................................................................................141
FIGURE 24. SWIM WELCOME PAGE (NO PREVIOUS FILES UPLOADED) ....................................................................... 142
FIGURE 25. SWIM WELCOME PAGE (FILES PREVIOUSLY UPLOADED) ......................................................................... 142
FIGURE 26. SWIM GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAM PAGE ........................................................................................................................142
FIGURE 27. SWIM SELECT A STATE PAGE (FOR BBSP-VTD) ................................................................................... 143
FIGURE 28. SWIM SELECT A ZIP FILE TO UPLOAD PAGE ................................................................................................................143
FIGURE 29. SWIM THANK YOU PAGE.............................................................................................................................................144

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Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
We estimate that the Voting District Project (VTDP) verification process will take
a total of 217 hours on average per participant. Send comments regarding this
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to [email protected]. This collection has
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The eight digit
OMB approval number that appears at the upper left of this document confirms
this approval. If this number were not displayed, we could not conduct this
survey. This collection is voluntary. The Census Bureau conducts this program
under the legal authority of the Title 13 United States Code (U.S.C.), Sections
16, 141, and 193.
The Census Bureau issued a Federal Register Notice to revise its confidentiality
pledge language to address the new cybersecurity screening requirements:
Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are
protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that
transmit your data.

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Section 1.
1.1

Introduction

Background

Public Law (P.L.) 94-171 stipulates that the U.S. Census Bureau work in a
nonpartisan manner with the states to identify and provide the small-area
population counts necessary for legislative redistricting. The Census Bureau is
required to provide these counts within one year of Census Day, to the governor
and the officers or public bodies responsible for redistricting in each state. For
the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau must deliver the counts by April 1, 2021.
The Census Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office (CRVRDO) implements the
requirements of P.L. 94-171 through five phases of the 2020 Redistricting Data
Program (RDP):
Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)
Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP)
Phase 3: Delivery of the 2020 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data Files
Phase 4: Collection of Post-2020 Redistricting Plans
Phase 5: Review of 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program and Recommendations for
Census 2030

1.2

Purpose

This document addresses Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP) of the RDP.
Through the VTDP, liaisons designated by the legislative leadership in each
state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, have the opportunity to submit
their voting district boundaries (e.g. precincts, wards), codes, and names to the
Census Bureau as well as suggest additional updates to other geographic areas
as they did in the Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP). This guide is
intended for state participants using the Census Bureau’s Geographic Update
Partnership Software (GUPS) tool to participate in the program.

1.3

Document Structure

Part 1. VTDP Overview of the document provides the conceptual overview of
the 2020 VTDP, including:

•
•
•

Update activities,
Quality control activities, and
New Features of GUPS

Part 2. Participating in VTDP Using GUPS contains the technical directions for
using the GUPS to accomplish updates as outlined in Part 1. Part 2 contains
step-by-step instructions on using the GUPS tools.

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Section 1. Introduction

Page 1

We suggest reviewing Part 1 to determine the types of updates you wish to
make, and then referring to those sections of Part 2 that describe how to make
those updates.

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Section 1. Introduction

Page 2

Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow
The VTDP participant is not required to perform all the update activities
permitted. Work is performed at a county level and should be submitted to the
Census Bureau on a flow basis, as each county is completed. Submitting work
on a flow basis permits the CRVRDO and the Census Bureau to review the files
early in the process and provide feedback as necessary. GUPS contains
validation tools to ensure VTDP updates meet the established criteria and
submission files meet Census Bureau processing requirements.
When you begin a GUPS VTD project, the software will offer you three ways to
get started:

•
•

•

Creating a new VTD layer– A good option if you do not have a shapefile or
tabular equivalency file defining your current VTDs.
Importing a tabular equivalency file – A good option if you have a text file that
defines what 2010 Census blocks comprise your current VTDs. Be aware that
2010 Census block boundaries may have been reshaped in an effort to improve
spatial accuracy and may not appear exactly as they did in 2010 Census data
products. Therefore, you should review the depiction of your VTDs in GUPS after
you import the tabular equivalency file, to ensure your VTDs appear as expected.
Importing your own VTD shapefile – A good option if you have a shapefile that
depicts your current VTDs. Note that GUPS may conflate your VTD shapefile to
align with Census geography – particularly current county boundaries – so you
should review the depiction of your VTDs in GUPS after you import the shapefile,
to ensure it appears as expected.

During our initial cycle of VTDP, you also had the option of starting your project with a
Census 2010 VTD shapefile. However, these 2010 VTDs were replaced with those
submitted during the initial cycle of VTDP. Therefore, the Census Bureau can no longer
provide the option to start your project with 2010 VTDs.

Note: If you have a statewide VTD tabular equivalency file for your state, please contact
us at [email protected] or 301-763-4039 for other submission options.

See Section 7 to review the GUPS technical instructions for Starting a VTD
Project.

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow

Page 3

Once you have started your project, there are various type of updates you can
make, and the order you wish to make them will depend on your situation. For
example, you may want to update or add linear features or incorporated place
boundaries before updating your VTDs, if you plan to use those incorporated
place boundaries or linear features as VTD boundaries. Updates allowed in the
VTDP are listed below.

2.1.

Voting District Boundary Updates

Once you begin your GUPS project using one of the three options described
above you can modify or create new VTDs by adding area to them. Because
VTDs cannot overlap and must cover the entire county, you can only remove
area from one VTD by adding it to another. VTDs can also be deleted in their
entirety. You can also add or modify VTD names and/or codes.
See Section 8 to review the GUPS technical instructions for VTD Updates.

2.2.

Linear Feature Review

You may want to review the Census Bureau’s linear features (edges layer) to
determine whether there are features to be added or deleted. Pay particular
attention to any areas that have experienced population growth, where there may
be new housing or subdivisions not reflected in the Census Bureau’s geospatial
data. The Census Bureau will also accept attribute updates (name, classification
code, and address ranges) for selected features. Added road features with
MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code (MTFCC) values of S1100-Primary Road, or
S1200-Secondary Road, require a feature name. GUPS will allow you to import
street centerline, hydrographic, imagery and other user-provided geospatial data
for reference and comparison against the Census Bureau data.
Please be aware that the Census Bureau:
1. Will not process the wholesale spatial realignment of features to enhance spatial
accuracy. If a feature is in the incorrect location in the Census Bureau’s feature
network, delete the feature and add it in the correct location. Take this action only
if the feature is more than 7.6 meters off or interferes with relationships to other
features.
2. Will only accept new nonvisible edges, parcel lines, pipelines, and power lines
when they are being used to define a boundary. See Section 8.3 to review the
GUPS technical instructions for Linear Feature Review.

See Section 8.3 to review the GUPS technical instructions for Updating Linear
Features.
Appendix A, Table 62: Linear Feature Updates Permitted lists the feature
updates the Census Bureau will accept.

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Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow

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2.3.

Area Landmark and Area Hydrography Review

The Census Bureau accepts updates to area landmarks and area hydrography
as part of the VTDP.
Allowable updates include:

•
•
•
•

Boundary corrections (adding and removing area);
Creating a new area landmark or hydrographic area;
Removing an area landmark or hydrographic area; and
Changing or adding a name.

If your state plans to reallocate prisoners during redistricting, you may wish to
review the existing area landmarks with MTFCCs K1235, K1236, K1237, and
K1238, which represent areas with prison populations.
See Section 8.4 to review the GUPS technical instructions for Area Landmark
Review (including hydrographic areas).
Appendix A, Table 61: Area Landmark Updates Permitted lists the feature
updates the Census Bureau will accept.

2.4.

Legal Boundary Review and Update

At the recommendation of many states, the Census Bureau introduced a
Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) review as part of Phase 1 (BBSP) and
Phase 2 (VTDP) of the Redistricting Data Program. State Redistricting Liaisons
may provide boundary corrections and other legal updates (annexations,
deannexations, incorporations and disincorporations), and supporting
documentation. The Census Bureau will assume the responsibility for reconciling
the updates with the appropriate local governments as part of our Boundary and
Annexation Surveys.
You may submit legal boundary updates for counties, minor civil divisions,
incorporated places, and consolidated cities. Although legal documentation
(effective date, authority type, and documentation number) is not required for
boundary updates submitted through the VTDP, we strongly encourage you to
submit the documentation to expedite our ability to reconcile and process any
legal updates reported. You should submit annexations, deannexations,
incorporations and disincorporations without supporting documentation as
boundary corrections.
See Section 8.5 to review the GUPS technical instructions for Legal Boundary
Updates.

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Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow

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2.5.

Congressional and State Legislative District Review

When making changes to voting district or legal geography, you may need to correct the
congressional or state legislative district boundaries to maintain spatial relationships, or if the
spatial representation of the CD or SLD boundary is incorrect. Larger changes that occur during
redistricting are collected in a separate operation conducted by the Census Bureau every two
years, in advance of new Congressional Sessions.

2.6.

VTD Criteria Review

This QC tool checks all VTDs in the county and looks for areas (faces) not
assigned to any VTD, as well as non-contiguous VTDs, CDs, and SLDs.
Unassigned faces must be addressed. Non-contiguous entities may be ignored if
the VTD, CD, or SLD is actually non- contiguous.
See Section 8.7.1 VTD Criteria Review Tool to review the GUPS technical
instructions for running the VTD Criteria Review.

2.7.

Review Change Polygons

GUPS provides a change polygon review if you made boundary updates. Under
the Review Change Polygons button there are two checks: Small Area Check
and Find Holes. These checks ensure that you do not submit area changes that
are too small to process or that there are no “holes” in areas due to potential
delineation errors. The tools also provide the ability to make changes to legal
boundary updates as you review your original updates.
See Section 8.7.2 to review the GUPS technical instructions for Reviewing
Change Polygons.

2.8.

Work Delegated?

The Census Bureau works with the State Redistricting Data Program nonpartisan
liaison, designated by the governor and legislative leadership of the state. To
maintain this nonpartisan relationship, the Census Bureau only accepts
completed work from the designated State Restricting Data Program Liaison.
YES, State’s designee performed the work (not the State RDP Liaison)
Any work performed on behalf of the State Redistricting Data Program Liaison,
such as by a county or a contractor, must be submitted to the State Liaison(s) for
review and approval. The State RDP Liaison will submit the work to the Census
Bureau if they approve the work. If the State RDP Liaison determines that VTDP
work completed by a designee requires changes or additional work, it is the State
Liaison’s responsibility to decide whether to make the changes or return the
project to their designee for further updates.

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Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow

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NO, State RDP Liaison performed the work
The State RDP Liaison submits completed, county-level files on flow basis to the
Census Bureau through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM). Do not hold
files to submit all at once. Submit files as you complete them, especially at the
beginning of the update period, so that the Census Bureau can provide feedback
if there are errors, omissions, or other concerns.
See Section 8.8.3 to review the instructions for creating export files for
submission to the RDP Liaison or Section 8.8.4 to review the instructions for
creating export files for submission to the Census Bureau.

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Part 1. VTDP Overview
Section 2. Suggested Workflow

Page 7

Section 3.

New Tools in GUPS

If you participated in Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion
Program (BBSP or BBSPV) and used GUPS, you might be
interested in enhancements we have made to the software and
some new features introduced specifically for VTDP.

3.1

Split Linear Feature

This tool allows you to split any linear feature if you need to
delete or make attribute changes to only part of the line. The
tool allows you to split the line at a specific location, forming two
segments, and update attributes or delete the appropriate
segment.
See Section 8.3.2, to review the GUPS technical instructions
for using the split linear feature tool.

3.2

Switch to BBSP Style

If you participated in BBSP or BBSPV and are accustomed to
the symbology style used then, or wish to verify your BBSP
updates, this tool allows you to switch between the symbology
styles of VTDP to the symbology style of BBSP.
See Appendix G Switch to BBSP Style Button to review the
GUPS technical instructions for using the Switch to BBSP
Style tool.

3.3

Export Tabular Equivalency File

This export option allows you to export your current VTD layer as
a tabular equivalency file.
See Section 8.8.2 to review the GUPS technical
instructions for exporting a tabular equivalency file.

3.4

GUPS Data Settings

The GUPS Cleanup Tool has been renamed to the GUPS Data
Setting Tool. It retains the same functionality of deleting
project files, but has been modified to include additional data
management options:
1.

Allows you to change the location on your computer
where your GUPS data folder is stored.

2.

Allows you to view the directory where your data are being stored.

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3.5

Updating Congressional and State Legislative Districts

GUPS now includes the ability to update boundaries of
congressional and state legislative districts using the Modify
Area Feature tool. See Section 8.6 for more information. You
can also perform QC checks on these updates using the
Review Change Polygons tool. See Section 8.7.

3.6

Ability to replace VTD current layer at any time

In previous versions of GUPS, you had the option of importing
your own VTD TEF or shapefile when you were creating the
project. GUPS would create a VTDCurrent layer by aligning
your VTD shapefile with Census geography. You could not
import a VTD layer after you had begun your project. So, if you
started with a blank VTD layer, made some linear feature or
other updates, and then wanted to import your VTD layer as a
starting point for making updates, you had to start the project
over completely, losing your linear feature or other updates.
GUPS will now allow you to import your shapefile to create a
new VTD Current layer at any time, without losing any other
updates you may have made to any other geographies other
than VTDs. It will replace the VTDCurrent layer, so any updates
you made to that layer prior to the import will be lost.

3.7 Ability to Lock/Unlock Multiple VTDs at One Time
The locking tool on the Modify Area Features toolbox has been
enhanced to allow you to lock/unlock multiple VTDs at the
same time. You may want to lock a VTD to prevent area from
being inadvertently removed from it when updating neighboring
VTDs. Previously, you could only lock VTDs one at a time. See
Section 8.2.2 for more information.

3.8

New QGIS Platform

GUPS is based on QGIS, a free and open-source desktop
geographic information system application. You can learn more
about QGIS at
. As of fall 2018, GUPS upgraded
to work with a new version of QGIS, 2.18.15. The GUPS
application is still developed for use in a desktop PC, but no
longer supports Windows XP or Windows Vista. The default
installation location is now C:\QGISGUPS. The QGIS 2.18.15
install also includes other open source tools that will add icons to
the desktop. These include OSGEO4W Shell, GRASS GIS 7.2.2,
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MYSYS, QGIS Desktop 2.18.15, QGIS Browser 2.18.15, and
SAGA GIS (2.1.2).

3.9 Opening Google Map or Bing Imagery
A new tool has been added to the VTD Toolbar that will open,
in a separate window, Google Map or Bing imagery for the
area you click on in the map view.

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Section 4.

File Submission through Secure Web
Incoming Module

The Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM) is a tool utilized by U.S. Census
Bureau partners to send their VTDP submissions to a secure Census Bureau
server. For security reasons, we cannot accept files sent via email or through our
former FTP site.
The Census Bureau provides each State RDP Liaison a SWIM token to establish
a personal account. Once registered, you no longer need the token to log into the
system. Use your SWIM account to submit updates for all phases of the 2020
RDP.
If you have submitted files for BBSP or BBSPV, use the same SWIM account.
Note: The Census Bureau only accepts files submitted by the State RDP Liaison. If a
county, agency, or contractor performs work on behalf of the state, the files must
be sent to the State RDP Liaison for review, approval, and submission.

See Section 9 to review the technical instructions for submitting files through the
SWIM.

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Part 2. Participating in VTDP Using GUPS
Section 5. Getting Started
This part of the guide includes information needed to use GUPS and submit your
file returns. It offers a description of the GUPS application and gives specific
instructions (in the form of step-action tables) for how to use GUPS to make
VTDP updates. The five sections of Part 2 are described below.
Section 5. Getting Started:
•
•
•

Lists the hardware and software requirements for GUPS and SWIM;
Provides instructions for installing the GUPS application; and
Details accessing partnership shapefiles.

Section 6. GUPS Basics and Map Management:
•
•
•
•

Provides instructions to open GUPS and start a project;
Details how to load shapefiles;
Explains the GUPS interface (including the Menu, Toolbars, Table of Contents or
Map Legend, and the Map View area); and
Offers instructions for using the tools available through the menu and toolbars.

Section 7. Starting a VTD Project
•

Provides instructions for starting a VTD Project using one of the following
methods:
o Creating new blank VTD layers;
o Importing tabular equivalency files; and
o Importing VTD shapefiles.

Section 8. VTD Update Activities in GUPS and Creating Submission Files:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Creating and Updating VTDs;
Updating Linear Features;
Updating Area Landmarks;
Updating Legal Boundaries;
Updating Congressional and State Legislative Districts
Conducting Quality Control Checks and Criteria Reviews; and
Creating Submission Files.

Section 9. File Submission through SWIM:
•

Provides instructions for submitting files to the Census Bureau through SWIM.

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VTDP participants are not required to perform all update activities. Linear feature,
area landmark, congressional and state legislative and legal boundary reviews,
are all optional. We suggest that you make the decision whether to perform each
of these review/update activities based on your state’s redistricting requirements
and available resources.
States with laws that require the re-allocation of prison populations for the
purposes of redistricting may wish to review the area landmarks with the
MTFCCs that represent prisons (K1235, K1236, K1237, and K1238).
States with strong relationships between VTDs and other legal geographies may
wish to review the legal boundaries as reflected in the Census Bureau data to
ensure they are accurate as of the review date.
GUPS contains several required quality control checks to ensure that VTDP
updates meet the established criteria, and that the submission files meet Census
Bureau processing requirements.

5.1

GUPS Hardware and System Requirements

GUPS is based on QGIS a free and open-source desktop geographic information
system application. You can learn more about QGIS at
. The GUPS application was developed for use in a
desktop PC.
Table 1 lists the hardware and software requirements to install and run GUPS,
and submit files through the SWIM website.
Table 1: GUPS Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware
Required Disk
Space:
For GUPS
application:
~2.0 GB of disk
space.
Shapefiles: Vary by
State/County
RAM:
4 GB recommended
minimum; 8GB
recommended for
optimal
performance

Operating System
Windows:
To run the GUPS, you will need one of the
following Windows operating systems:
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
Apple Mac OS X:
Mac OS X users must secure a license for
Microsoft Windows and use a Windows bridge.
The suggested bridge software is Boot Camp,
which comes pre-installed on all Mac computers.
See instructions for using Boot Camp at:

Browser
Minimum Browser
Versions for SWIM:
Current and the last,
previous versions of:
Internet Explorer
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Apple Safari

Note: Since Boot Camp requires you to restart
your computer to set up the bridge, be sure to
print the instructions provided at the URL above
before you begin.

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5.2

Installing GUPS and Census Bureau Spatial Data

The Census Bureau provides two DVDs for utilizing GUPS:
1. The first DVD contains the software installer and a readme file with installation
instructions.
2. The second DVD contains the respondent guides, partnership shapefiles, and
block size shapefiles for the counties in your state.

Please be aware that the VTDP GUPS software, shapefiles, and guides are
available for download from the 2020 Census Programs Phases page at the
CRVRDO’s website .

5.2.1.

Installing the GUPS Application

If you have worked on BBSP/BBSPV, VTDP, or another Census geographic
update program, you will likely have GUPS already installed on your computer.
New functionality and enhancements have been made to the GUPS software, so
we recommend updating your existing GUPS installation. When you install the
new version of GUPS from the DVD or from the RDP webpage, you will be given
the option to uninstall your current version of QGIS/GUPS. GUPS was updated
to work on a new version of QGIS (2.18.15) in Fall 2018. If you worked on
geographic programs using GUPS prior to Fall 2018, and you want to retain the
ability to open up those GUPS projects, we recommend keeping the previous
version of GUPS, built on QGIS 2.8.3.
Prior to updating, it is also suggested that you make a backup of your existing
GUPSGIS data folder in case you have projects from BBSP/BBSPV or other
Census geographic programs that you would like to keep and continue to use
with GUPS. You can simply make a copy of this folder and place it in another
location on your computer. The GUPS installer and software is designed to keep
the existing GUPSGIS data folder, with all project data, intact if one already
exists, however, it is good practice to make a backup of your existing GUPSGIS
data folder before updating to a newer version of GUPS.
To complete the installation, follow the steps in Table 2.
Depending on the Windows OS version, the GUPS dialog boxes may have a
different appearance than the screenshots contained in the user guide, although
the content is the same.

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Table 2: How to Install the GUPS Application
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
NOTE: The screenshots below depict an installation of GUPS version 6.0.0. The
version you install will be more recent and have a different version number from
what is shown below.
Place the installation DVD into your computer’s DVD drive. For some users, a Windows
protected your PC pop-up box may appear.

To continue, click ‘More info’, then select ‘Run anyway?’
Step 2

Other users may receive a user account control pop-up that asks, “Do you want to run
this file?”, “Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to
make changes to this computer?”, or a similar query. See an example below.

If you receive such a pop-up, click ‘Run’, ‘Yes’, ‘Allow’, or an option that allows you to
proceed. The software runs automatically.
Step 3

If the software does not run automatically, open Windows Explorer, navigate to your DVD
drive, and double-click on the file named Setup-6.0.0-x.bat. Note: The name of this file
may vary slightly, but it will be the only setup .bat file available.
If the software still does not run properly, contact your System Administrator for
assistance.

Step 4

When the installer opens, the Welcome to the QGIS GUPS Setup Wizard screen
appears.

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Step

Action and Result
Before proceeding, close all other programs or applications you have open. Once other
programs and applications are closed, click the Next button.

Step 5

The License Agreement screen appears.

Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button to continue.
Step 6

The Choose Install Location screen opens. The Browse button on this screen allows
you to browse your computer for installation location. We recommend that you install the
application at the default location shown: (C:\Program files\QGISGUPS).

To begin the installation, click Next to continue.

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Step 7

The Choose Components screen opens.

‘QGIS’ in the Select components to install field is grayed out since it is the default.
You do not need to select it, simply click Install to continue.
If you want to review a previous screen or reread the license agreement, click the Back
button (each screen contains this button).
Step 8

The software should take between 5 and 10 minutes to install. When it is finished, the
Completing the QGIS GUPS Setup Wizard screen opens indicating the install has
completed.
Click the Finish button. If the ‘Reboot now’ appears, select it and then click Finish.

Step 9

A GUPS icon appears on your desktop. It may look different from what is
depicted here.

5.2.2.

Accessing the Census Bureau Partnership Shapefiles

There are two types of shapefiles available to support the VTDP update
activities: partnership shapefiles and block size (also known as prototype
block) shapefiles.
•

•

Partnership Shapefiles: The Partnership Shapefiles are used in Census Bureau
partner programs to share data with and capture data from our partners. They
are a direct snapshot of TIGER, the Census Bureau’s geographic database.
Specific geographic programs may use different versions of the partnership
shapefiles.
Block Size Shapefiles: The Block Size Shapefiles show what the 2020
tabulation blocks would look like based on current geography, and include an
estimate, based on 2010 Census data, of the number of housing units contained

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within each block. Actual 2020 tabulation blocks will be delineated in 2020 based
on the geography that exists at that time.

There are three ways to add the shapefiles to your project in GUPS:
1.

2.
3.

Census Web (recommended): GUPS will download the shapefiles from the
Census Bureau’s website into your home directory. You do not need to take any
further action.
CD/DVD: GUPS will download the files to your home directory from the inserted
DVD. You do not need to take any further action.
My Computer: GUPS will automatically load the shapefiles from a location on
your computer into your project, but you must first manually download the
shapefiles to that location from the Census Bureau’s FTP site. (See Section 5.3).
GUPS stores the files in your home directory at C:\Users\ (with the
displaying your specific username), unless you have changed your
file location using the GUPS Data Settings Tool. For the purposes of this guide,
we assume the home directory is C:\Users\. If you cannot locate
your home directory, contact your system administrator for assistance.

See Section 6 GUPS Basics and Map Management for the technical
instructions on how to load the partnership shapefiles using Map Management in
the GUPS.
See Section 6.2.7.1 for the technical instructions on manually loading the block
size shapefiles using the Add Vector Layer button on the Add Data toolbar.
Caution: Please only use the GUPS Data Settings tool to change your GUPS folder
location. Do not change any shapefile name or folder location outside of this
tool. The shapefiles and folders must have the exact, given names and
locations for the GUPS application to recognize them.

5.3

Downloading Partnership Shapefiles

State-level users may download partnership shapefiles and the block size
shapefiles for all the counties in their state. Both sets of shapefiles are available
from the Census Bureau’s FTP site. The block size shapefiles are located in a
different directory than the partnership shapefiles, so they require a separate
download.
Note: We strongly suggest that you use the Census Web or DVD option that is
contained within GUPS to download the partnership shapefiles. We are providing
information on downloading files from the FTP site in this section as a courtesy,
in the event a state or their designee may need to obtain the files from the sites
directly.

5.3.1

Download the Partnership Shapefiles from FTP Site

Follow the steps in Table 3 to download the files from the FTP site to your hard
drive.
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Table 3: Download Partnership Shapefiles from FTP Site
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Using Internet Explorer (IE) or a web browser of your choice navigate to
. Note: This page may appear differently depending on your
browser.

If you have an FTP client software such as WinSCP or FileZilla (or other) you may connect
to without a password. If prompted for a user name and password,
enter ‘anonymous’ as your user name and enter your email address in place of a
password.
Step 2

After the Census Bureau ftp site has been opened, click the geo folder.

Step 3

Within the geo folder, click the pvs folder.

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Step

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Action and Result

Click the state folder that contains the county(s) for which you are downloading data. The
state folders are represented using two-digital state FIPS codes.

There are several sets of shapefiles within each state directory. For the VTDP, you will
want to download the most recent partnership shapefiles. These shapefiles are contained
within a zip file named partnership_shapefiles_<18>v2_ssccc.zip or
partnership_shapefiles_19v2_ssccc.zip, where represents the FIPS state and
county code (e.g., 55025). Files ending in 19v2 will be the most recent when they are
released in December 2019/January 2020. Until then, use the files ending in 18v2.
Make sure to choose the filename with "18v2" or “19v2” because the "v1" files,
which are different, are sometimes also available in the folders.
Click on your county zip file to download the data to a folder on your computer. Select the
county or counties that you intend to download to your computer. When you start a new
project in GUPS and after you select the state and county you want to work on, GUPS will
ask you where to find the data to start your project. To access the data you have
downloaded, select the My Computer option. GUPS will ask you to navigate to the location
where you have downloaded and saved your data.
GUPS will load the data into the application and move the data to a directory folder
established during the GUPS installation.

5.3.2

Download the Block Size Shapefiles from the FTP Site:

Follow the steps in Table 4 to download the block size shapefiles from the FTP
site to your hard drive. Note these files will not be available for the second
round of VTD Verification, which begins in December 2019/January 2020.
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Table 4: Download Block Size Shapefiles from FTP Site
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Using Internet Explorer (IE) or a web browser of your choice navigate to
.The FTP root at ftp2.census.gov main page opens.

If you are using an FTP client software such as WinSCP or FileZilla (or other),
you can connect to without a password. If prompted for a
user name and password, enter “anonymous” as your username and enter your
email address in place of a password.
Step 2

Click the geo folder, and then within the geo folder, click the pvs folder, then the
BBSP folder. The file directory is: . Within
the BBSP folder, there is a zip file with the 2020 prototype blocks with the
naming convention: bbsp_2018_prototype_blocks_st.zip, where
represents the FIPS state code (e.g., 55).

Step 3

Click on your state zip file to copy the data to a folder on your computer. You
will need to manually add the data to your project later using the Add Data
Toolbar. See Section 6.2.7.

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Section 6.

GUPS Basics and Map Management

After successfully installing GUPS, you are ready to start your VTD review.

6.1

Starting GUPS

To open the GUPS application and set up your project, follow the steps in
Table 5 below.
Table 5: Open GUPS and Start a New Project
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Double-click the GUPS icon on your desktop. (This icon may look slightly different than
what is pictured below.)

The QGIS splash screen appears. (Note: QGIS is the open-source platform on which
GUPS is built.)

Step 2

Wait until the application loads. (This may require a few minutes). When the GUPS
application has loaded, the GUPS main page opens and the QGIS Tips! box may
appear.

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Step

Action and Result

If you do not wish to see tips again, click the checkbox in the bottom left-hand corner
that reads ‘I’ve had enough tips, don’t show this on start up any more!’
Note: Since GUPS was built on the QGIS open-source platform, you may see
references to QGIS in several locations within the GUPS application.
Step 3

GUPS data are automatically stored in a folder that has been created on your C:\\
drive. If you would like your data to be stored in a different location, you can set a new
location using the GUPS Data Settings tool. Please refer to Section 8.8.1.1. Ideally,
you should set the location before you download the GUPS data through Map
Management (see Step 4 below). If you change the location for your GUPS folder
after you have started your project, you may have to restart GUPS.

Step 4

The Map Management dialog box, as shown below, will open automatically.

Note: Table 6 below describes how to proceed if you are starting a new GUPS
project, Table 7 describes how to proceed if you are going back to continue working
on a GUPS project you already started, and Table 8 describes how to import or load
a project that someone else is sharing with you.

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Table 6: How to Start a GUPS Project
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
In the Map Management dialog box, use the drop-down menu next to the Program
field to select your program, ‘Voting District Project’. (Note: if you are participating in
VTD verification, you should select “Voting District Project Verification” from the
dropdown. See VTD Project GUPS User’s Guide Addendum.)
In the State field, use the drop-down menu to select your state or type the name of
the state. The scroll bar to the right allows you to move up and down the list of states.
Repeat these steps to choose the County to update.

Click the Open button.
Step 2

After you select the working county, the GUPS asks you to specify the location from
which you want to pull the county’s (or county equivalent’s) shapefiles. The Select
Data Folder, Directory or Location box opens.

GUPS will only ask you to specify a location the first time you open a county’s
shapefile. When you come back to work on the same county again, the project will
automatically load, even if you made no changes in your first session.
Step 3

In the Select Data Folder, Directory or Location box drop-down menu, select the
location from which you wish to pull the file. We recommend using the Census Web
Option.

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Step
Step 4

Action and Result
Once you click on ‘Census Web’, the shapefiles for the county begin to load and
progress is displayed by a blue striped bar (color may vary), with the percentage of
the upload completed displayed to the right.

If you select the CD/DVD option, GUPS will ask you to insert the data CD/DVD
provided by the Census Bureau and click OK. The shapefiles will download from the
CD/DVD.
If you select My Computer option, GUPS will ask you to navigate to the location
where the shapefiles you downloaded from the FTP site are stored (see Table
3).
Step 5

As GUPS loads the data, it unzips and copies the files to a folder that was created on
your computer’s home directory (i.e.,
C:/Users//GUPSGIS/gupsdata/VTD/shape, where is the year
of the program) during the installation process. It then pulls the shapefiles into the
GUPS.

Step 6

Once the files are loaded, the Import Working File dialog box opens asking ‘Which
dataset would you like to begin with?’ Select the appropriate dataset from the
dropdown menu.

•
•
•

Create new blank VTD layer: The user will start a VTD project without any
VTDs, and create VTDs by selecting faces.
Import Tabular Equivalency file: The user will start a VTD project by
importing their own voting district tabular equivalency file (TEF) and
mapping the Census VTD file headers to the headers in the TEF.
Import VTD shapefile: The user will start a VTD project by importing their
own shapefile that consists of the voting districts for the county they are
working on. Similar to importing a TEF, they will also have to map the
Census headers to the headers in their VTD shapefile.

For more information, refer to Section 7, Starting a VTD Project.
Step 7

In this example, the GUPS project San Francisco County California loaded
successfully.

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Step

Action and Result

Table 7: Opening an Existing Project in GUPS
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
In the Map Management window, click on the Open Recent drop-down menu.

Choose the project from the list of projects in the directory. This example shows 2
projects. The drop-down list includes all previous projects, with the most recent one
at the top of the list. GUPS automatically creates the project name as the
State/County code each time you save a project file.
You can also select the Program, State, and County and the existing project will
open.
Step 2

GUPS automatically loads your previous project. The map view defaults to the view
when you last saved your project, and displays any layer symbology changes you
made in the project.

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Step

Action and Result

If you are working with someone you may want to share projects. The
instructions below assume another user has started a project and exported it to
share with you. Instructions for exporting the project are in Section 8.8.3 Table
59.
Table 8: Importing a GUPS Project Someone is Sharing with You
for Review in GUPS
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

In the Map Management window, click on the Import Project Zip file button.

Step 2

Navigate to the folder directory where you have saved the file being shared with
you. Click on the vtd__DataDirectory.zip file name (that is the
naming convention GUPS uses when exporting the project to share with another
participant, with varying depending on when the project was created) and
click the Open button at the bottom of the Windows Explorer window. Note: You
cannot open files exported for Census submission using this tool.

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Step

Step 3

Action and Result

When you import a file, you may receive a confirmation dialog box to overwrite
existing shapefiles. This message appears if you have previously loaded the
shapefiles for the same county. Note: If you want to keep your existing files, please
move them to a different location on your computer before importing the new file.

Click the OK button to import the file for review.
Step 4

Step 5

Do not save the zip files you receive in the \shape folder in the home directory
(i.e. C:\Users\\GUPSGIS\gupsdata\VTD\shape\. You must save
zip files in a different directory on your computer for GUPS to recognize and import
the zip files.

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6.2

VTD Page Layout

Figure 1 below illustrates the GUPS page layout. The page components include
the Menu & Toolbars, the Map View, the Table of Contents, and the Status Bar.

Figure 1: GUPS Page Layout

6.2.1

Map View

This area displays the map of the data layers automatically loaded and displayed
by GUPS for the program you selected in Map Management. You can turn layers
on and off, adjust their symbology, pan around the map or zoom in and out. The
map and the table of contents are interdependent: changes you make in the table
of contents are reflected on the map.

6.2.2

Menu and Toolbars

The GUPS user interface includes a menu bar and toolbars at the top of the page
window, as shown in Figure 2. The menu bar at the very top allows you to
access GUPS features using a standard hierarchical menu. The Standard toolbar
in the middle provides basic map navigation and data query and editing tools.
The VTD toolbar at the bottom provides software functions to support the Voting
District Project.

Figure 2: GUPS Menu and Toolbars

6.2.3

Menu Bar

The menu bar allows you to access GUPS using a standard hierarchical menu.
The top-level menu, drop-down menus, and menu functions are listed below.
Note that while all of these tools are available to you, you will not need to utilize
many of them to conduct your VTDP work.
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Table 9: GUPS Menu Bar
Tab

Drop-down Menu

Function / Description

Project

Project allows you to save a project,
create a .png file of the image
displayed in the Map View, modify
project properties, or exit the GUPS
application.

Edit

EDIT allows you to UNDO and
REDO the last user actions, as long
as you have not saved your project.
Note: For UNDO to work, the
correct layer must be selected in the
TABLE OF CONTENTS. For
example, if you added a linear
feature in the edges layer, then
made updates in the area landmarks
layer, UNDO will not allow you to
delete the linear feature. You must
make the edges layer the active
layer again to undo the linear feature
addition.
The Edit menu also now includes an
option for modifying layer attributes
of selected features.

View

The View tab allows you to complete
several actions also available on the
Standard toolbar. Included are
options for navigating the map,
identifying feature attributes,
measuring distance, and creating
spatial bookmarks to return to the
same map view at a later time.
From this location you can also:
• Set what toolbars display.
• Restore the Table of Contents
if you earlier closed it (click
‘Panels’ in the drop-down menu,
click the right arrow, click
‘Layers’ in the Layers downmenu).
• Refresh the map to restore it to
the original map extent.

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Layer

The Layer tab allows you to add and
remove layers from the map, Set
Coordinate Reference System (CRS)
of Layer(s), and Show All or
Selected Layers.
Note: Many of these same functions
are more conveniently located on the
Add Layers toolbar and the small
toolbar that sits at the top of the Table
of Contents.

Settings

Settings allows you to customize the
Coordinate Reference System
(CRS), customize map display
options, and set snapping
tolerances.

Vector

The Vector tab provides access to
several Geoprocessing Tools, which
allow you to create buffers around
features; overlay areas so that you
can create an intersection, union, or
symmetrical difference; merge
features, and perform other common
geoprocessing actions.

Raster

Raster includes tools for working
with raster data, including a Raster
Calculator that allows you to perform
calculations on the basis of existing
raster pixel values.

Processing

Processing menu options pertain to
algorithms, creating models, viewing
the results of algorithms executed,
and history.

Help

The Help tab provides tools for
understanding QGIS (the opensource platform on which GUPS was
developed) and the GUPS
application itself. It also contains
CRVRDO contact information,
access to the online version of this
guide, and other information.

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GUPS

The GUPS tab provides quick
access to the key tools also available
on the Standard and VTD toolbars,
including those needed to manage
maps, make linear changes, make
area changes, update VTDs, review
and validate work, import county zip
files from other users, export work
and submission files, export maps,
and add imagery.
Click the ‘About GUPS’ option in the
drop-down menu to find the GUPS
version number. If you call for
technical support, you will need to
supply this number Here the version
number is 4.10.6-0. The number you
see will be more recent.

6.2.4

Toolbars

There are two toolbars for GUPS, as shown in Figure 3. The top toolbar is the
Standard toolbar, which provides map navigation and data query and
manipulation tools. The VTD toolbar on the bottom provides the functionality
needed for the Voting District Project.

Figure 3: GUPS Toolbars

You can resize the toolbars and reposition them by dragging them to your
desired location. They can float on the desktop or be docked along the outer
edges of the GUPS page. The Standard toolbar and VTD toolbar buttons,
names, and functions are highlighted in separate sections below. Hover your
mouse over a button when you are in the GUPS application to see the tool
description.

6.2.5

Standard Toolbar Functions

The Standard navigation toolbar, shown in Figure 4 provides the tools necessary
to interact with the map and layers’ attribute tables. It is comprised of three
separate toolbars, identified by the grouping bars on the tool, as shown in Figure
5. The first toolbar contains the buttons for saving projects, managing GUPS
data, changing GUPS projects, and conducting searches; the second contains
the tool buttons for map navigation; the third provides tools for selecting features,
making measurements, creating spatial bookmarks, and working with the layers’
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attribute tables. The Standard toolbar buttons, names, and functions are shown
in Table 10.

Figure 4. Standard Toolbar

Figure 5. Toolbar Groupings
Table 10: Standard Toolbar Grouping
Button

Name

Function

Save

Saves the current GUPS county project, including any
user changes to layer properties, projection, last viewed
extent, and layers added.

Map Management

GUPS Data
Settings

Search

Allows you to choose the geographic program and
working county in GUPS. Automatically loads the
default map display layers based on program and
county chosen.
Allows you to change the location where your GUPS
folder (data) and GUPS logs will be stored, delete all
files and folders associated with a project or projects,
and quickly open your GUPS folder, no matter where it
is located. For more information on this tool please see
Section 8.7.1.
Allows you to search the map by place, census tract,
block, landmark or street name, and zoom to the
feature.

Touch Zoom and
Pan

Designed for touchscreen computers. You can zoom in
and out on the map to increase or decrease the map
scale with finger gestures.

Pan Map

Shifts the map in the display window without changing
the map scale.

Pan Map to
Selection

Shifts the map in the display window to the rows
selected in the attribute table.

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Button

Name
Zoom In

Zoom Out

Zoom Full

Zoom to Selection
Zoom to Layer

Function
Displays the map in the window at a larger scale.

Displays the map in the window at a smaller scale.

Zooms the map view to the full extent of the
county.
Zooms the map view to the rows selected by in the
attribute table.
Zooms the map view to the extent of the active layer.

Zoom Last

Zooms the map view to the previous map extent.

Zoom Next

Zooms the map view forward to the next map extent.

New Bookmark
Show Bookmarks
Refresh
Identify Features

Enables user to create and name a spatial bookmark of
the current map view.
Displays all bookmarks.
Displays map view to initial full display.
Identifies the geographic feature on which you click.
Enables you to select layer features in the map window
with a single click, dragging a box, or drawing graphics
on the screen.

Select Features

Select Features
Using an
Expression
Deselect Features
from All Layers

Measure

Allows attribute table records request by querying the
table based on table fields and/or values in the fields.
Deselects selected features from all layers.

Provides options to measure linear distance, area, and
angles on the map.

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A click on the
New Bookmark button allows you to create and save
geographic locations in your map view and return to them later. To create a
bookmark:
1.

Zoom or pan to the area of interest in the map view.

2.
3.

Click on the
New Bookmark button. The Spatial Bookmarks Panel appears.
Click on the line that has “New Bookmark” as the name. Backspace over “New Bookmark” to
delete that text and enter a descriptive name for the bookmark (up to 255 characters).
Close by panel by clicking on the red X.

4.

Figure 6. Map View Bookmark

A click on the
Show Bookmarks button on the toolbar allows you to view
and manage your spatial bookmarks. To zoom to a bookmark, double click on a
bookmark name in the Spatial Bookmarks Panel box or select the bookmark
and then click the Zoom to

button. To delete a bookmark, click on the

bookmark name, then press the Delete

button.

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6.2.6

VTD Toolbar

The VTD toolbar provides the software functionality to complete the activities
outlined for the VTDP. Detailed explanations for using the individual buttons are
contained in the table below.

Figure 7. VTD Toolbar
Table 11: VTD Toolbar Buttons, Names, and Functions
Button

Name
Add Linear Feature
Delete Linear
Feature

Function
Enables user to add a linear feature.
Enables user to delete a linear feature.

Split Linear Feature

Enables user to split a linear feature into two
segments in order to modify one of the segments.

Display All Names

Displays all names for a street with multiple names
assigned in the MAF/TIGER System.

Modify Linear
Feature Attributes

Enables user to edit attributes for a selected linear
feature.

Modify Area Feature

Show/Hide Legend
Switch to BBSP/VTD
Style
Review Block
Boundary

Enables user to select faces (polygons) for adding and
deleting area to/from area landmarks, VTDs,
congressional and state legislative districts, and legal
entities.
Shows or hides the legend/Table of Contents.
Enables the user to toggle between the BBSP and
VTD symbology. (For use in BBSP Verification.)
Enables user to systematically review edges that have
been flagged as Hold, Do Not Hold, or NULL. (Only for
use in BBSP Verification.)

Geography Review
Tool

Enables user to review the attribute table for all data
layers.

Review Change
Polygons

Enables user to review the change polygons for
voting districts, congressional and state legislative
districts, area landmarks, area hydrography, and
legal geography updates, and make further updates
if necessary.
Validates that all planned block boundary edges and
edges flagged as “Must Holds” connect to each other
in order to form a closed polygon. (Only for use in
BBSP Verification.)

Closed Polygon
Check

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VTD Criteria Review

Import County Zip

Export to Zip

Export Map to Print
Export Tabular
Equivalency File
Import
Reference File
Internet Map
Service

Creates the zip file containing all required data and
shapefiles for submission to the Census Bureau, or for
sharing between users.
Enables user to export a printable map in .pdf, png,
.tif, or jpeg format.
Give users the option to export the current VTD layer
or export the 2010 VTD layer as a tabular equivalency
file.
Allows users the option to import a tabular
equivalency file or shapefile to create a VTD layer
they can then edit.
Opens a separate window showing Google Maps or
Bing imagery for the area clicked on the map.

Add/Remove
Imagery Toggle

Enables user to add/remove Census supplied imagery
to the map view.

2020 Feature
Extension Review

Enables user to systematically review 2020 linear
feature extensions and take an action: Hold, Delete, or
Ignore. (Only for use in BBSP Verification.)

Add Feature
Extension

Enables user to add a 2020 linear feature extension to
create a closed polygon for a suggested 2020
tabulation block. (Only for use in BBSP Verification.)

Feature Flagging
Tool (Hold/Do Not
Hold)

Enables user to assign a “Must Hold” or “Do Not Hold”
flag to a linear feature selected in the map window.
(Only for use in BBSP Verification.)

Add Block Area
Grouping

6.2.7

Reviews VTDs and returns any areas not assigned to
a VTD and any non-contiguous VTDs, CDs, and
SLDs, so the user can fix the areas or verify they are
correct.
Enables a user to import another user’s Share with
Participant zip file into GUPS for review and update.

Enables user to create a Block Area Grouping over
water. (Only for use in BBSP Verification.)

Add Data Toolbar

The Add Data Toolbar allows you to add vector and raster data layers and import
data tables. When you first open the GUPS, the default Add Data Toolbar
position is on the left side of the GUPS page layout. You can click and drag the
toolbar to one of the top toolbars if you like, which provides more screen space
for the map view. Table 12 lists the Add Data Toolbar buttons, names and
functions.

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Table 12: Add Data Toolbar Buttons, Names, and Functions
Button

Name

Functi
on

Add Vector Layer

Enables user to add shapefiles and geodatabase
files to the GUPS project.

Add Raster Layer

Enables user to add raster datasets such as
imagery.

Add SpatialLite Layer
Add PostGIS
Layers
Add WMS/WMTS
Layers

Add WCS Layer
Add WFS Layer

Add/Edit Virtual Layer

Enables user to add data from a SpatialLite database.
Enables user to add a PostGIS, MSSQL, DB2, or
Oracle Spatial layer.
Enables user to add Web Mapping Services, Web
Mapping Tile Services, and ArcGIS mapserver
layers. Publicly accessible and secured WMS
services are supported.
Enables User to add Web Coverage Services,
which provides access to raster data useful for
client-side map rendering.
Enables user to add Web Feature Services or
ArcGIS FeatureServer Layers.
Enables user to add and edit virtual layers, a vector
layer defined as the result of an advanced query
using the SQL language on any number of other
vector layers that QGIS is able to open.

New Shapefile Layer

Enables user to add a new shapefile layer or
new temporary scratch layer.
Add Oracle GeoRaster Enables user to add an Oracle GeoRaster Layer
Layer

Some of the more commonly used tools from the Add Data Toolbar are
described in more detail below.
6.2.7.1

Adding Vector Data

A click on the
Add Vector Layer button allows you to add shapefile and
geodatabase files to your GUPS project.

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Table 13: Adding a Shapefile (Vector Data)
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Step 2

Click the Browse button. Navigate to the folder where the file you want to add is located.

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Step 3

6.2.7.2

Adding a Web Mapping Service

A click on the
Add WMS/WMTS Layer button allows you to add a Web
Mapping Service to your GUPS project.
If you are unable to use the Census supplied imagery and you do not have a
statewide or county web mapping service, one option for adding imagery may be
the National Agricultural Imagery Service (NAIP), supplied in web mapping
service format by the U.S. Geological Survey. (You can also add imagery using
the Add Imagery button on the VTD toolbar.)
Please contact the CRVRDO for more information on accessing this WMS.
The instructions in Table 14 below outline the steps for adding a web mapping
service to GUPS.

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Table 14: Adding a Web Mapping Service
Step

Action and Result

Step 1
through
Step 2

Step 3
through
Step 6

If your working environment is inside a firewall, you may be prompted for your
Username and Password to obtain resources from outside the firewall.

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Step 7
through
Step 9

Step 10

6.2.7.3

The WMS is added to the map. It appears at the top of the Table of Contents, which
means it displays over the top of the other layers. You may want to move it to the
bottom of the Table of Contents by clicking on the layer name and dragging it to the
bottom.

Adding Raster Imagery

A click on the
Add Raster Layer button allows you to add your own raster
imagery to your GUPS project if you do not have access to a web mapping
service, if you have a poor Internet connection, or a restrictive firewall.

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After clicking on the Add Raster Layer button, the Open a GDAL
Supported Raster Data Source dialog box opens. Navigate to the folder on
your computer where the imagery file is stored. Click on the file name in the
window and Open. The imagery loads into the GUPS.

6.2.8

Table of Contents (Layers Panel)

The Table of Contents, depicted in Figure 8, shows the layers on the map and
the features represented by the layer. The GUPS will automatically load and
display a set of default data layers defined by the Census Bureau for each
geographic participant program. You can reorder the layers to change the map
display, add and remove layers, including user-provided data, display or hide
layers, and change the layer symbology and labeling. As depicted in Figure 9,
the expanded edges layer menu displays after clicking on the (+) sign to change
it to the (-) sign.

Figure 8. GUPS Table of Contents

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Figure 9. GUPS Table of Contents, Expanded Edges Layer Menu

6.2.8.1

Re-ordering the Data Layers

In the Table of Contents, the order in which the layers are listed determines how
the layers are drawn on the map. The layers at the top draw on top of those
below them. A layer can be selected and dragged up or down in the table of
contents to change the drawing order.
To move a layer up or down: Click on the layer and drag the layer to the
desired position in the layer list. Release the mouse button to place the layer in
its new position.
6.2.8.2

Table of Contents Toolbar

The toolbar buttons at the top of the Table of Contents (Layers Panel), shown
in Figure 10, allow you to add and remove layers or groups, manage layer
visibility, filter the legend by map content, and expand and contract the menus
by clicking on the (+) and (-) symbol.

Figure 10. Table of Contents (Layers Panel) Toolbar
Table 15: Table of Contents Toolbar Buttons, Names, and Functions
Button

Name
Open the Layer Styling Dock

Add Group

Function
Allows the user to select a layer and
change its rendering and display
properties.
Allows layers in the Table of Contents
to be organized into groups.

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Manage Layer Visibility (and Preset Views)

Filter Legend by Map Content

Allows preset layer views created by
the user. See Section 6.2.8.4 for more
details.
Displays in the Table of Contents only
the map layers in the current map view.
You can remove from the Table of
Contents display any layers that are
not currently in the map view extent by
clicking on the

Filter Legend by Expression

Expand All (+)

Collapse All (-)

Remove Layer/Group

button.

Allows the user to display in the Table of
Contents only the map layers specified
in Boolean expression.
Expands to show all menus.
You can display all layers in all groups
by clicking on the
button on the
Table of Contents toolbar.
Collapses all menus.
You can turn off the visibility of layers
in a group by clicking on the
button on the Table of Contents
toolbar.
Removes layer or group from the Table
of Contents.

More information on using some of these tools is provided in Section 6.2.8.3
below.
6.2.8.3

Add Group

To organize layers in the Table of Contents into groups and manage the
group contents, follow the steps in Table 16 below.
Table 16: Organize Layers in the Table of Contents
Step
Step 1

Step 2

Action and Result
Click on the Add Group
button on the Table of Contents toolbar. A new
group appears automatically in the Table of Contents.
Type in a name for the group and press the Enter key. Then, click on an existing
layer and drag it into the group just created.
You may now show or hide all the layers in the group with a single click on the
plus or minus sign next to the group’s checkbox.

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Step 3

To remove a layer from a group, click on the layer and drag it out of the group or
right-click on the layer and choose Move to Top Level. Then drag the layer where
you want it in the Table of Contents list.

Step 4

To select more than one layer or group at the same time, hold down the CTRL
key while selecting the layers with the left mouse button.

Step 5

To delete a group, right-click on the group and select ‘Remove’ in the drop-down
menu. Then click the OK button when prompted.

6.2.8.4

Manage Layer Visibility

You can add preset views in the Table of Contents by clicking on the
Manage Layer Visibility button on the Table of Contents toolbar. You can
choose to display a layer with specific categorization and add this view to the
Presets list.
To add a preset view:
•

Click on the Manage Layer Visibility button and choose ‘Add Preset…’ from
the drop-down menu.

Figure 11. Add Preset Layer
•

When the Visibility Presets pop-up appears, enter the name of the new preset
and click the OK button.

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Figure 12. Visibility Presets Pop-up Screen

Note: By clicking on the Manage Layer Visibility button, you can view the list of all
preset views that you have established and from which you can choose.

6.2.8.5

Remove Layer/Group

To remove a layer or group in the Table of Contents:
•
•

Left-click on the layer/group you want to remove, hold down the CTRL key, and
click the Remove a Layer or Group button. The layer/group is removed. OR
Right-click on the layer name and select ‘Remove’ in the drop-down menu.

Note: Some of the same functions handled by the Table of Contents toolbar can also
be carried out using the Layer tab on the Menu, located at the top of the GUPS
main page.

6.2.9

Status Bar

The Status Bar, as shown in Figure 13, displays information about the map. It
allows you to adjust the map scale and see the mouse cursor’s coordinates on
the map. Table 17 lists the Status Bar elements and their descriptions and
functions.

Figure 13. Status Bar

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Table 17: Status Bar Element and Function/Description
Status Bar Element

Function/Description

Toggle

Allows you to toggle between the mouse’s coordinate position, or
the map view extents as you pan and zoom in and out on the map.

Coordinate Display

Shows your current position in map coordinates (default is decimal
degrees for GUPS) as your map cursor is moved across the map.
You can also enter X, Y coordinates to navigate to an area.

Map Scale

Shows the current map scale.

Magnifier

Allows you to zoom in on the mapview

Rotation

Allows you to define a current clockwise rotation for the map view in
degrees.

Map Render (Draw)

Allows you to temporarily prevent layers from drawing by clicking the
checkbox immediately to the left of “Render”.

Projection Properties

Allows you to open the projection properties for the current map.

Log Messages

Allows you to display three tabs that contain messages about the
GUPS application launch, python scripting, and the QGIS plug-ins
developed for GUPS.

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Section 7.

Starting a VTD Project

Once you have set up your project (selected the program and downloaded the
county data using the Map Management tool as described in Section 6), the
Import Working File box will appear. You can choose to create your working
VTD layer file – the file you will update with the current VTD boundaries – from a
tabular equivalency file, your own VTD shapefile, or you can create a blank VTD
layer. Which method to use will depend on your situation. All four are described
below.
1. Create New Blank VTD Layer:
Creating your working VTD layer from a blank slate is a good option if you do not
have a shapefile or tabular equivalency file defining the current VTDs.
See Table 19: Create New Blank VTD Layer for instructions on how to start a
project using the Create new blank VTD layer option.
2. Import Tabular Equivalency File:
Creating your working VTD layer from your own tabular equivalency file (TEF) is
a good option if you have a text file that defines what 2010 Census blocks
comprise your current VTDs. Be aware that 2010 Census block boundaries may
have been reshaped since 2010 in an effort to improve spatial accuracy and may
not appear exactly as they did in 2010 Census data products. Therefore, you
should review the depiction of your VTDs in GUPS after you import the TEF and
resolve any unassigned areas to ensure your VTDs appear as expected.
In order for GUPS to convert your TEF to a working VTD layer shapefile, the TEF
must include a unique identifier code for the 2010 tabulation blocks (include state,
county, tract and block codes) and the VTD code for the VTD that block is
assigned to. GUPS will accept that information in three different comma delimited
TEF formats: Simple TEF, GEOID TEF and Extended TEF. The headers (fields)
and an example format for each file type are shown in Table 18. Three Types of
Tabular Equivalency Files.
•

Simple TEFs have the state codes, county codes, tract codes,
block codes, voting district codes and name information separated
from each other by commas.

•

GEOID (Geographic Identification Code) TEFs have the state, county,
tract, and block codes concatenated into one 15 digit code (the GEOID),
separated by a comma from the VTD code and separated by another
comma from the name.

•

Extended TEFs have the state, county, tract, block, and Voting
District codes concatenated into one 21 digit code (the Extended
GEOID), separated by a comma from the name.

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Table 18. Three Types of Tabular Equivalency Files
Tabular File

Headings

Example

Simple TEF

ST, COU, TRACT, BLOCK, VOTING
DISTRICT, NAMELSAD

01, 001, 000001, 0001, 000001,
Example Voting District

GEOID TEF

GEOID (ST+COU+TRACT+BLOCK), Voting
District, NAMELSAD

010010000010001, 000001,
Example Voting District

Extended TEF

Extended GEOID (GEOID+ VTD), NAMELSAD

010010000010001000001,
Example Voting District

ST=2 digit state code, COU=3 digit county code, TRACT=6 digit tract code, BLOCK=4 digit 2010
tabulation block code, VOTING DISTRICT=6 character VTD code, NAMELSAD=the (up to) 120
character name combined with the legal/statistical area definition (LSAD).

Important! Importing tabular equivalency files can take a few minutes to build,
depending on the size of the area or if GUPS needs to pad the VTD Code
field with zeros. The VTD code field is now required to be six digits. If you
supply a tabular equivalency file that does not have six digits for your VTD
code (i.e., your VTD code was 1), GUPS will pad the code with zeros (i.e.,
000001).

See Table 20 for instructions on how to start a project using the Import
Tabular Equivalency File option.
Note: If you have a tabular equivalency file defining what 2010 Census blocks comprise
VTDs for your entire state, please contact us at [email protected] or 301-7634039 for other submission options.

3.

Import VTD Shapefile:
Creating your working VTD layer from an imported shapefile is good option if you
have a shapefile that depicts your current VTDs. Note that GUPS conflates your
VTD shapefile to align with Census geography, so you should review the
depiction of your VTDs in GUPS,and resolve any unassigned areas to ensure
they appear as expected.

Important: Importing VTD shapefiles can take a few minutes to build, especially if you
are in a large area.

See Table 21 for instructions on how to start a project using the Import
VTD Shapefile option.

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If you chose to start your project by importing a TEF or your own VTD
shapefile,when your project loads, your imported file becomes the current
VTD layer. If you chose to start with a blank VTD layer, GUPS will still
create a vtdcurrent_ shapefile, but it will be empty.

7.1

Create New Blank VTD Layer
Table 19: Create New Blank VTD Layer

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Select the Create new blank VTD layer from the Import Working File map dropdown menu and click OK.

Step 2

The working VTD layer, named vtdcurrent_, will be added to the Table of
Contents This layer will be blank. You are now ready to start your updates/edits on
the blank (vtdcurrent_) map. Go to Section 8 for instructions on how to
create and edit your VTDs.

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7.2

Import Tabular Equivalency File
Table 20: Import Tabular Equivalency File

Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Choose the Import Tabular Equivalency file from the drop-down to start your project
from a tabular (block) equivalency file.

Navigate to your TEF file and click Open.
Step 2

The ‘Import Options’ dialog box will open.

Step 3

Map the headers (field names) from your imported TEF to the corresponding Census
headers. In the example below, the user is importing a Simple TEF where state,
county, tract, block, voting district, and Name LSAD are comma delimited and the
user’s file does not have GEOID or Extended GEOID+VTD in their file.

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Step

Action and Result

Then click OK. Building the shapefile from an imported TEF can take a few minutes.
Step 4

If GUPS encounters any issues importing any of the records in your TEF, a VTD
Error List dialog box will open:

To find out what the error is, please select (click) on the record and then click on the
Fix button. The VTD Update box will open and the error will be explained at the top of
the box.

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Step

Action and Result

In this example, the GEOID has four characters in the tabular equivalency file, when
there should be 15 characters.
At this point you can choose to correct the GEOID by typing in the correct GEOID and
clicking on OK, or you can click Cancel and then Skip. If you skip an error, the faces
associated with that GEOID will remain unassigned and will either have to be fixed
while you update your VTDs or perform the Criteria Review Tool Checks.
If you choose to Skip All errors in the VTD Error List:
The faces associated with the errors will remain unassigned and will either be fixed
while you update your VTDs or perform the Criteria Review Tool Checks.
You also have the option to choose Cancel Import to select a different file.

Once you have fixed or skipped all the errors, the Select Progress Dialog box will
open showing the progress of your file loading. This can take several minutes.

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Step

Action and Result

You will receive the following notification if you either skipped any records in the error
list or submitted a TEF that did not have full coverage.

Step 5

7.3

The working VTD layer, named vtdcurrent_, built from your TEF, will be
added to the Table of Contents. Go to Section 8 for instructions on how to create
and edit your VTDs.

Import VTD Shapefile
Table 21: Import VTD Shapefile

Step
Step 1

Step 2

Action and Result
Choose the Import VTD Shapefile from the drop-down menu.

Navigate to your shapefile and click OK. The ‘Import Options’ dialog box will open.

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Step
Step 3

Action and Result
All Census Headers (fields) with a red asterisk * must be populated. Map the headers
from your imported shapefile to the corresponding Census Headers.
State = 2-digit state FIPS code
County = 3-digit county FIPS code
Voting District = VTD code
Name = VTD name
LSAD = Legal/Statistical Area Description (i.e. whether “Voting District” should appear
before the name, after the name, or not at all)
VTDI = Voting District Indicator (A = actual; P = Pseudo). This is unusual to see
outside of Census Bureau data files.
You can also set your minimum overlap percentage, described below:

Click OK. The VTD current layer will build. This step may take a few minutes based
on the amount of information in your imported file.

Step 4

A working VTD layer, named vtdcurrent_ will be added to the Table of
Contents. It will be your VTD shapefile conflated to Census Bureau geography. Go to
Section 8 for instructions on how to create and edit your VTDs.

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Step

Step 5

Action and Result

If there are a large number of gaps (unassigned faces) in your imported
vtdcurrent_ shapefile, you can delete that file and re-import your shapefile,
this time reducing the overlap percentage in the Import Options dialogue box so
more faces in the Census data match to the imported shapefile.

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Section 8.

VTD Update Activities in GUPS

Once you have started your project, there are various types of updates you can
make. The VTDP allows you to make updates to voting districts, linear features,
area landmarks, congressional and state legislative districts, and legal
geography (incorporated places, minor civil divisions (MCDs) and counties).
The order you wish to make your updates will depend on your situation. For
example, you may want to update or add linear features or incorporated place
boundaries before updating your VTDs, if you plan to use those incorporated
place boundaries or linear features as VTD boundaries.
Updates to linear features can be made with the linear feature update tools
described in Table 11: VTD Toolbar Buttons, Names, and Functions and
further explained in Section 8.3. You will use the Modify Area Feature Tool
to make updates to VTDs, area landmarks, congressional and state legislative
districts, and legal geographies. In general, updates are made the same way,
regardless of the type of geography, or area feature, you are updating. Section
8.1 describes the basics of how to use the Modify Area Feature Tool to update
geography, and Section 8.2 through Section 8.6 describes in more detail how
to use those tools to update specific geography types.

8.1

Using the Modify Area Feature Tool to Update Area
Features

Table 22 provides a brief description of the buttons within the Modify Area Tool
and their functions.
Table 22: Modify Area Feature Tool Buttons and Functions
Button

Function
Select Target Area allows you to select (target) a
feature for editing by clicking on it in the map view.
Select Features allows you to select features by
clicking, drawing a polygon, radius, and by
geography
Add selected faces to the target area.
Remove selected faces from target area.

Select and zoom to previous entity on the list.
Select and zoom to next entity on the list.

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Button

Function
Add new entity
Modify attributes of target area.
Toggle tool that allows the user to “lock” or “unlock”
a single or all VTDs. When locked, no faces from
the VTD can be added to another VTD. When
unlocked, faces assigned to VTD can be added to
another VTD.
Delete entity or area feature.

Table 23: Using the Modify Area Feature Tool to Update Area Features
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click on the Modify Area Feature button in the VTD Toolbar.

Step 2

Select the type of geography you want to update from the drop-down menu in the
Modify Area Feature tool.

All entities in the county of that geography type will appear.

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Step 3

Select the specific area feature you want to update. There are two options. You can
either select the area feature from the list in the Modify Area Feature tool or use the
Select Target Area tool found on the Modify Area Feature toolbar. In this example,
“Voting Districts” is selected as the geography we want to update, and the list of all
voting districts in the county is shown.
1. To select the areal feature from the list in the Modify Area Feature tool:
•

Double click on the area feature name in the Tool. GUPS will zoom to the
area feature on the map and make it active. A single click will make the
area feature active, but will not zoom to it on the map.

2. To select the area feature using the Select Target Area

Step 4

:

•

Click on the Select Target Area button on the Modify Area Feature
toolbar

•

Click on a face within the area feature on the map to make it your target
entity.

Select the faces on the map that you want to add/remove from the area feature, or use
to create a new area feature. In this example, we will add faces to the entity. There are
three options: select a face(s) by clicking on the map, select a face by drawing
(polygon, freehand, or radius), or select faces by geography. You can access all
options in the Select Features button drop-down.

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Step

Action and Result

1. Select a face using Select Feature(s)
•
•

This tool is helpful if you want to individually select faces to add to the
target entity.
Once you have your target area selected, click on a face on the map to
select the face. You can select multiple faces by holding the CTRL key as
you click on the faces.

2. Select a face by using one of several tools to draw around an area
•
•

These tools are helpful if you have several faces to add in a particular
area.
Once you have your target area selected, use one of the several select
tools (polygon, freehand and radius) to draw an area and select all the
faces within that area. In this example, we used the select feature by
radius tool and it selected all the faces at least partially within the circle
drawn.

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Step

Action and Result

3. Select faces by selecting their geography:
•

•

•

This tool selects all the faces that comprise a specific area feature. It is
helpful if your target entity is co-extensive with another geographic area.
For example, you may want to select an incorporated place and create a
new VTD that is coextensive with it. Or, you may want to add all the area
of that place to an existing VTD.
Once you have your target entity selected, use the Select by Geography
tool to select all the faces within the following geography types: Block
Groups, Census Designated Places, Census Tracts, School Districts
(Elementary, Secondary, Unified), Incorporated Places, or Minor Civil
Divisions (MCDs).
When you choose the Select Feature by Geography from the drop-down
list, a new dock-able window will appear with a list of geographic types you
can select by. In the screenshot below, we selected Incorporated Place,
meaning that we want to select all the faces within some specific
incorporated place to either add to or remove from the target entity we are
updating.

Click on the specific incorporated place on the map and all the faces will be selected.

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Step

Action and Result

Step 5
Once you have faces selected you can use the add area

, remove area

, or

add entity
buttons in the Modify Area toolbar to add the selected faces to your
target area feature, remove the selected faces from the target entity, or create a new
entity from the selected faces.

For specific information on updating VTDs using the Modify Area Feature tool,
see Section 8.2.
For specific information on updating area landmarks using the Modify Area
Feature tool, see Section 8.4.
For specific information on updating legal geography using the Modify Area
Feature tool, see Section 8.5.
For specific information on updating congressional or state legislative
districts using the Modify Area Feature tool, see Section 8.6.

8.2
8.2.1

Updating VTDs
Adding Area to Existing VTDs

Adding or removing area from a VTD is accomplished by selecting the face or
faces (polygons) that comprise the area of change. If a face boundary does not
already reflect the area needed for a boundary update, you must digitize a linear
feature to split the face. Instructions for adding linear features are contained in
Section 8.3.1.
Table 24: Adding to Existing VTDs
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the Modify Area Feature tool.

The Modify Area Feature tool dialog box opens.
Step 2

In the drop-down window, next to “Geography:” select “Voting Districts”. A list of
voting districts in the county will appear. Select the VTD you want to update (target) by
scrolling through the list and double clicking on the VTD. GUPS will zoom to that VTD
on the map. In this example, we will select and add area to 01055 Voting District.

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Step

Action and Result

Step 3
In the Modify Area Feature tool, click the Select Features button
to start
selecting faces to add to 01055. The button will darken to signify that it is selected.
On the map, click on the faces that you would like to add to the voting district that you
are modifying. A single left click will select one face at a time, while holding “Ctrl” and
left clicking on faces will select multiple faces at a time. The selected faces will change
in color slightly to signify that they have been selected.

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Step 4

Click on the Add Area button
in the Modify Area Feature tool to add the
selected faces to the target voting district. The selected faces will change in
color to match that of their new VTD and show that the area has been added to
the new district.

Note: The Remove Area tool for voting districts is disabled. In adding a face from one
voting district to another, like in this example, you are effectively removing the area
from 02085 and adding it to 01055. Because VTDs should completely cover all the
area in the county and not overlap, the only way to remove area from a VTD is to add it
to another VTD. You can also delete entire VTDs, which is described in Section 8.2.5.

8.2.2

Locking VTDs

Because when you add area to one VTD it automatically removes it from another
VTD, you may want to “lock” a VTD to ensure that faces are not inadvertently
selected and removed from it when you are adding area to its neighbor VTD.
In this example, we will add area to 09365 Voting District, but some surrounding
voting districts will be locked in order to make sure that area is not inadvertently
removed from them.
Table 25: Adding to a VTD While Locking Surrounding VTDs
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the Modify Area Feature tool.

The Modify Area Feature tool dialog box opens.
Step 2

In the drop-down window next to Geography, select Voting Districts.

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Step

Step 3

Action and Result

Select the VTDs that are to remain unchanged by clicking on them in the area features
list. You can also select them on the map using the Select Target Area button. (Click
on the Select Area Target button
view.)

Step 4

and click on the any part of the VTD in the map

Once a voting district is selected, click on the dropdown menu to the right of the Lock
Tool in the Modify Area Feature window to lock the district that is to remain unchanged.
Select Lock/Unlock Single VTD to lock/unlock the VTD selected in the Info list, or select
Lock All VTDs or Unlock All VTDs to lock/unlock all the VTDs in the info list.

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Step

Action and Result

You will notice the lock toggle button (outlined in red) changes from a closed padlock
to an open padlock to signify that that 10420 Voting District has been locked. The
button now functions to unlock the VTD. Click to “unlock” the VTD. The lock/unlock
status is also displayed in the column to the right of the Voting District name in the
Info list. The button now functions to unlock the VTD. Click to “unlock” the VTD.

This screenshot shows faces to the east and southeast of 09375 Voting District
that have been selected for addition to 09365 Voting District. Some of the
selected faces are currently assigned to locked 10420 Voting District and locked
09375 Voting District. Other selected faces are assigned to unlocked 10396
Voting District, and unlocked 10395 Voting District (in grey, lower right corner,
label not shown).

Figure 14. Faces Selected for Addition to 09375 Voting District

After selecting the Add Area button, you will notice that only the faces that are
not part of the locked VTDs were added to the target 09365 Voting District.

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Figure 15. Faces Not Locked Added to 09365 Voting District

If all the faces you select to add to a VTD are assigned to a locked VTD, you will
get this notification:

Figure 16: Locked VTD Warning

You must unlock the VTD in order to proceed.

8.2.3

Creating New VTDs

Create VTDs by selecting the faces that comprise the VTD, and then clicking on
the Add Entity
button. In this example, we will select the faces to use to
create a new VTD using the Select by Geography tool.
Table 26: Creating New VTDs
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the Modify Area Feature tool.

The Modify Area Feature tool dialog box opens.
Step 2

In the drop-down window, next to Geography: select Voting Districts.

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Step

Step 3

Action and Result

Under the Select Features button drop-down, choose Select Features by
Geography. (This example demonstrates using the Select by Geography tool. Any
selection method can be used.)

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Step 4

Step 5

A new Select by Geography window will open. Here you can choose which type of
geography you would like to use to select the faces. For this example, we will use
census tracts, meaning we will choose a census tract and all the faces in that tract will
be selected. Select the type of geography, and in the Map View click on a feature of
that geography type (census tract in this example).

All the faces within the census tract you selected (0209.00 in this example) will be
selected.

Step 6
In the Modify Area Feature tool, click on the Add Entity button
voting district out of the selected faces/Census Tract.

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Step 7

A new window will appear that requires that you input attribute values for the new
voting district. The fields marked with a red asterisk are required fields.

STATEFP = 2-digit state FIPS code
COUNTYFP = 3-digit county FIPS code
VTD Code = VTD Code (up to 6 characters)
VTD Status = Actual (A) or Pseudo (P). Select Pseudo if the spatial representation is
an approximation of how the VTD should be represented, or represents some sort of
sub-election geography. This should be a rare occurrence.
LSAD = Legal/Statistical Area Description
NAME – VTD Name
Step 8

8.2.4

Click “OK” to save. The new Voting District appears on the map and in the area
features list in the Modify Area Features tool.

Modifying VTD Attributes

Modify VTD attributes if you want to change the name, code, area description, or
other non-spatial attribute of your VTDs.
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Table 27: Modifying VTD Attributes
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the Modify Area Feature tool.

The Modify Area Feature tool dialog box opens.
Step 2

In the drop-down window, next to Geography: select Voting Districts.

Step 3

Activate and navigate to the voting district whose attributes you want to modify by
either clicking on it in the Area Feature list, or by clicking on the Target Area button
and then clicking on the VTD on the map.

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Step 4

Once your voting district is selected, click on the Change Attributes
Modify Area Feature toolbar.

in the

.
Step 5
A new Modify Area Feature window will pop-up

Step 6

Type over the name or code with the information you want to change it to, or change
the LSAD or VTD Status using the dropdowns. Except in rare occasions, VTD Status
will be Actual (A). Click OK to view changes.

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8.2.5

Deleting VTDs
Table 28: Deleting a VTD

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click on the Modify Area Feature tool.

Step 2

In the drop-down window, next to Geography: select Voting Districts.

Step 3

Target the voting district you want to delete either clicking on it in the Area Feature
List, or by clicking on Target Area button
map.

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and then clicking on the VTD on the

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Step 4

Once your voting district is selected, click on the Delete Area Feature button in the
Modify Area Feature tool

.

Step 5

A window will appear asking you to confirm that you want to delete the selected area
feature.

Step 6

Click “OK” to confirm. You will notice on the map, the area (faces) that once was a
voting district is now not assigned to any VTD. You can assign the unassigned faces to
another voting district at this time, or they will fall out later when you run the VTD
Criteria Review Tool (See Section 8.6.1 for more information).

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8.3

Updating Linear Features

We recommend that you review the linear features in the Census Bureau file to
determine whether there are missing features or existing features that should be
deleted. You can import your own shapefiles, geodatabases, web mapping
services and/or imagery for comparison against Census Bureau data. If you plan
to import data for reference purposes, follow the directions for importing userprovided geospatial data and/or web mapping services listed in Section 6.2.7
Add Data Toolbar. Another option for automatically adding imagery is to use the
Add Imagery button on the VTD toolbar.
Click Appendix A, Table 62: Linear Feature Updates Permitted for the list of
feature updates the Census Bureau will accept.

8.3.1

Adding a Linear Feature
Table 29: Adding a Linear Feature

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Navigate in the Map View to where you want to add a linear feature.

Step 2

Click on the Add Linear Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 3

Digitize the new linear feature. The cursor will appear in the map as a pink crosshair.
A) Left- click the mouse at the starting point of line and continuing to click at each
vertex (shape) point of the line, and
B) Right-click the mouse when you have completed the new line.

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Step 4

The Add Linear Feature dialog box opens.
Click on the MTFCC drop-down menu to choose the appropriate code from the dropdown menu.

Type the name of the feature, if the feature is named, in the Name field. Note only rail,
hydro, and road linear features can be named in GUPS. Refer to Appendix B for the
list of standardized street type abbreviations and Appendix C for MTFCC
Descriptions.
Click the OK button.
Step 5

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Step 6

8.3.2

GUPS will not allow one linear feature to be placed on top of another. If you attempt to
add a road over a boundary, a dialog box with the message “New Line Segment
cannot start and end within 5 ft. of an existing line.” opens. Instead, select the Modify
Linear Features Attributes button on the VTD toolbar, select the boundary line
coincident with the road feature, and after the Update Attributes dialog box opens,
change the MTFCC to the appropriate road (Sxxxx MTFCC). Provide a name for the
road. The feature remains a “boundary” because all geographic entity boundaries are
determined by faces (polygons), not by linear features.

Splitting a Linear Feature

Splitting a linear feature may be necessary if you need to delete or edit part of a
linear feature. You will first need to “split” the linear features so you can select
only the part you want to delete or edit.
Using the Split Linear Feature tool
on the VTD toolbar, you can split a single
linear feature into two or more features.
In this example, an existing invisible edge is split so one portion can be modified
into a road and the other portion can be flagged for deletion. Figure 17 shows
the linear feature to split and edit.

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Figure 17. Linear Feature to Split/Edit
Table 30: Split/Edit a Linear
Step
Step 1

Action and Result

Feature

Select the Split Linear Feature tool from the VTD toolbar.

The cursor will appear in the map view as a pink crosshair.

Step 2

Click on the location where you want to split the linear feature. There are now two
linear features, each with the attribution of the original line. One portion of the split line
will appear highlighted, but note that it may not be the portion that needs to be edited.

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Step

Step 3

Action and Result

Select the linear feature portion you want to modify by clicking on the Select Tool in
the Standard toolbar.

Left click on the linear feature.
Step 4

Select the Modify Linear Feature Attributes tool from the VTD Toolbar.

The Modify Linear Feature Attributes dialog box will appear.

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Step
Step 5

Action and Result
Change the MTFCC or Name attribute by typing over the existing values in the Modify
Linear Feature Attribute dialog box. In this example, the linear feature had no name
and an MTFCC of P0004 – Other non-visible bounding edge. This edge should now be
named Santiago Ave and modified to an S1400- Local Neighborhood Road

Click Save.
Step 6

The other portion of the linear feature should be deleted, as it does not exist. Select
the other linear feature. Click on the Linear Feature Delete tool on the VTD toolbar.

Step 7

A pop-up box will appear asking you to confirm that you want to delete the feature.

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Step
Step 8

Action and Result
Click OK and the symbology of the linear feature in the map view will indicate one
portion is flagged for deletion (symbology is black Xs over the edge) and the other is
part of Santiago Ave.

Note: You are not actually “deleting” a feature in the Census Bureau file. The software
assigns a “deletion” change type to the feature in the attribute table. After
receiving the file, the Census Bureau first reviews the deletion before deleting the
feature. The feature flagged for deletion will still appear on the GUPS map with a
black “x” symbology on top of the feature’s original symbology. If you delete a
feature that you had added to the project yourself, it will disappear completely
from the map.

8.3.3

Deleting a Linear Feature

There are several ways you can delete a linear feature. You can delete one
segment or multiple segments or features at a time. As stated in Section 8.3.2, if
you delete a linear feature that existed in the partnership shapefiles, it will be
flagged for deletion pending Census Bureau review. You can also restore the
deleted feature. However, if you delete a linear feature that you added, the linear
feature will be deleted and cannot be restored.

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Table 31: Delete a Linear Feature
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click on the Delete Linear Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2

When you activate the Delete Linear Feature tool, your mouse cursor will turn into a
cross-hair. Hover over the line segment that you would like to delete and left mouse
click. In this example, we chose to delete Firehouse Ln.

The Delete Linear Feature confirmation dialog box opens asking if you are sure you
want to delete the selected features(s).

Click OK to delete the feature.
Step 3

The feature is flagged for deletion and symbolized in the Map View with black Xs.

Another way to delete a linear feature is by using the Select Features tool
to
draw a selection region over the lines you would like to mark for deletion, and then
clicking on the Delete Linear Feature tool.

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8.3.4

Restoring Deleted Linear Features

You may delete a linear feature in error and later wish to restore or “un-delete”
Table 32: Restore a Linear Feature

it.
Step

Action and Result
You cannot restore a deleted linear feature you added; you will need to add it
again if you deleted it in error. You can only restore deleted linear features if they
were included in the original Census Bureau provided Partnership Shapefile.

Step 1

Make sure the Edges layer is active (checked) in the Table of Contents.

Then zoom to the location on the map where the deleted feature is located.

Step 2

Click on the Delete Linear Feature tool in the VTD Toolbar

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Step
Step 2

Action and Result
Left-click on the deleted feature you want to restore. The deleted feature turns cyan
blue (color may vary) and the Delete Linear Feature dialog box opens. The box asks
you to confirm that you want to restore the line.

To restore the linear feature, click the OK button.
Step 3

8.3.5

The Delete Line symbology is removed from the linear feature in the Map View and
the line is restored.

Editing Linear Feature Attributes

To change the name or the classification of a linear feature, follow the steps in
Table 33.
Table 33: Edit a Linear Feature Attribution
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click on the Modify Linear Feature Attributes button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2

Click on the linear feature on the map you want to edit. The Modify Linear
Features Attributes dialog box opens. The Name field populates if the feature is
named. If the feature is unnamed, the field is blank. The MTFCC field shows the
assigned MTFCC.

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Action and Result

If there are address ranges assigned to the street segment, they are displayed in
the LTOADD, RTOADD, LFROMADD, and RFROMADD fields. The Census
Bureau accepts, but does not encourage, address range updates, as the Census
Bureau has internal processes for updating and maintaining address ranges. If you
want to submit address ranges, please contact the CRVRDO at 301-763-4039 for
more information.
Step 3

Step 4

To add or change the name of the linear feature, update the FULLNAME field by
simply typing in the new name. If the field is already populated, just highlight the
existing name and hit DELETE or backspace over the name. In this example, we
changed the name of Shop Ln to O’Donnell Ln.

Click on the MTFCC drop-down menu to change the MTFCC.

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Step

Action and Result

In this example, the MTFCC does not need to be changed, so we will leave it as
S1400. We also are not changing the address ranges.

Step 5

Click Save. The changes are made and the new name appears in the map view.

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Step

Action and Result

Note: Be sure to include the street type (St, Ave, Blvd, etc.) in all street names.
Appendix B lists the standardized street type abbreviations.

8.4

Reviewing and Updating Area Landmarks

The Census Bureau accepts updates to area landmarks, including hydrographic
areas, as part of the Voting District Project. Allowable updates include:
•
•
•
•

Boundary corrections (adding and removing area),
Creating a new area landmark or hydrographic area,
Removing an area landmark or hydrographic area, and
Changing or adding a name to an area landmark or hydrographic area.

Adding or removing area from an area landmark, including area hydrography, is
accomplished by selecting the face or faces (polygons) that comprise the area of
change. If a face boundary does not already reflect the area needed for a
boundary update, you must digitize a linear feature to split the face. Instructions
for adding linear features are contained in Section 8.3.1.
If your state plans to reallocate prisoners during redistricting, you may wish to
particularly review the existing area landmarks with MTFCCs K1235, K1236,
K1237, and K1238, which represent areas that contain prison populations.
GUPS displays area landmarks in different symbology depending on
categorization, as shown in Figure 18. Area landmarks deleted by the user are
shown in gray symbology.

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Figure 18. Area Landmark Symbology

There are some restrictions to area landmark updates. Appendix A, Table 61:
Area Landmark Updates Permitted lists the area landmark updates the Census
Bureau will accept.

8.4.1

Reviewing Area Landmarks/Area Hydrography
Table 34: Review Area Landmarks

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the Geography drop-down menu.
The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county. Clicking on the blue arrows on the toolbar moves you up and down through the
list, highlighting the feature on the map as the feature is highlighted in the Info window.

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Step

Action and Result

Step 3

Double-click on a row in the list to select a landmark. The map zooms you to the
selected landmark (Saint Mary’s Medical Ctr-K1231). Note: Area landmarks are
depicted in different colors based on landmark category.
Step 4

You can make changes to the selected area landmark with the tools above the Info
window.

8.4.2

Adding Area to an Existing Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography
Table 35: Add Area to an Area Landmark

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTDP toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the drop-down menu.

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Step

Action and Result

The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county. Clicking on the blue arrows on the toolbar moves you up and down through the
list.
Step 3

Click on a row in the list to select the landmark to update. Double click to zoom to the
selected landmark on the map. (St Mary’s Hosp.)

Step 4

Click on the Select Features button on the toolbar. Choose the method from the dropdown menu to select the face(s) to add to the area landmark.

Step 5

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Step

Action and Result
Click on the face(s) on the map you want to add to the area landmark. To add more
than one face, click on the first face, hold down the CRTL key, and click on the
remaining faces you want to add.

Step 6

8.4.3

Removing Area from an Area Landmark/Area Hydrography
Table 36: Remove Area from Area Landmark/Area Hydrography

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTDP toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the drop-down menu.

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Step

Action and Result
The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county. Clicking on the blue arrows on the toolbar moves you up and down through the
list.

Step 3

Double-click on a row in the list to select the landmark to target for update. The map
zooms you to the selected landmark (St. Mary’s Hosp.)

Step 4

Click on the Select Features button on the toolbar. Choose the method from the dropdown menu to select the face(s) to remove from the landmark.

Step 5

Click on the face(s) on the map you want to remove from the area landmark. To
remove more than one face, click on the first face, hold down the CRTL key, and click
on the remaining faces you want to remove.

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Step

8.4.4

Action and Result

Creating a New Area Landmark/Area Hydrography
Table 37: Create a New Area Landmark

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Step 2

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 3

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the drop-down menu.

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Step

Action and Result

The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county.
Step 4
through
Step 5

Click on the Select Features button on the toolbar. Choose the selection method from
the drop-down menu to add faces (polygons) to create the landmark.

Because areal features are comprised of faces (polygons), you may need to “split” a
face to accurately reflect an entity’s boundary. To split a face, digitize a new line that
represents the boundary’s location and assign it the appropriate MTFCC. This “splits”
the original face into two faces. You can now select the face (polygon) for addition to
the new entity. See Table 29 for directions on adding a linear feature.

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Step

Action and Result

Step 6

Step 7
through
Step 8

The Add Entity Attributes dialog box opens. The State and County code fields are
pre-populated.

Step 9

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8.4.5

Modifying Area Landmark Attributes
Table 38: Modifying Area Landmark

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTDP toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the drop-down menu.

The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county. Clicking on the blue arrows on the toolbar moves you up and down through the
list.
Step 3

Double-click on a row in the list to select the landmark to update. The map zooms you
to the selected landmark (Unnamed Cemetery).

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Step
Step 4

Action and Result
Click on the Change Attributes button above the info window.

The Modify Attributes dialog box opens.
Step 5

Type in the new name. You can also select a new MTFCC from the drop-down if
appropriate. In this example, the MTFCC will not change.

Step 6

The new name for the landmark appears on the map in the Info list of area landmarks.

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8.4.6

Deleting Area Landmarks/Area Hydrography
Table 39: Deleting Area Landmarks

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTDP toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose Area Landmark/Area
Hydrography from the drop-down menu.

The Info window populates with the list of area landmarks and area hydrography in the
county. Clicking on the blue arrows on the toolbar moves you up and down through the
list, highlighting the feature on the map as the feature is highlighted In the Info window.
Step 3
through
Step 4

Step 5

Click on the area landmark in the Info list to target it for deletion. (Double click on the
entity name in the list to target and zoom to it on the map.) Click on the Remove Entity
button on the Modify Feature toolbar.

The Deletion Confirmation dialog box opens. Click OK to delete the feature.

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Step

8.5

Action and Result

Legal Boundary Updates

VTD participants may submit legal boundary updates (annexations,
deannexations, incorporations disincorporations and boundary corrections) for
counties, minor civil divisions, incorporated places, and consolidated cities. Legal
boundary changes are annexations, deannexations, incorporations and
disincorporations that are created through passage of a law or local ordinance.
Boundary corrections are made to address errors in the Census Bureau
boundary representation: the entity has not actually changed its boundary; the
Census Bureau’s representation just needs to be corrected. The Census Bureau
will reconcile all legal area boundary submissions with the appropriate local
governments as part of our Boundary and Annexation Survey.
Although legal documentation (effective date, authorization type, and ordinance
number) is not required for legal boundary changes submitted through the VTDP,
we strongly encourage you to submit the documentation to expedite our ability to
reconcile and process any legal changes reported.
You do not have to provide the legal paperwork for a legal change, just the
effective date, authorization type, and documentation number, for the Census
Bureau to process a change as a Legal Change.
Important Note: If you do not plan to provide the legal documentation for a legal
boundary change you must report your boundary update as a Boundary Correction, not
a Legal Change. (Boundary corrections do not require legal documentation.) This is for
Census Bureau processing purposes. You make this selection in the Select Output Type
dialog box by clicking the radio button for Boundary Correction.

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8.5.1

Adding or Deleting Area to make a Boundary Update
(Legal Changes and Boundary Corrections)
Table 40: Boundary Changes

Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2
through
Step 3

Step 4
through
Step 5

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Step

Action and Result

Step 6

On the Modify Area Feature toolbar, click the Add Area or the Remove Area button,
as appropriate. For this example, Add Area is chosen. At this point, follow the
directions for submitting a Legal Change (Table 41), or for submitting a Boundary
Correction (Table 42).
You may need to “split” a face to accurately reflect an entity’s boundary. To split a
face, digitize a new line that represents the boundary’s location and assign it the
appropriate MTFCC. This “splits” the original face into two faces. You can now select
the face (polygon) for addition to the new entity. See Table 29 for directions on adding
a linear feature.
If you need to make boundary updates for an incorporated place that is located in one
or more counties, and the updates are in more than one county, you must make the
updates in the working county. After completing the updates in your initial working
county, return to Map Management, select the other county as the working county,
and make the boundary updates. Repeat this process for each additional county as
necessary.

8.5.1.1

Submitting Legal Boundary Changes
Table 41: Submit Legal Changes

Step
Step 1

Action and Result
The Choose Change Type dialog box opens. Click the Legal Change radio button.

Click OK.

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Step

Action and Result
If you do not plan to provide the legal documentation (effective date authorization
type, and documentation number), then choose the Boundary Correction radio
button, even if the change is technically a legal update.

Step 2

The Create Change Polygon dialog box opens. The State, County, Place Name,
and LSAD fields are prepopulated. Fill in the other necessary information.

a) Fill in the Effective Date (EFF_DATE) of the change.
b) Select the Authorization Type (AUTHTYPE) from the drop-down menu:
L – Local Law
O – Ordinance
R – Resolution
S – State-Level Action
X – Other
c) Type in the Documentation Number (DOCU) or appropriate information
from the authorization type chosen if you do not plan to provide the actual
legal action paperwork.
OR
Click the Open Folder button if you wish to provide the paperwork to support the
documentation. Navigate to the folder on your computer to select the file for
upload. GUPS automatically populates the DOCU field with the file name.
d) Choose the appropriate Change Type (CHNG_TYPE) from the drop-down
menu.
e) Click OK to save the change.
The selected face (polygon) is added to the legal entity.

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Step

Action and Result

The added face(s) may have a different fill than the rest of the incorporated place.
This is because the face is also part of a “vtd18__changes_incplace” layer,
or changes layer, in the Table of Contents. This layer is used in Census Bureau
processing to tell us what faces need to be updated. If you turn the “changes” layer
off by unchecking it in the Table of Contents, you will see the face is symbolized as
part of the place you added it to.

8.5.1.2

Submitting Boundary Corrections
Table 42: Submit a Boundary Correction

Step
Step 1

Action and Result
The Choose Change Type dialog box opens.

Click the radio button for Boundary Correction. Click OK.
Step 2

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Step

Action and Result
The selected face (polygon) is added to the legal entity, with no documentation
required, as for a Legal Change.
The added face(s) may have a different fill than the rest of the incorporated place. This
is because the face is also part of a “vtd18__changes_incplace” layer, or
changes layer, in the Table of Contents. This layer is used in Census Bureau
processing to tell us what faces need to be recoded. If you turn the “changes” layer off
by unchecking it in the Table of Contents, you will see the face is symbolized as part
of the place you added it to.

8.5.1.3

Adding a New Legal Entity
Table 43: Add a New Legal Entity

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2

Click on the Geography drop-down menu to choose the type of legal entity to add.
In this example, we will add a new incorporated place.

Step 3

Click the Select Features button.

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Step

Action and Result

Step 4
through
Step 5

Step 6
through
Step 11

The Add New Entity dialog box opens.

Step 12

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Step

Action and Result
If the new entity crosses a county boundary, you must add the new entity in both
counties separately. After making the change in your working county, return to Map
Management, select the other county as the working county, and proceed to add
the new entity in this county as well. If the added entity crosses more than one
county boundary, complete the addition in each county affected.

8.5.1.4

Deleting a Legal Entity
Table 44: Delete a New Legal Entity

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Modify Area Feature button on the VTD toolbar.

Step 2

The Modify Area Feature dialog box opens. Choose the legal geography to update
from the drop-down menu (place, in this example).

The Info window populates with the list of entities in the county for the legal
geography chosen.
Step 3

Click on a row in the list to select (target) the legal entity for deletion. Double click if
you want to zoom to the entity on the map.

Step 4

Click the Remove Entity button.

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Action and Result

If the deleted entity crosses a county boundary, you must delete the entity in both
counties separately. After making the change in your working county, return to Map
Management, select the other county as the working, and proceed to delete the entity
in this county as well. If the deleted entity crosses more than one county boundary,
complete the deletion in each county affected.
Step 5

The Deletion Confirmation dialog box opens.

Click OK to delete the entity. The entity will still appear on the map, but it’s symbology
will change. It will be flagged for deletion by the Census Bureau.

8.6

Updating Congressional and State Legislative Districts

GUPS allows you to make updates to your state’s congressional districts (CDs) and state
legislative districts (SLDs). This may be necessary if you are making changes to voting district or
legal geography and need to correct the congressional or state legislative district to maintain
spatial relationships, or if you need to make a correction to the spatial representation of the CD
or SLD boundary. Larger changes that occur during redistricting are collected in a separate
operation conducted by the Census Bureau every two years, in advance of new Congressional
Sessions.
You can use the Modify Area Feature tool to make CD and SLD updates, the same way it is
used to make updates to Voting Districts. (See Section 8.1) The only difference is that you will
select Congressional District, State Legislative District Lower, and State Legislative District
Upper, from the Geography dropdown menu. Once you have selected the district you need to
modify, you can select faces and use the add area or remove area tools to make updates. You
cannot delete or create new CDs or SLDs using GUPS. Those updates would be considered
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significant and need to be collected in our official CD and SLD update cycles. Please contact the
Census Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office at 301-763-4039, or [email protected] for
more information.

8.7

VTD Criteria Check and Change Polygon Review

GUPS provides two tools — the VTD Criteria Review tool and Review Change
Polygons tool -- to help you review and validate the updates you have made
during the VTDP.

8.7.1

VTD Criteria Review Tool (for VTDs, CDs, and SLDs)

The VTD Criteria Review Tool performs two types of checks: coverage checks,
where it identifies faces not assigned to any VTD, and non- contiguous checks,
where it looks for VTDs, CDs, and/or SLDs in multiple pieces. GUPS will not
allow users to delete or remove area from CDs or SLDs, so all faces should
always be assigned to a CD and SLDs. (GUPS will only remove CD or SLD
coverage from a face when that face it added to another CD or SLD.)
Coverage failures are critical data errors that must be fixed before exporting data
to the Census Bureau. All faces in a county must be assigned to a VTD or
specifically coded as “unassigned.” Non-contiguous failures are warnings. The
Census would like you to review these non-contiguous entities, but recognizes
they may be valid.
Table 46 explains how to run the VTD Criteria Review Tool.

Note: You must run the VTD Criteria Review Tool before exporting your file for
submission to the Census Bureau. GUPS will not allow you to export your
file if you have not run this tool.

Table 45: VTD Criteria Review Tool Error and Warning Messages
Criteria

Error/Warning

Fix/Ignore

Coverage (Unassigned
Faces)

Error

Must fix

Non-contiguous

Warning

Fix or Ignore

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Table 46: The VTD Criteria Review Tool
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Begin by selecting the VTD Criteria Review tool from the VTD toolbar to start the
review.

Please note that this process may take several minutes to complete.
Once clicked, the following dialog box will appear indicating the tool’s progress in
executing all criteria checks.

Step 2

If there are no unassigned faces or noncontiguous VTDs, the following dialog box will
pop-up. In this scenario, all features have passed the criteria review.

Click OK.
If errors are identified, a VTD Criteria Review table will open and show a list of
coverage failure errors (unassigned faces) in red and non-contiguous failure warnings
in blue. See Section 8.7.1.1 for reviewing and resolving coverage failures, and
Section 8.7.1.2 for resolving non-contiguous failures.

8.7.1.1

VTD Coverage Failures (Unassigned Faces)

VTD Coverage failures will always appear in red in the VTD Criteria Review
table, and provide the face ID with the message that the face “does not have a
VTD.” You must fix these VTD coverage failures before you can export the
file to the Census Bureau. However, you can create a Share with
Participant File with coverage failures.

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Table 47: Unassigned Faces
Step

Action and Result
Note: You can use the Errors drop-down to filter which types of errors display in the
Criteria Fail Table.

Step 1

You can address VTD coverage failures in two ways:
A. Confirming that the area does not belong to any VTD and assigning it a
VTD code of ZZZZZZ (not defined) as described in steps 2- 4 below,
OR
B. Assigning the area to a VTD as described in steps 5- 7.
Click on the “Face does not have a VTD” message in the Criteria Fail column to
zoom to that face on the map.

To keep the area unassigned to any VTD:
Step 2

To keep the area unassigned to any VTD, click on the “VTD Not Defined” button in
the Ignore/Delete column next to the area. The text on the button will change to read
“VTD Set to ZZZZZZ.” (ZZZZZZ is the code the Census Bureau assigns to area not
part of any VTD.) Assigning the ZZZZZZ code to faces should only be done
sparingly.

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Click Save Changes in the lower right corner of the VTD Criteria Review dialog box

Clicking “Refresh” will cause the VTD Criteria Review to run again, which can take
several minutes. You may wish to fix/define multiple or all failures before refreshing.
Step 3

Click Refresh. A dialog box will appear telling you how many features were updated
and the face(s) in the map view will be labeled “VOTING DISTRICTS NOT
DEFINED.”

Step 4

Click OK.
If more features need to be addressed, the VTD Criteria Review dialog box appears
to tell you the project needs to be saved before running the Criteria Review Tool.
Click Save and the project will save and the VTD Criteria Review tool will run again.

The face you assigned to ZZZZZZ no longer appears in the Criteria Fail list.

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Step

Action and Result

Address other failures as needed.
To assign area to an existing VTD or create a new VTD:
Step 5

To assign the area to a VTD, click on the “Fix” button next to the failure. Selecting the
Fix button will bring up the Modify Area Feature tool. At this time, you have to decide
if you want to add the face to an existing VTD (See Section 8.2.1) or create a new
VTD (See Section 8.2.3).

Once addressed, the failure will not disappear from the Criteria Fail list until you click
the Refresh button at the bottom of the dialog box.
Clicking Refresh will cause the VTD Criteria Review to run again, which can take
several minutes. You may wish to fix/define multiple or all failures before refreshing.
Step 6

Click Refresh.

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Step

Action and Result
The VTD Criteria Review dialog box appears to tell you the project needs to be
saved before running the Criteria Review Tool. Click Save and the project will save
and the VTD Criteria Review tool will run again.

Step 7

8.7.1.2

The VTD Criteria Check reruns, and the face you assigned to an existing VTD no
longer appears in the Criteria Fail list.

Non-Contiguous VTD, CD or SLD Failures

Non-contiguous VTDs appear in blue in the VTD Criteria Review table, and
provides the names of VTDs, CDs, and/or SLDs with non-contiguous pieces.
Non-contiguous failures are warnings and are not required to be reviewed or
fixed before sending your file to the Census Bureau, because some VTDs, CDs
and SLDs may legitimately be non-contiguous. Non-contiguous entity warnings
can be useful if, for example, you have created a new VTD but have missed
selecting some faces from other existing VTDs.
Table 48: Addressing Non-Contiguous VTDs
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

After running the VTD Criteria Check the VTD Criteria Review dialog box appears.
You can address the non-contiguous VTD, CDs, or SLDs in two ways: Ignore
(described in Steps 2 through 4) or Fix by assigning a face(s) to another VTD, CD or
SLD (described in Step 5 through 10).

Step 2

Click on the has non-contiguous entities failure in the Criteria Fail
column to zoom to the entity (VTD, CD, or SLD) with the failure. In the example
below, we will address a non-contiguous failures with VTDs, but GUPS will work
the same for resolving CD or SLD failures.

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Action and Result

Initially, clicking on the failure will zoom you to the extent of the entire VTD. Click on the
blue arrow just above the criteria fail list to zoom to each individual non-contiguous piece
of the entity.
Step 3

If you determine the VTD should be non-contiguous, as we have in this example for
the MILESBURG VTD, check the box in the “Ignore/Define” column. Click “Save
Changes” in the bottom right of the VTD Criteria Review dialog box.

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Step 4

A pop-up message will appear indicted that you have updated the feature.

Click OK.
Clicking Save Changes will cause the VTD Criteria Review tool to close. You will
have to rerun it to see additional failures. You may wish to just check the “Ignore” box
and work on other failures before clicking Save Changes, as running the tool can take
several minutes.
Step 5

If you determine the VTD should not be non-contiguous and realize you need to
correct a digitizing error, as we have with BOGGS TWP VTD EAST, you can use the
Modify Areas Feature tool to fix the problem.
Click on the VTD has non-contiguous entities failure in the Criteria Fail column to
zoom to the VTD with the failure. Again, initially, GUPS will zoom to the entire VTD
area. Clock on the blue arrow to zoom to each individual piece.

Step 6

In this example, it appears that when adding area to the BOGGS TWP VTD West VTD
(in light green) from BOGGS EAST TWP VTD (in blue), a face was missed from the
selection. Click the Fix button next to the failure in the Criteria Fail list.
The Modify Area tool opens and BOGGS TWP VTD EAST is the target VTD as
indicated by the shading and that it is highlighted in the Info box of the Modify Area
Feature tool.

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Step 7

Step 8

Action and Result

Because this face needs to be added to BOGGS TWP VTD WEST VTD to correct the
problem, make that VTD the target layer, either by selecting it in the Info List in the
Modify Area Feature tool, or clicking the “Select Target Area”
button in the
Modify Area Feature tool and then clicking on BOGGS TWP VTD WEST on the map.

In the Modify Area Feature tool, click on the Select Feature Tool
and then click
on the face that needs to be added to BOGGS TWP VTD WEST on the map.

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Step 9

Action and Result

Click on Add Area button in the Modify Area tool to add the face to the target VTD
(BOGGS TWP VTD WEST).

The face is now assigned to the correct VTD.

Step 10

In the VTD Criteria Review tool, click on the Refresh button.

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Step 11

Action and Result

You will get a pop-up telling you the project needs to be saved before re-running the
Criteria Review Tool. Click Save.

Once all the failures have been resolved and you click Save, a pop-up appears
stating that all features pass criteria review.

Click OK.

8.7.2

Reviewing Change Polygons

You will be required to run this QC Tool if you make any legal boundary updates.
The tool checks for commonly made digitizing errors.
Note: VTD edits can be viewed in this tool but the tool is not required for VTD QC.

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Table 49: Review Change Polygons
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click on the Review Change Polygons button on the VTD Toolbar.

Step 2

The Review Change Polygons box opens directly below the Table of Contents
window. The dialog box can be undocked and moved anywhere on the page.
Choose the geography you want to review from the Geography drop-down menu.

The Small Area Check and Find Holes buttons become activated. All change
polygons for the geography type you selected appear in the Info list window. See
Table 50 for instructions on running the Small Area Check, and Table 51 for
instructions on running the Find Holes check.

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Table 50: Conducting the Small Area Check
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click the “Small Area Check” button. This check identifies any change polygon less
than 500 square feet, which are too small to be reported and may indicate a
delineation error.

If there are no change polygons smaller than 500 square feet, the message below
pops up. Click the OK button and repeat the Small Area Check for each of the other
types of geography on the drop-down menu for which you created change polygons.

Step 2

If there are change polygons smaller than 500 square feet, they appear in the Info
window along with their Area in Acres. Note that the Small Area Check button is
replaced with the Display All Changes button, which allows you to toggle back to see
all change polygons in the list.

Step 3

Click on a row in the list. The map view zooms you to the change polygon and the
Delete Change Polygon button is activated. Click the Delete Change Polygon button

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Action and Result

Step 4

The Review Change Polygons dialog box opens for deletion confirmation. Click the
Yes button. The polygon is removed from the list, the map, and the attribute table.

Step 5

Repeat the steps above for each geography type for which you created change
polygons. Click on the drop-down menu to choose another geography type.
GUPS lets you know whether you have created change polygons for a geography
type. The Small Area Check and Find Holes buttons are grayed out and unavailable
for selection if no change polygons were created for a particular geography type. In
this example, MCD was selected and both buttons are grayed out, so we know there
were no change polygons created for MCDs.

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Table 51: Conducting the Find Holes Check
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
While still in the Review Change Polygons dialog box (or you can click on the Review
Change Polygons button on the VTD toolbar again), choose the Geography type for
the review from the drop-down menu.
The info window again populates with all the change polygons.

Step 2

Click the Find Holes button.

If there are no holes, you receive the message below in the Review Change Polygon
dialog box. Click the OK button.

Step 3

If there are holes, the Find Holes dialog box opens directly under the Table of
Contents. The number of holes is listed in the dialog box. The change polygons
representing the holes populates in the window. Click on a change polygon in the list to
zoom to it on the map.

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Step 4

Action and Result

Click on the Fix button to delete the change polygon if the hole in the geography
should not exist. The face will be assigned to the place surrounding it. If it is a
legitimate change (an enclave, for example) and not due to a digitizing error, move to
the next item in the list for review, or if you are done reviewing the holes, click the
Close button

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8.8

Managing Data Files and Sharing Projects and Work

GUPS includes a number of tools to assist users in managing their files and
sharing projects with liaisons, designees, other colleagues, and the Census
Bureau.

8.8.1

GUPS Data Settings Tool

The GUPS Data Settings Tool (Figure 19) is found on the Standard Toolbar. In
earlier versions of GUPS, this tool was known as the GUPS Clean Up Tool, and
allowed you to delete all the files associated with a GUPS project if you need to
start your project over. The Tool has been expanded to a) allow you to change
the working directory where you store your GUPS folder, and b) display the
location of your files, which is helpful if you need to send the Census Bureau any
log files or other files needed to troubleshoot any issues. Section 8.7.1.1
describes how to change your working directory using the tool. Section 8.7.1.2
describes the GUPS Clean Up. The tool also includes an “Explore” button,
explained in Section 8.7.1.2.4, which will automatically open up file explorer to
your GUPS folder locations.

Figure 19. GUPS Data Settings Tool

8.8.1.1

Changing the Working Directory

When you first open GUPS after installing the software, GUPS creates a
GUPSGIS folder where your GUPS files are saved. Changing the Working
Directory allows you to change the location of this folder. This can be helpful if
you have space restrictions or personal preferences for where you store your
files.

Note: To change the location of your GUPS folder, you cannot have an existing project
open. You must close all projects first in order to change the working directory.

Table 52: Changing your GUPS Working Directory
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Making sure you do not have a project currently open, click on the GUPS Data
Setting button in the Main Tool Bar.

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Action and Result
The GUPS Data Setting dialog box opens. You can see at the top of the dialog box,
your current Home Directory where your GUPSGIS folder is currently located.

Step 2

Click the Change Folder button in the GUPS Data Settings tool.

A notification dialog box will pop-up to remind you of any custom layers that you may
have in your project. Custom layers are any data that are stored in a folder that is not
the GUPSGIS data folder. If you have, for example, any non-Census shapefile layers
stored in another folder location, those files will not be copied through this action.

Step 3

Click OK. The Select Directory dialog box appears.

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Action and Result

Step 4

In the Select Directory dialog box, choose the location for your new working directory.
In this example, the Documents folder has been chosen as the new location for the
GUPSGIS data folder. Click the Select button.

Step 5

GUPS will display a status message to indicate that it is moving the folders and
contents of those folders to the new directory.

Step 6

Once all files have been copied, GUPS will then display a final notification informing
you that the move was successful and that you will need to restart GUPS.

Step 7

To confirm that the working directory has been changed, open the GUPS Data
Settings tool and check to make sure the correct location is showing in the GUPS
Home line at the top of the dialog box.

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Step

Action and Result

If GUPS displays error messages when you are attempting to move your files, please
check to make sure you have permissions to move files to that directory and that
there is sufficient space to store the files.

8.8.1.2

Cleaning GUPS Data

The GUPS Data Setting Tool also allows you to delete all the files associated
with a GUPS project(s) if you want to start over. You can access the GUPS Data
Setting Tool on the Standard Tool Bar before or after you open a project. (Note
that the tool bars might look slightly different depending on whether you have a
project open or not.)

Figure 20. GUPS Data Setting Tool Located on the Standard Tool Bar

The GUPS Data Settings tool (Figure 21) offers you three clean data options:
Clean by Project, Clean by Program, and Clean All GUPS Data.

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Figure 21. GUPS Data Settings Window

8.8.1.2.1 Cleaning by Project
If you have created multiple projects, Clean by Project allows you to delete
data/files per project. This can be useful if you have a single project that you may
no longer need or you want to download the original Census Bureau data without
any of the edits that you might have made for that project.
Table 53: Cleaning GUPS Data by Project
(Deleting All GUPS Data Associated with a Project)
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the GUPS Data Settings Tool.

The GUPS Data Settings dialog box opens.
Step 2

From the Options drop-down menu, select Clean by Project. Click OK.

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Action and Result

A list of all of your GUPS projects will appear. The red dotted highlight indicates a
project that is currently open in GUPS.
Step 3

Select the checkbox next to the project(s) you want to delete and select OK.

A warning message will appear reminding you that all files and folders associated with
the project(s) will be permanently deleted.

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Action and Result

Click OK.
If you deleted a project that was open, GUPS will automatically shut down and all files
and data associated with that project will be deleted. If you delete a project that is not
open, the dialog and warning box will disappear. We recommended that you restart
GUPS by closing the program and reopening it, to ensure that all data and files
associated with the project are deleted.

8.8.1.2.2 Clean by Program
If you would rather delete all projects associated with a certain program, you can
opt to choose to Clean by Program. This will delete all projects associated with
a single program. You might find this useful if you had worked on other Census
Bureau programs that used GUPS, such as the BBSP for example, and want to
delete old projects associated with that program.
Table 54: Cleaning GUPS Data by Program
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the GUPS Data Settings Tool.

The GUPS Data Settings dialog box opens.

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Step 2

Action and Result
From the Options drop-down menu, select Clean by Program. Click OK.

A list of all of Programs you have projects associated with appears. The red dotted
highlight indicates a program that has a project currently open.
Step 3

Select the checkbox next to the program(s) whose projects you want to delete and
then select OK.

A warning message will appear reminding you that all files and folders associated with
the project(s) for this program will be permanently deleted.

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Action and Result

Click OK.
If you deleted by program, and a project for that program was open, GUPS will
automatically shut down and all files and data associated with projects for that program
will be deleted. If you delete by program and do not have a project for that program
open, the dialog and warning box will disappear. We recommended that you restart
GUPS by closing the program and reopening it, to ensure that all data and files
associated with the projects are deleted.

8.8.1.2.3 Cleaning All GUPS Data
You may wish to delete all GUPS data and folders associated with all of your
programs and projects. The Clean All GUPS Data will delete all GUPS data that
is located in the GUPGIS data folder in your home directory. This will
permanently delete all files and folders, so once the tool has run, files and folders
cannot be recovered.
Table 55: Cleaning All GUPS Data
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the GUPS Data Setting Tool.

The GUPS Data Settings dialog box opens.
Step 2

From the Options drop-down menu, select Clean all GUPS Data.

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Action and Result

Click OK.
A warning message will appear reminding you that all files and folders associated with
the project(s) for this program will be permanently deleted.

Step 3

Click OK. GUPS will shut down and all files and data associated with all of your GUPS
projects will be deleted.

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8.8.1.2.4 Opening Your GUPS Folder with the Explorer Button
The GUPS Data Settings tool also includes an Explorer button, which will open
file explorer on your computer to the location of your GUPS files.
Table 56: Opening GUPS with the Explorer Button
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the GUPS Data Setting Tool.

The GUPS Data Settings dialog box opens.
Step 2

In the bottom left hand corner, click on the Explorer button.

File Explorer will open the folder where your GUPSGIS data folders are located.

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8.8.2

Action and Result

Exporting a VTD Tabular Equivalency File

This export option, described in Table 58 allows you to export the current VTD
layer you are working on as a tabular (2010 Census Block) equivalency file.
This gives you the opportunity to share the file with others in a format other
than as a shapefile.
When you export your layer as a tabular equivalency file, GUPS creates three
comma delimited TEF versions: Simple, GEOID, and Extended GEOID. The
headers (fields) for each of these TEF versions and an example format are
shown in Table 57 below.
•

Simple TEFs have the state codes, county codes, tract codes, block codes,
voting district codes and name information separated from each other by
commas.

•

GEOID (Geographic Identification Code) TEFs have the state, county, tract, and
block codes concatenated into one 15-digit code (the GEOID), separated by a
comma from the VTD code and separated by another comma from the name
information.

•

Extended TEFs have the state, county, tract, block, and Voting District codes
concatenated into one 21-digit code (the Extended GEOID), separated by a
comma from the name information.

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Table 57: TEF Version and Example Formats
Tabular File

Headers

Example format

Simple TEF

ST, COU, TRACT, BLOCK, VOTING
DISTRICT, NAMELSAD

01, 001, 000001, 0001, 000001,
Example Voting District

GEOID TEF

GEOID (ST+COU+TRACT+BLOCK), Voting
District, NAMELSAD

010010000010001, 000001,
Example Voting District

Extended TEF

Extended GEOID (GEOID+ VTD), NAMELSAD

010010000010001000001,
Example Voting District

ST=2 digit state code, COU=3 digit county code, TRACT=6 digit tract code, BLOCK=4 digit 2010
tabulation block code, VOTING DISTRICT=6 character VTD code, NAMELSAD=the (up to) 120
character name combined with the legal/statistical area definition (LSAD).

Table 58: Export to Tabular Equivalency File
Step
Step 1

Action and Result
Click on the Export to Tabular Equivalency File button on the VTD Toolbar.

The Select Output Layer dialog box appears.
Step 2

Choose whether you want to export the Current VTD Layer (will include your VTD
updates) or the 2010 VTD layer provided by the Census Bureau.

A dialog box will appear stating that your export completed successfully and where it
was saved.

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Step
Step 3

Action and Result
If you want to open the folder where the TEF was saved, click Yes. Click No to close
the dialog box and continue working on our project.
Note: To open the TEF in GUPS, see Section 7.2.

8.8.3

Exporting Project as a ZIP File to Share with Another
Participant

Export file to share with another participant is useful if you complete your VTD
updates and want to send the results to a co-worker or the RDP Liaison for
review before sending to the Census Bureau. Export to Share with Another
Participant does not require all errors to be resolved and will export all the files
for the entire project, including all of the reference files and the files with
changes, into a zip file.

Note: See Section 6.1 Table 8 for instructions on importing a Share with Participant zip
file into GUPS for further review.
Table 59: Exporting a Zip File to Share with another Participant
Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Click the Export to Zip button on the VTD Toolbar.

Step 2

The Select Output Type dialog box opens.

Click the Share with Another Participant radio button and then the OK button.
Note: It may take several minutes for the GUPS to create the zip file.
Step 3

The Zip File Output dialog box opens. Your file directory in the message will look
similar to this.

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Note: Files created using the Export to Census radio button will have the naming
convention vtd__DataDirectory.zip, where yy indicates the year
and ssccc is the state and county code.

Click the Yes button to view the directory folder or the No button if you do not want to
view the directory.

Step 4

If you clicked the Yes button to view the folder, the Windows Explorer window with the
GUPS directories is opened. All zip data output files for the VTD are stored in the
directory: \GUPSGIS\gupsdata\VTD\output\. ( in the file name will indicate
the year. The home directly will differ depending on the drive where you installed the
software or specified your GUPS directory.)
Do not save the vtd__DataDirectory.zip files you receive from your
designees in the \shape folder in the directory C:\Users\\GUPSGIS\
gupsdata\vtd\shape\. You must save zip files in a different directory on your computer
for GUPS to recognize and import the zip files.

8.8.4

Exporting Project as Zip File to Submit to the Census Bureau

Export Project to Submit to the Census Bureau will package the necessary
GUPS files (change files) and create a zip file that you will submit to the Census
Bureau as described in Section 9. You are required to run the VTD Criteria
Check and the Review Change Polygons tools before you can submit. Table
60 below describes the steps for creating zip files and submitting them to the
Census Bureau.
Table 60: Creating VTD Submission for the Census Bureau
Step

Action and Result
Make sure to save your project by clicking the Save button before beginning the export
process.

Step 1

Click the Export to Zip button on the VTD Toolbar.

Step 2

If you did not save your project before beginning the export to zip process, you receive
a reminder message to save your project. Click the Cancel button and save your

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Step

Action and Result
project by clicking on the Save button on the Standard toolbar. Click the Export to Zip
button again.

Step 3

The Select Output Type dialog box opens.

Click the Export for Census radio button and then the OK button.
Note: It may take several minutes for the GUPS to create the zip file
Step 4

The VTD Criteria Check and the Change Polygon Review will run in the background.
If GUPS does not find any failures, the Zip File Output dialog box appears
(Go to Step 5).
If GUPS finds any failures, the VTD Criteria Check dialog box and/or the Review
Change Polygons dialog box will appear. Refer to Section 8.6 for instructions on
resolving these failures. You must resolve the failures before you can proceed with
exporting the file to Census.
After addressing the VTD Criteria Review failures during the export process, you can
click on the Save Changes and Export button in the lower right. This will return you to
the exportation process. (When just running the VTD Criteria Review tool outside of
the Export process, the button in the Criteria Review dialog box says Save Changes.)

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Step

Step 5

Action and Result

The Zip File Output dialog box opens. Your file directory in the message will look
similar to this, with the exception of the filename.
Files created using the Export to Census radio button will have the naming
convention vtd__return.zip.

Click the Yes button to view the directory folder or the No button if you do not want to
view the directory.

Step 6

If you clicked the Yes button to view the folder, the Windows Explorer window with
the GUPS directories is opened. All zip data output files for the VTD are stored in the
directory: \GUPSGIS\gupsdata\VTD\output\. (The home directory will differ
depending on the drive where you installed the software or specified your GUPS
directory.)
Note: Files created using the Export to Census radio button will have the naming
convention vtd__return.zip.
Submit files to the Census Bureau using the instructions in Section 9 File Submission
through SWIM.

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Section 9.

File Submission through SWIM

SWIM is a tool for U.S. Census Bureau partners to send their geospatial data to
a Census Bureau server. For security reasons, we cannot accept files sent via
email or through our former FTP site. Note that SWIM cannot accept files larger
than 250MB or zip files that contain zip files. SWIM supports the current and
last previous versions of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and
Apple Safari browsers.
The Census Bureau will only accept files submitted by the State RDP Liaison. If a
county, agency, or contractor is performing work on behalf of the state, the State
RDP Liaison must submit the files.
To establish a SWIM account, the Census Bureau must first provide a user a
registration token, which is a unique, single-use 12-digit number associated to an
individual. Every user must have a unique token in order to register. Once the
token has been used to establish your account, it is no longer required to access
your account.
If you have submitted files for BBSP or BBSPV, use the same SWIM account.
To access the SWIM, enter the following URL in a new browser window:
. Follow the directions below for account
access and file upload.

9.1

Login Page

The Login page is the first page you see, as shown in Figure 22.
If you already have a SWIM Account:
1. Enter your Email address and Password.
2. Click the Login button, which directs you to the Welcome page.

Figure 22. SWIM Login Screen

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If you do not yet have a SWIM Account:
1. Click the Register Account button, which directs you to the Account Registration
page, shown in Figure 23.
2. Enter the 12-digit Registration Token number provided to you by the Census
Bureau. If you do not have a token, contact the CRVRDO at 301-763-4039 or
[email protected].
3. Complete all other fields. Note that email addresses are case sensitive, but passwords and
security question answers are not. Click the Submit button.

Figure 23. SWIM Account Registration Screen

9.2

Welcome Page

The Welcome Page is where you initiate the file upload process. Because the
SWIM tracks files submitted and the submission date, the page appearance will
change after you have successfully uploaded files. Figure 24 depicts the
Welcome Page if you have not yet uploaded any files. Figure 25 depicts the
Welcome Page appearance after you have uploaded files.
To submit a file, click the Start New Upload button.

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Figure 24. SWIM Welcome Page (no previous files uploaded)

Figure 25. SWIM Welcome Page (files previously uploaded)

9.3

Geographic Program Page

The Geographic Program Page, shown in Figure 26, allows you to select the
partnership program for which you are submitting data.
Click on the radio button next to Redistricting Data Program – BBSP-VTD
(RDP).
Click the Next button.

Figure 26. SWIM Geographic Program Page

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Part 2. Participating in VTDP Using GUPS
Section 9. File Submission through SWIM

Page 144

9.4

Select a State

After choosing the Redistricting Data Program – BBSP-VTD (RDP), you must
specify the state for which you are submitting data, as shown in Figure 27.
From the drop-down list, click on your State name.
Click on the Next button.

Figure 27. SWIM Select a State Page (for BBSP-VTD)

9.5

Select a Zip File to Upload

Figure 28 depicts the file upload page for the Redistricting Data Program. The
GUPS will automatically create a separate zip file for each county.
Click on the + Add File button.
Navigate to the directory on your computer to choose the zip file to upload.
Complete the Comments box, including pertinent information about data
projection or supporting documentation.
Click on the Next button.

Figure 28. SWIM Select a Zip File to Upload Page

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Part 2. Participating in VTDP Using GUPS
Section 9. File Submission through SWIM

Page 145

9.6

Thank You Page

The “Thank You” page, as shown below, confirms the receipt of your file
submission.
If you do not have any additional files to upload, click on Log Out. The Census
Bureau will acknowledge the receipt of the uploaded file.
If you have additional files to upload, click on Upload Form. This choice returns
you to the Welcome screen.

Figure 29: SWIM Thank You Page

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Part 2. Participating in VTDP Using GUPS
Section 9. File Submission through SWIM

Page 146

Appendices

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendicies

Page 147

APPENDIX A Updates Allowed by MTFCC
The following three tables list, by MTFCC, the geographic updates permitted for
area landmarks, linear features, and point landmarks.
Table 61: Area Landmark Updates Permitted
MTFCC

DESCRIPTION

C3023

Island

H2030

Lake/Pond

H2040

Reservoir

H2041

Treatment Pond

H2051

Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound

H2081

Glacier

K1231

Hospital

K1235

Juvenile Institution

K1236

Local Jail or Detention Center

K1237

Federal Penitentiary, State Prison, or Prison Farm

K2110

Military Installation

K2131

Hospital/Hospice/Urgent Care Facility

K2180

Park

K2181

National Park Service Land

K2182

National Forest or Other Federal Land

K2183

Tribal Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2184

State Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2185

Regional Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2186

County Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2187

County Subdivision Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2188

Incorporated Place Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2189

Private Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2190

Other Park, Forest, or Recreation Area (quasi-public,
independent park, commission, etc.)

K2424

Marina

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Appendix A. Updates Allowed by MTFCC

Page A-1

MTFCC

DESCRIPTION

K2457

Airport - Area Representation

K2540

University or College

K2561

Golf Course

K2582

Cemetery

Table 62: Linear Feature Updates Permitted

*These features are only accepted as adds when used as a boundary for
geographic area or as a suggested block boundary.
MTFCC

DESCRIPTION

C3024

Levee

C3027

Dam

H3010

Stream/River

H3013

Braided Stream

H3020

Canal, Ditch, or Aqueduct

K2432

Pier/Dock

K2459

Runway/Taxiway

L4010

Pipeline*

L4020

Power Line*

L4110

Fence Line*

L4121

Ridge Line*

L4125

Cliff/Escarpment*

L4130

Point-to Point Line*

L4140

Property/Parcel Line (includes PLSS)*

L4165

Ferry Crossing*

P0001

Nonvisible Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0002

Perennial Shoreline

P0003

Intermittent Shoreline

P0004

Other non-visible bounding edge (e.g., Census water
boundary, boundary of areal feature)

R1011

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard

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Appendix A. Updates Allowed by MTFCC

Page A-2

MTFCC

DESCRIPTION

R1051

Carline, Streetcar Tract Monorail, Other Mass

R1052

Cog Rail Line, Incline Rail Line, Tram

S1100

Primary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1400

Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street

S1500

Vehicular Trail (4WD)

S1630

Ramp

S1640

Service Drive usually along a limited access highway

S1730

Alley

S1740

Private Road for service vehicles (logging, oil fields,
ranches, etc.)

S1820

Bike Path or Trail

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix A. Updates Allowed by MTFCC

Page A-3

APPENDIX B Street Type Abbreviations
The MAF/TIGER system uses the U.S. Postal Service standard abbreviations for
street name types. The table below lists the street name type and the standard
abbreviation to use when updating or adding street names to the MAF/TIGER
system.
Table 63: Street Type Abbreviations
Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

ALLEY

ALY

ANEX

ANX

ARCADE

ARC

AVENUE

AVE

BAYOU

BYU

BEACH

BCH

BEND

BND

BLUFF

BLF

BLUFFS

BLFS

BOTTOM

BTM

BOULEVARD

BLVD

BRANCH

BR

BRIDGE

BRG

BROOK

BRK

BROOKS

BRKS

BURG

BG

BURGS

BGS

BYPASS

BYP

CAMP

CP

CANYON

CYN

CAPE

CPE

CAUSEWAY

CSWY

CENTER

CTR

CENTERS

CTRS

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-1

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

CIRCLE

CIR

CIRCLES

CIRS

CLIFF

CLF

CLIFFS

CLFS

CLUB

CLB

COMMON

CMN

COMMONS

CMNS

CORNER

COR

CORNERS

CORS

COURSE

CRSE

COURT

CT

COURTS

CTS

COVE

CV

COVES

CVS

CREEK

CRK

CRESCENT

CRES

CREST

CRST

CROSSING

XING

CROSSROAD

XRD

CROSSROADS

XRDS

CURVE

CURV

DALE

DL

DAM

DM

DIVIDE

DV

DRIVE

DR

DRIVES

DRS

ESTATE

EST

ESTATES

ESTS

EXPRESSWAY

EXPY

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-2

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

EXTENSION

EXT

EXTENSIONS

EXTS

FALL

FALL

FALLS

FLS

FERRY

FRY

FIELD

FLD

FIELDS

FLDS

FLAT

FLT

FLATS

FLTS

FORD

FRD

FORDS

FRDS

FOREST

FRST

FORGE

FRG

FORGES

FRGS

FORK

FRK

FORKS

FRKS

FORT

FT

FREEWAY

FWY

GARDEN

GDN

GARDENS

GDNS

GATEWAY

GTWY

GLEN

GLN

GLENS

GLNS

GREEN

GRN

GREENS

GRNS

GROVE

GRV

GROVES

GRVS

HARBOR

HBR

HARBORS

HBRS

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-3

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

HAVEN

HVN

HEIGHTS

HTS

HIGHWAY

HWY

HILL

HL

HILLS

HLS

HOLLOW

HOLW

INLET

INLT

ISLAND

IS

ISLANDS

ISS

ISLE

ISLE

JUNCTION

JCT

JUNCTIONS

JCTS

KEY

KY

KEYS

KYS

KNOLL

KNL

KNOLLS

KNLS

LAKE

LK

LAKES

LKS

LAND

LAND

LANDING

LNDG

LANE

LN

LIGHT

LGT

LIGHTS

LGTS

LOAF

LF

LOCK

LCK

LOCKS

LCKS

LODGE

LDG

LOOP

LOOP

MALL

MALL

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-4

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

MANOR

MNR

MANORS

MNRS

MEADOW

MDW

MEADOWS

MDWS

MEWS

MEWS

MILL

ML

MILLS

MLS

MISSION

MSN

MOTORWAY

MTWY

MOUNT

MT

MOUNTAIN

MTN

MOUNTAINS

MTNS

NECK

NCK

ORCHARD

ORCH

OVAL

OVAL

OVERPASS

OPAS

PARK

PARK

PARKS

PARK

PARKWAY

PKWY

PARKWAYS

PKWY

PASS

PASS

PASSAGE

PSGE

PATH

PATH

PIKE

PIKE

PINE

PNE

PINES

PNES

PLACE

PL

PLAIN

PLN

PLAINS

PLNS

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-5

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

PLAZA

PLZ

POINT

PT

POINTS

PTS

PORT

PRT

PORTS

PRTS

PRAIRIE

PR

RADIAL

RADL

RAMP

RAMP

RANCH

RNCH

RAPID

RPD

RAPIDS

RPDS

REST

RST

RIDGE

RDG

RIDGES

RDGS

RIVER

RIV

ROAD

RD

ROADS

RDS

ROUTE

RTE

ROW

ROW

RUE

RUE

RUN

RUN

SHOAL

SHL

SHOALS

SHLS

SHORE

SHR

SHORES

SHRS

SKYWAY

SKWY

SPRING

SPG

SPRINGS

SPGS

SPUR

SPUR

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-6

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

SPURS

SPUR

SQUARE

SQ

SQUARES

SQS

STATION

STA

STRAVENUE

STRA

STREAM

STRM

STREET

ST

STREETS

STS

SUMMIT

SMT

TERRACE

TER

THROUGHWAY

TRWY

TRACE

TRCE

TRACK

TRAK

TRAFFICWAY

TRFY

TRAIL

TRL

TRAILER

TRLR

TUNNEL

TUNL

TURNPIKE

TPKE

UNDERPASS

UPAS

UNION

UN

UNIONS

UNS

VALLEY

VLY

VALLEYS

VLYS

VIADUCT

VIA

VIEW

VW

VIEWS

VWS

VILLAGE

VLG

VILLAGES

VLGS

VILLE

VL

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-7

Street Name Type

Standard Abbreviation

VISTA

VIS

WALK

WALK

WALKS

WALK

WALL

WALL

WAY

WAY

WAYS

WAYS

WELL

WL

WELLS

WLS

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix B. Street Type Abbreviations

Page B-8

APPENDIX C MTFCC Descriptions
The MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Code (MTFCC) is a 5-digit code
assigned by the Census Bureau to classify and describe geographic objects or
features in Census Bureau MAF/TIGER products. The table below describes
each code. You can download a more comprehensive version of the table at
http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/mtfcc.html.
Table 64: Complete List of MTFCC Descriptions
MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

C3022

Mountain Peak or
Summit

C3023

Island

C3024

Levee

A prominent elevation rising above the surrounding level of the
Earth's surface.
An area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water or low
wetland. [including archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock,
isla, isle, key, moku and rock]
An embankment flanking a stream or other flowing water feature to
prevent overflow.

C3026

Quarry (not
water-filled),
Open Pit Mine or
Mine

C3027

Dam

C3061

Cul-de-sac

C3062

Traffic Circle

C3066
C3067

Gate
Toll Booth

C3071

Lookout Tower

C3074

Lighthouse
Beacon

C3075

Tank/Tank Farm

C3076

Windmill Farm

C3077

Solar Farm

C3078

Monument or
Memorial

C3079

Boundary
Monument Point

An area from which commercial minerals are or were removed
from the Earth; not including an oilfield or gas field.
A barrier built across the course of a stream to impound water
and/or control water flow.
An expanded paved area at the end of a street used by vehicles
for turning around. For mapping purposes, the U.S. Census
Bureau maps it only as a point feature.
A circular intersection allowing for continuous movement of traffic
at the meeting of roadways.
A movable barrier across a road.
A structure or barrier where a fee is collected for using a road.
A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for
observation.
A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for
transmission of light and possibly sound generally to aid in
navigation.
One or more manmade structures, each higher than its diameter,
used for liquid (other than water) or gas storage or for distribution
activities.
One or more manmade structures used to generate power from
the wind.
One or more manmade structures used to generate power from
the sun.
A manmade structure to educate, commemorate, or memorialize
an event, person, or feature.
A material object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve
and identify the location of the boundary line on the ground.

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-1

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

C3080

Survey Control
Point

C3081

Locality Point

C3085

Alaska Native
Village Official
Point

A point that serves as the core of an Alaska Native village and is
used in defining Alaska Native village statistical areas.

G2100

American Indian
Area

A legally defined state- or federally recognized reservation and/or
off-reservation trust land (excludes statistical American Indian
areas).

G2120

Hawaiian Home
Land

A legal area held in trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.

G2130

Alaska Native
Village Statistical
Area

G2140

Oklahoma Tribal
Statistical Area

G2150

State-designated
Tribal Statistical
Area

G2160

Tribal Designated
Statistical Area

G2170

American Indian
Joint Use Area

G2200

Alaska Native
Regional
Corporation

G2300

Tribal Subdivision

G2400

Tribal Census
Tract

G2410

Tribal Block
Group

A point on the ground whose position (horizontal or vertical) is
known and can be used as a base for additional survey work.
A point that identifies the location and name of an unbounded
locality (e.g., crossroad, community, populated place or locale).

A statistical geographic entity that represents the residences,
permanent and/or seasonal, for Alaska Natives who are members
of or receiving governmental services from the defining legal
Alaska Native Village corporation.
A statistical entity identified and delineated by the Census Bureau
in consultation with federally recognized American Indian tribes
that have no current reservation, but had a former reservation in
Oklahoma.
A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the
Census Bureau by a state-appointed liaison for a state-recognized
American Indian tribe that does not currently have a reservation
and/or lands in trust.
A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the
Census Bureau by a federally recognized American Indian tribe
that does not currently have a reservation and/or off-reservation
trust land.
An area administered jointly and/or claimed by two or more
American Indian tribes.
Corporate entities established to conduct both business and
nonprofit affairs of Alaska Natives pursuant to the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-203). There are
twelve geographically defined ANRCs and they are all within and
cover most of the State of Alaska (the Annette Island Reserve-an
American Indian reservation-is excluded from any ANRC). The
boundaries of ANRCs have been legally established.
Administrative subdivisions of federally recognized American
Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, or Oklahoma tribal
statistical areas (OTSAs). These entities are internal units of selfgovernment or administration that serve social, cultural, and/or
economic purposes for the American Indians on the reservations,
off-reservation trust lands, or OTSAs.
A relatively small and permanent statistical subdivision of a
federally recognized American Indian reservation and/or offreservation trust land, delineated by American Indian tribal
participants or the Census Bureau for the purpose of presenting
demographic data.
A cluster of census blocks within a single tribal census tract
delineated by American Indian tribal participants or the Census
Bureau for the purpose of presenting demographic data

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Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-2

MTFCC

Feature Class

G3100

Combined
Statistical Area

G3110

Metropolitan and
Micropolitan
Statistical Area

G3120

Metropolitan
Division

G3200

G3210

G3220

Combined New
England City and
Town Area
New England
City and Town
Metropolitan and
Micropolitan
Statistical Area
New England
City and Town
Division

G3500

Urban Area

G4000

State or
Equivalent
Feature

G4020

County or
Equivalent
Feature

G4040

County
Subdivision

G4050

Estate

G4060

Subbarrio
(Subminor Civil
Division)

G4110

Incorporated
Place

G4120

Consolidated City

Feature Class Description
A grouping of adjacent metropolitan and/or micropolitan statistical
areas that have a degree of economic and social integration, as
measured by commuting.
An area containing a substantial population nucleus together with
adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and
social integration with that core, as measured by commuting.
Defined using whole counties and equivalents.
A county or grouping of counties that is a subdivision of a
Metropolitan Statistical Area containing an urbanized area with a
population of 2.5 million or more.
A grouping of adjacent New England city and town areas that have
a degree of economic and social integration, as measured by
commuting.
An area containing a substantial population nucleus together with
adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and
social integration with that core, as measured by commuting.
Defined using Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) in New England.
A grouping of cities and towns in New England that is a
subdivision of a New England City and Town Area containing an
urbanized area with a population of 2.5 million or more.
Densely settled territory that contains at least 2,500 people. The
subtypes of this feature are Urbanized Area (UA), which consists
of 50,000 + people and Urban Cluster, which ranges between
2,500 and 49,999 people.
The primary governmental divisions of the United States. The
District of Columbia is treated as a statistical equivalent of a state
for census purposes, as is Puerto Rico.
The primary division of a state or state equivalent area. The
primary divisions of 48 states are termed County, but other terms
are used such as Borough in Alaska, Parish in Louisiana, and
Municipio in Puerto Rico. This feature includes independent cities,
which are incorporated places that are not part of any county.
The primary divisions of counties and equivalent features for the
reporting of Census Bureau data. The subtypes of this feature are
Minor Civil Division, Census County Division/Census Subarea,
and Unorganized Territory. This feature includes independent
places, which are incorporated places that are not part of any
county subdivision.
Estates are subdivisions of the three major islands in the United
States Virgin Islands (USVI).
Legally defined divisions (subbarrios) of minor civil divisions
(barrios-pueblo and barrios) in Puerto Rico.
A legal entity incorporated under state law to provide generalpurpose governmental services to a concentration of population.
Incorporated places are generally designated as a city, borough,
municipality, town, village, or, in a few instances, have no legal
description.
An incorporated place that has merged governmentally with a
county or minor civil division, but one or more of the incorporated

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Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-3

MTFCC

Feature Class

G4210

Census
Designated Place

G4300

Economic
Census Place

G5020

Census Tract

G5030

Block Group

G5035

Block Area
Grouping

G5040

Tabulation Block

G5200

Congressional
District

G5210

State Legislative
District (Upper
Chamber

G5220

State Legislative
District (Lower
Chamber)

G5240

Voting District

G5400

Elementary
School District

Feature Class Description
places continues to function within the consolidation. It is a place
that contains additional separately incorporated places.
A statistical area defined for a named concentration of population
and the statistical counterpart of an incorporated place.
The lowest level of geographic area for presentation of some types
of Economic Census data. It includes incorporated places,
consolidated cities, census designated places (CDPs), minor civil
divisions (MCDs) in selected states, and balances of MCDs or
counties. An incorporated place, CDP, MCD, or balance of MCD
qualifies as an economic census place if it contains 5,000 or more
residents, or 5,000 or more jobs, according to the most current
data available.
Relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a County or
equivalent feature delineated by local participants as part of the
Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program.
A cluster of census blocks having the same first digit of their fourdigit identifying numbers within a Census Tract. For example,
block group 3 (BG 3) within a Census Tract includes all blocks
numbered from 3000 to 3999.
A user-defined group of islands forming a single census tabulation
block. A BAG must: (1) consist of two or more islands, (2) have a
perimeter entirely over water, (3) not overlap, and (4) not cross the
boundary of other tabulation geographies, such as county or
incorporated place boundaries.
The lowest-order census defined statistical area. It is an area,
such as a city block, bounded primarily by physical features but
sometimes by invisible city or property boundaries. A tabulation
block boundary does not cross the boundary of any other
geographic area for which the Census Bureau tabulates data. The
subtypes of this feature are Count Question Resolution (CQR),
current, and census.
The 435 areas from which people are elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives. Additional equivalent features exist for state
equivalents with nonvoting delegates or no representative. The
subtypes of this feature are 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, and 111th
Congressional Districts, plus subsequent Congresses.
Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the upper or unicameral chamber of a
state governing body. The upper chamber is the senate in a
bicameral legislature, and the unicameral case is a single house
legislature (Nebraska).
Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the lower chamber of a state governing
body. The lower chamber is the House of Representatives in a
bicameral legislature.
The generic name for the geographic features, such as precincts,
wards, and election districts, established by state, local, and tribal
governments for the purpose of conducting elections.
A geographic area within which officials provide public elementary
grade-level educational services for residents.

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-4

MTFCC
G5410
G5420

G6120

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

Secondary
School District
Unified School
District

A geographic area within which officials provide public secondary
grade-level educational services for residents.
A geographic area within which officials provide public educational
services for all grade levels for residents.
A decennial census area with a population of at least 100,000 or
more persons for which the Census Bureau provides selected
extracts of household-level data that are screened to protect
confidentiality
An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for
tabulating journey-to-work and place-of-work data. A Traffic
Analysis District (TAD) consists of one or more Traffic Analysis
Zones (TAZs).
An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for
tabulating journey-to-work and place-of-work data.
An area defined under state authority to manage urbanization that
the U.S. Census Bureau includes in the MAF/TIGER® Database
in agreement with the state.

Public-Use
Microdata Area

G6300

Traffic Analysis
District

G6320

Traffic Analysis
Zone

G6330

Urban Growth
Area

G6350
G6400

Zip Code
Tabulation Area
(Five-Digit)
Commercial
Region

H1100

Connector

H2025

Swamp/Marsh

H2030
H2040
H2041

Lake/Pond
Reservoir
Treatment Pond
Bay/Estuary/Gulf/
Sound
Ocean/Sea
Gravel Pit/Quarry
filled with water

H2051
H2053
H2060

H2081

Glacier

H3010

Stream/River

H3013

Braided Stream

H3020

Canal, Ditch or
Aqueduct

An approximate statistical-area representation of a U.S. Postal
Service (USPS) 5-digit Zip Code service area.
For the purpose of presenting economic statistical data,
municipios in Puerto Rico are grouped into commercial regions.
A known, but nonspecific, hydrographic connection between two
nonadjacent water features.
A poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy,
possibly covered with open water. [includes bog, cienega, marais
and pocosin]
A standing body of water that is surrounded by land.
An artificially impounded body of water.
An artificial body of water built to treat fouled water.
A body of water partly surrounded by land. [includes arm, bight,
cove and inlet]
The great body of salt water that covers much of the earth.
A body of water in a place or area from which commercial minerals
were removed from the Earth.
A body of ice moving outward and down slope from an area of
accumulation; an area of relatively permanent snow or ice on the
top or side of a mountain or mountainous area. [includes ice field
and ice patch]
A natural flowing waterway. [includes anabranch, awawa, branch,
brook, creek, distributary, fork, kill, pup, rio, and run]
A natural flowing waterway with an intricate network of interlacing
channels.
An artificial waterway constructed to transport water, to irrigate or
drain land, to connect two or more bodies of water, or to serve as
a waterway for watercraft. [includes lateral]

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-5

MTFCC

Feature Class

K1225

Crew-of-Vessel
Location

K1231

Hospital/Hospice/
Urgent Care
Facility

K1235

Juvenile
Institution

K1236

Local Jail or
Detention Center

K1237

K1238

K1239

K1246

K2110

K2165
K2167

Federal
Penitentiary,
State Prison, or
Prison Farm
Other
Correctional
Institution
Convent,
Monastery,
Rectory, Other
Religious Group
Quarters
Community
Center
Military
Installation
Government
Center
Convention
Center

K2180

Park

K2181

National Park
Service Land

K2182

National Forest
or Other Federal
Land

K2183

K2184

Tribal Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
State Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area

Feature Class Description
A point or area in which the population of military or merchant
marine vessels at sea are assigned, usually being at or near the
home port pier.
One or more structures where the sick or injured may receive
medical or surgical attention. [including infirmary]
A facility (correctional or non-correctional) where groups of
juveniles reside; this includes training schools, detention centers,
residential treatment centers and orphanages.
One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement
of adult persons in lawful detention, administered by a local
(county, municipal, etc.) government.
An institution that serves as a place for the confinement of adult
persons in lawful detention, administered by the federal
government or a state government.
One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement
of adult persons in lawful detention, not elsewhere classified or
administered by a government of unknown jurisdiction.
One or more structures intended for use as a residence for those
having a religious vocation.

Community Center.
An area owned and/or occupied by the Department of Defense for
use by a branch of the armed forces (such as the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines, or Coast Guard), or a state owned area for the
use of the National Guard.
A place used by members of government (either federal, state,
local, or tribal) for administration and public business.
An exhibition hall or conference center with enough open space to
host public and private business and social events.
Parkland defined and administered by federal, state, and local
governments.
Area—National parks, National Monuments, and so forth—under
the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
Land under the management and jurisdiction of the federal
government, specifically including areas designated as National
Forest, and excluding areas under the jurisdiction of the National
Park Service.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of an
American Indian tribe.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of a state
government.

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MTFCC
K2185

K2186

K2187

K2188

K2189

K2190

Feature Class
Regional Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
County Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
County
Subdivision Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
Incorporated
Place Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
Private Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
Other Park,
Forest, or
Recreation Area
(quasi-public,
independent
park,
commission, etc.)

K2191

Post Office

K2193
K2194
K2195
K2196

Fire Department
Police Station
Library
City/Town Hall

K2400

Transportation
Terminal

K2432

Pier/Dock

K2451

Airport or Airfield

K2452

Train Station,
Trolley or Mass
Transit Rail
Station

K2453

Bus Terminal

K2454

Marine Terminal

Feature Class Description
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of a
regional government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of a
county government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of a
minor civil division (town/township) government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of a
municipal government.
A privately owned place or area set aside for recreation or
preservation of a cultural or natural resource.

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a
cultural or natural resource and under the administration of some
other type of government or agency such as an independent park
authority or commission.
An official facility of the U.S. Postal Service used for processing
and distributing mail and other postal material.
Fire Department.
Police Station.
Library.
City/Town Hall.
A facility where one or more modes of transportation can be
accessed by people or for the shipment of goods; examples of
such a facility include marine terminal, bus station, train station,
airport and truck warehouse.
A platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by
piles. This platform may provide access to ships and boats, or it
may be used for recreational purposes.
A manmade facility maintained for the use of aircraft. [including
airstrip, landing field and landing strip]
A place where travelers can board and exit rail transit lines,
including associated ticketing, freight, and other commercial
offices.
A place where travelers can board and exit mass motor vehicle
transit, including associated ticketing, freight, and other
commercial offices.
A place where travelers can board and exit water transit or where
cargo is handled, including associated ticketing, freight, and other
commercial offices.

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MTFCC
K2455

K2456

K2457

K2458
K2459
K2460
K2540
K2543

Feature Class
Seaplane
Anchorage
Airport—
Intermodal
Transportation
Hub/Terminal
Airport—
Statistical
Representation
Park and Ride
Facility/Parking
Lot
Runway/Taxiway
Helicopter
Landing Pad
University or
College
School or
Academy

K2561

Museum, Visitor
Center, Cultural
Center, or Tourist
Attraction
Golf Course

K2582

Cemetery

K2586

Zoo

K3544

Place of Worship

L4010

Pipeline

L4020

Powerline

L4031

Aerial
Tramway/Ski Lift

L4110

Fence Line

L4121

Ridge Line

L4125

Cliff/Escarpment

L4130

Point-to-Point
Line

K2545

Feature Class Description
A place where an airplane equipped with floats for landing on or
taking off from a body of water can debark and load.
A major air transportation facility where travelers can board and
exit airplanes and connect with other (i.e. non-air) modes of
transportation.
The area of an airport adjusted to include whole 2000 census
blocks used for the delineation of urban areas
A place where motorists can park their cars and transfer to other
modes of transportation.
A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by airplanes for
taking off and landing at an airport.
A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by helicopters for
taking off and landing.
A building or group of buildings used as an institution for postsecondary study, teaching, and learning. [including seminary]
A building or group of buildings used as an institution for
preschool, elementary or secondary study, teaching, and learning.
[including elementary school and high school]
An attraction of historical, cultural, educational or other interest
that provides information or displays artifacts.
A place designed for playing golf.
A place or area for burying the dead. [including burying ground
and memorial garden]
A facility in which terrestrial and/or marine animals are confined
within enclosures and displayed to the public for educational,
preservation, and research purposes.
A sanctified place or structure where people gather for religious
worship; examples include church, synagogue, temple, and
mosque.
A long tubular conduit or series of pipes, often underground, with
pumps and valves for flow control, used to transport fluid (e.g.,
crude oil, natural gas), especially over great distances.
One or more wires, often on elevated towers, used for conducting
high-voltage electric power.
A conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers
suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.
A man-made barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc.,
usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance,
to confine, or to mark a boundary.
The line of highest elevation along a ridge.
A very steep or vertical slope. [including bluff, crag, head,
headland, nose, palisades, precipice, promontory, rim and rimrock]
A line defined as beginning at one location point and ending at
another, both of which are in sight.

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Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

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MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

L4140

Property/Parcel
Line (Including
PLSS)

L4150

Coastline

L4165

Ferry Crossing

This feature class may denote a nonvisible boundary of either
public or private lands (e.g., a park boundary) or it may denote a
Public Land Survey System or equivalent survey line.
The line that separates either land or Inland water from Coastal,
Territorial or Great Lakes water. Where land directly borders
Coastal, Territorial or Great Lakes water, the shoreline represents
the Coastline. Where Inland water (such as a river) flows into
Coastal, Territorial or Great Lakes water, the closure line
separating the Inland water from the other class of water
represents the Coastline.
The route used to carry or convey people or cargo back and forth
over a waterbody in a boat.

P0001
P0002
P0003

P0004

R1011

R1051

Nonvisible Linear
Legal/Statistical
Boundary
Perennial
Shoreline
Intermittent
Shoreline
Other non-visible
bounding Edge
(e.g., Census
water boundary,
boundary of an
areal feature)
Railroad Feature
(Main, Spur, or
Yard)
Carline, Streetcar
Track, Monorail,
Other Mass
Transit

R1052

Cog Rail Line,
Incline Rail Line,
Tram

S1100

Primary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1400

Local
Neighborhood
Road, Rural
Road, City Street

A legal/statistical boundary line that does not correspond to a
shoreline or other visible feature on the ground.
The more-or-less permanent boundary between land and water for
a water feature that exists year-round.
The boundary between land and water (when water is present) for
a water feature that does not exist year-round.
A bounding Edge that does not represent a legal/statistical
boundary, and does not correspond to a shoreline or other visible
feature on the ground. Many such Edges bound area landmarks,
while many others separate water features from each other (e.g.,
where a bay meets the ocean).
A line of fixed rails or tracks that carries mainstream railroad
traffic. Such a rail line can be a main line or spur line, or part of a
rail yard.
Mass transit rail lines (including lines for rapid transit, monorails,
streetcars, light rail, etc.) that are typically inaccessible to
mainstream railroad traffic and whose tracks are not part of a road
right-of-way.
A special purpose rail line for climbing steep grades that is
typically inaccessible to mainstream railroad traffic. Note that
aerial tramways and streetcars (which may also be called “trams”)
are accounted for by other MTFCCs and do not belong in R1052
Primary roads are generally divided, limited-access highways
within the interstate highway system or under state management,
and are distinguished by the presence of interchanges. These
highways are accessible by ramps and may include some toll
highways.
Secondary roads are main arteries, usually in the U.S. Highway,
State Highway or County Highway system. These roads have one
or more lanes of traffic in each direction, may or may not be
divided, and usually have at-grade intersections with many other
roads and driveways. They often have both a local name and a
route number.
Generally a paved non-arterial street, road, or byway that usually
has a single lane of traffic in each direction. Roads in this feature
class may be privately or publicly maintained. Scenic park roads

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MTFCC

Feature Class

S1500

Vehicular Trail
(4WD)

S1630

Ramp

S1640

S1720

Service Drive
usually along a
limited access
highway
Walkway/Pedestr
ian Trail
Stairway

S1730

Alley

S1740

S1780
S1820

Private Road for
service vehicles
(logging, oil
fields, ranches,
etc.)
Internal U.S.
Census Bureau
use
Parking Lot Road
Bike Path or Trail

S1830

Bridle Path

S2000

Road Median

S1710

S1750

Feature Class Description
would be included in this feature class, as would (depending on
the region of the country) some unpaved roads.
An unpaved dirt trail where a four-wheel drive vehicle is required.
These vehicular trails are found almost exclusively in very rural
areas. Minor, unpaved roads usable by ordinary cars and trucks
belong in the S1400 category.
A road that allows controlled access from adjacent roads onto a
limited access highway, often in the form of a cloverleaf
interchange. These roads are unaddressable and do not carry a
name in MAF/TIGER.
A road, usually paralleling a limited access highway that provides
access to structures along the highway. These roads can be
named and may intersect with other roads.
A path that is used for walking, being either too narrow for or
legally restricted from vehicular traffic.
A pedestrian passageway from one level to another by a series of
steps.
A service road that does not generally have associated addressed
structures and is usually unnamed. It is located at the rear of
buildings and properties and is used for deliveries.
A road within private property that is privately maintained for
service, extractive, or other purposes. These roads are often
unnamed.

Internal U.S. Census Bureau use.

The main travel route for vehicles through a paved parking area.
A path that is used for manual or small, motorized bicycles, being
either too narrow for or legally restricted from vehicular traffic.
A path that is used for horses, being either too narrow for or legally
restricted from vehicular traffic.
The unpaved area or barrier between the carriageways of a
divided road.

Note: The information in this table was last updated in November 2016.

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Appendix C. MTFCC Descriptions

Page C-10

APPENDIX D Shapefile Data Dictionary
The Census Bureau’s partnership shapefiles consist of numerous layers and
their accompanying tables representing different geographies. Table 65 lists the
shapefile layer name and the geography each layer represents. Table 66 through
Table 99 list the data table for each of the layers listed in 5, with the attribute
fields, their length, type, and description.
Table 65: Shapefile Layer Names/Tables
GEOGRAPHIC
LEVEL

NAME

American Indian Areas (AIA) – Legal

County/State

Aial

American Indian / Alaska Native Areas (AIANA) - Statistical

County/State

Aias

American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS) - Legal

County/State

Aitsl

American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS) - Statistical

County/State

Aitss

Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRC)

County/State

Anrc

Area Landmark

County only

Arealm

Block Area Grouping

County/State

Bag

Census Block Groups

County only

Bg

Block Size Indicator

County only

Block

Metropolitan/ Micropolitan Statistical Area

County/State

Cbsa

County Subdivisions – Statistical

County/State

Ccd

Congressional Districts (CD)

County/State

Cd

Census Designated Places (CDP)

County/State

Cdp

Consolidated Cities

County only

Concity

Counties and Equivalent Areas

County/State

County

Census Tracts

County only

Curtracts

Edges (All Lines)

County only

Edges

School Districts (Elementary)

County/State

Elsd

County Subdivisions – Legal

County/State

Mcd

New England City and Town Area

County/State

Necta

Offsets

County only

Offset

Incorporated Places

County/State

Place

Point Landmarks

County only

Pointlm

SHAPEFILE LAYER

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-1

GEOGRAPHIC
LEVEL

NAME

Public Use Microdata Areas – Census 2010

County/State

Puma2010

School Districts (Secondary)

County/State

Scsd

State Legislative Districts (Lower/House)

County/State

Sldl

State Legislative Districts (Upper/Senate)

County/State

Sldu

State only

State

Subbarrios

County only

Submcd

Census Blocks – Current

County only

Tabblock

Census Blocks – Census 2010

County only

Tabblock2010

Traffic Analysis Districts – Census 2010

County only

Tad2010

Traffic Analysis Zone

County only

Taz2010

Tribal Block Group

County/State

Tbg

Census Tracts – Census 2010

County/State

Tracts2010

Urban Area/ Urban Cluster – Census 2010

County/State

Uac

Urban Growth Areas (UGA)

County only

Uga

School Districts (Unified)

County/State

Unsd

Voting District

County only

VTD

Hydrography – Area

County only

Water

Address Ranges (Relationship Table)

County

Addr

Linear Feature Names (Relationship Table)

County

Allnames

Topological Faces - Area Landmark Relationship

County

Areafaces

Topological Faces (Listing of faces with all geocodes)

County

Faces

Topological Faces - Area Hydrography Relationship

County

Hydrofaces

SHAPEFILE LAYER

States and Equivalent Areas

Table 66: American Indian Areas - Legal
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or offreservation trust land is present, or both

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American
Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or
group.

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-2

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 67: American Indian /Alaska Native Areas - Statistical
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or offreservation trust land is present, or both

String
AIANNHFSR

1

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American
Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or
group.

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-3

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

NAME

100

String

Name

Table 68: American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - Legal
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

TRIBSUBCE

1

String

Census Tribal subdivision

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American
Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or
group.

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

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Table 69: American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - Statistical
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

TRIBSUBCE

1

String

Census Tribal subdivision

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric
(3 decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American
Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or
group.

Table 70: Alaska Native Regional Corporations
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

STRING

FIPS STATE CODE

COUNTYFP*

3

STRING

FIPS COUNTY CODE

ANRCFP

5

STRING

FIPS ANRC CODE (STATE BASED)

ANRCCE

2

STRING

CURRENT CENSUS ANRC CODE

NAMELSAD

100

STRING

NAME WITH TRANSLATED LSAD

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-5

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

LSAD

2

STRING

LEGAL/STATISTICAL AREA DESCRIPTION

AIANNHNS

8

STRING

ANSI NUMERIC IDENTIFIER FOR AIANNH
AREAS

FUNCSTAT

1

STRING

FUNCTIONAL STATUS

CLASSFP

2

STRING

FIPS55 CLASS CODE DESCRIBING ENTITY

PARTFLG*

1

STRING

PART FLAG INDICATOR

CHNG_TYPE

2

STRING

TYPE OF AREA UPDATE

EFF_DATE

8

STRING

EFFECTIVE DATE OR VINTAGE

DOCU

120

STRING

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

FORM_ID

4

STRING

RECORD ID FOR ANY BOUNDARY UPDATE

AREA

10

NUMERIC
(3
DECIMAL
PLACES)

ACREAGE OF AREA UPDATE

RELATE

120

STRING

RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION

JUSTIFY

150

CHAR

JUSTIFICATION

NAME

100

STRING

NAME

VINTAGE

2

STRING

VINTAGE UPDATED WITH RETURNED DATA

AIANHFSR

1

STRING

FLAG INDICATING LEVEL OF RECOGNITION OF
AN AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE, OR
NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRIBE OR GROUP.

Table 71: Block Size Indicator
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

BLOCKID

19

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code, Census Tract
Code, Tabulation Block Number, Census Block
Suffix 1, Census Block Suffix 2

AREALAND

14

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Current Area Land in Square Meters

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-6

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

AREAWATER

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Current Area Water in Square Meters

LWBLKTYP

1

String

Land/Water Block Type: B = Both Land and Water; L
= Land; W = Water

PERIMETER

9

String

Perimeter of Block in Square Meters

SHAPEIDX

9

String

(√ (4πA/P2), where A=Area of block & P = Perimeter
of block

BLKSZIND

1

String

Block Size Indicator

Table 72: Congressional Districts
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

CDFP

2

String

Congressional District Code

CDTYP

1

String

Congressional District Type

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective date or vintage

NEW_CODE

2

String

New Congressional District Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

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Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-7

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

CDSESSN

3

String

Congressional District Session Code

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Table 73: Hawaiian Homelands
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or offreservation trust land is present, or both

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American
Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or
group.

NAME

100

String

Name

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-8

Table 74: School Districts
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SDLEA

5

String

Current Local Education Agency Code

NAME

100

String

Name of School District

LSAD

2

Integer

Legal/Statistical Area Description

HIGRADE

2

String

Highest grade for which the district is financially
responsible

LOGRADE

2

String

Lowest grade for which the district is financially
responsible

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

POLYID

4

String

Record ID for each update polygon for linking
back to the submission log

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

FUNCSTAT

3

String

Functional Status

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 75: State Legislative Districts (Upper/Senate)
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SLDUST

3

String

SLD Upper Chamber Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

NEW_NAME

100

String

New SLDU Name

NEW_CODE

3

String

New SLDU Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-9

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

LSY

4

String

Legislative Session Year

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Table 76: State Legislative Districts (Lower/House)
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SLDLST

3

String

SLD Lower Chamber Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

NEW_NAME

100

String

New SLDL Name

NEW_CODE

3

String

New SLDL Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-10

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

LSY

4

String

Legislative Session Year

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Table 77: Urban Growth Areas
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

UGACE

5

String

Urban Growth Area Code

UGATYP

1

String

Urban Growth Area Type

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

NAME

100

String

Name

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-11

Table 78: Census Block Groups
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLKGRPCE

1

String

Block Group Code

BLKGRPID

12

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code,
Census Tract Code, Block Group Code

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

BGTYP

1

String

Block Group Characteristic Flag

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 79: Census Blocks - Current
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

STATEFP10

2

String

FIPS 2010 State Code

COUNTYFP10

3

String

FIPS 2010 County Code

TRACTCE10

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

SUFFIX1CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 1

SUFFIX2CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 2

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code,
Census Tract Code, Tabulation Block
Number, Census Block Suffix 1, Census
Block Suffix 2

BLOCKID

19

Table 80: Census Blocks - Census 2010
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP10

2

String

FIPS 2010 State Code

COUNTYFP10

3

String

FIPS 2010 County Code

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-12

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TRACTCE10

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

BLOCKID10

15

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code,
Census Tract Code, Tabulation Block
Number

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

HOUSING10

9

Integer

2010 Housing

POP10

9

Integer

Census 2010 population count

Table 81: Census Tracts
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

NAME

100

String

Name

TRACTID

11

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code,
Census Tract Code

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

TRACTTYP

1

String

Tract Characteristic Flag

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

TRACTLABEL

7

String

Tract number used for LUCA geocoding

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

COUNTYFP

Table 82: Census Designated Places
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

PLACENS

5

String

ANSI feature code for the place

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-13

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 83: Consolidated City
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

CONCITYFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

CONCITYCE

4

String

Census Consolidated City Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the place

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(GUPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-14

Table 84: County and Equivalent Areas
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUNTYNS

8

String

ANSI Feature Code for the County or
Equivalent Feature

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD code

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description code

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(GUPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Area Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 85: County Subdivisions - Legal (MCD)
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

COUSUBNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the county subdivision

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-15

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(GUPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 86: County Subdivisions - Statistical (CCD)
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

COUSUBNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the county subdivision

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 87: Incorporated Place
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the place

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-16

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(GUPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Table 88: States and Equivalent Areas
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

USPS State Abbreviation

NAME

10

Integer

Name

LSAD

5

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

STATENS

120

String

ANSI feature code for the state

STATEUSPS

Table 89: Subarrios
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

SUBMCDFP

5

String

FIPS Sub-minor Civil Division Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-17

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

SUBMCDNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the sub-minor civil
division

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

FORM_ID

4

String

(GUPS and Web BAS only)

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Table 90: Edges (All Lines)
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

State FIPS Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

County FIPS Code

TLID

10

Integer

Permanent Edge ID

TFIDL

10

Integer

Permanent Face ID (Left)

TFIDR

10

Integer

Permanent Face ID (Right)

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FIDELITY

1

String

Indication to a respondent when their entity
boundary has changed through spatial
enhancement

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix qualifier code, prefix direction code,
prefix type code, base name, suffix type code,
suffix qualifier code

SMID

22

String

Spatial Tmeta ID

VTDFLG

1

String

2010 block boundary suggestion

CBBFLG

1

String

Planned 2020 block boundary

VTD_2020

1

String

VTD Participant suggested 2020 Census
block boundary

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of linear update

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-18

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

LTOADD

10

String

Left To Address

RTOADD

10

String

Right To Address

LFROMADD

10

String

Left From Address

RFROMADD

10

String

Right From Address

ZIPL

5

String

Left Zip Code

ZIPR

5

String

Right Zip Code

Table 91: Area Landmark
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix direction code, prefix type code, base
name, suffix type code, suffix direction code

AREAID

10

Integer

Landmark identification number

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for area landmarks

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Landmark update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

BAG

3

String

Block Area Grouping

Table 92: Hydrography Area
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for hydrography area

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix direction code, prefix type code, base
name, suffix type, suffix type code, suffix
direction code

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-19

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

HYDROID

10

String

Hydrography Identification Number

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

Table 93: Point Landmarks
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

POINTID

10

Integer

Point Landmark Identification Number

ANSICODE

8

Char

Official Code for Federal Agency use

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix type code, base name, suffix type code

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

JUSTIFY

150

Char

Justification

COUNTYFP

Table 94: Topological Faces - Geographic Entity Relationships
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRIBSUBCE

3

String

Census Tribal Subdivision

TTRACTCE

6

String

Tribal Census Tract Code

TBLKGRPCE

1

String

Tribal Census Block Group Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or offreservation trust land is present, or both

ANRCFP

5

String

FIPS ANRC Code

SLDUST

3

String

SLD Upper Chamber Code

SLDLST

3

String

SLD Lower Chamber Code

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-20

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

ELSD

5

String

Current ELSD Local Education Agency (LEA)
Code

SCSD

5

String

Current SCSD Local Education Agency (LEA)
Code

UNSD

5

String

Current UNSD Local Education Agency (LEA)
Code

CDFP

2

String

Congressional District Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

UACE

5

String

Census Urban Area Code

CBSAFP

5

String

County-Based Metropolitan-Micropolitan Code

NECTAFP

5

String

New England City and Town Area Code

BLKGRPCE

1

String

Census Block Group Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

SUFFIX1CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 1

SUFFIX2CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 2

TAZCE

6

String

Traffic Analysis Zone Code

TADCE

8

String

Traffic Analysis District Code

MPOCE

8

String

Metropolitan Planning Organization Code

PUMACE10

5

String

SUBMCDFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Sub-minor Civil Division Code

UGACE

5

String

Urban Growth Area Code

STATEFP10

2

String

FIPS 2010 State Code

COUNTYFP10

3

String

FIPS 2010 County Code

TRACTCE10

6

String

Census 2010 Tract Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS 55 County Subdivision Code

CONCITYFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

CDSESSN

3

String

6

String

2010 Voting District Code

1

String

Land/Water Flag

VTDST
LWFLG

Public Use Microdata Area Code

Congressional District Session

Table 95: Topological Faces - Area Landmark Relationships
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

AREAID

22

Integer

Object ID

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-21

Table 96: Topological Faces - Hydrography Area Relationships
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

HYDROID

22

Integer

Object ID

Table 97: Address Ranges
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TLID

22

Integer

TIGER Line ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

FROMHN

12

String

From House Number

TOHN

12

String

To House Number

SIDE

1

String

Side Indicator Flag

ZIP

5

String

5-digit ZIP Code

PLUS4

4

String

ZIP+4 Code

LFROMADD

10

String

Left From Address

LTOADD

10

String

Left To Address

RFROMADD

10

String

Right From Address

RTOADD

10

String

Right To Address

ZIPL

5

String

Left 5-digit ZIP Code

ZIPR

5

String

Right 5-digit ZIP Code

ZIP4L

4

String

Left ZIP+4 Code

ZIP4R

4

String

Right ZIP+4 Code

Table 98: Linear Feature Names
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

OID

22

Integer

Object ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

NAME

100

String

Name

PREDIR

2

String

Prefix Direction code component of feature
name

PRETYP

3

String

Prefix Type code component of feature name

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-22

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

PREQUAL

2

String

Prefix Qualifier code component of feature
name

SUFDIR

2

String

Suffix Direction code component of feature
name

SUFTYP

3

String

Suffix Type code component of feature name

SUFQUAL

2

String

Suffix Qualifier code component of feature
name

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

PAFLAG

1

String

Primary/Alternate flag

Table 99: Voting Districts
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

VTDST

6

String

Voting District Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

VTDI

1

String

Voting District Indicator

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of Area Update

ORIG_NAME

100

String

Original VTD Name

ORIG_CODE

6

String

Original VTD Code

RELATE

120

String

Relationship

NAME

100

String

Voting District Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification

MTFCC

5

String

MTFCC Code

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix D. Shapefile Data Dictionary

Page D-23

APPENDIX E Acronyms
The table below lists the acronyms used throughout the Voting District Project
GUPS User’s Guide and the explanation of these abbreviations.
Table 100: Acronyms
ACRONYM

EXPLANATION

BAS

Boundary and Annexation Survey

BAG

Block Area Grouping

BBSP

Block Boundary Suggestion Project

CBBFLG
CD
CRT
CRVRDO

Census Block Boundary Flag
Congressional District
Criteria Review Tool
Census Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office

FIPS

Federal Information Processing Standard

GNIS

Geographic Names Information System

GUPS

Geographic Update Partnership Software

MAF
MAF/TIGER
MCD
MTFCC
OGC
QC

Modify Area Feature
Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic and
Encoding Reference (System)
Minor Civil Division
MAF TIGER Feature Classification Code
Open Geospatial Consortium
Quality Control

QGIS

Q (formerly Quantum) Geographic Information System

RDP

Redistricting Data Program

SLD

State Legislative District

SWIM

Secure Web Incoming Module

TEF

Tabular Equivalency File

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

VTD

Voting District

VTDP

Voting District Project

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix F. VTD Participation Support

Page E-1

APPENDIX F VTD Participation Support
Direct all questions, regarding the Voting District Project, both procedural and
GUPS technical questions, to:
Census Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office: (301) 763-4039;
[email protected].
Direct technical questions regarding SWIM to: [email protected].

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix F. VTD Participation Support

Page F-1

APPENDIX G Switch to BBSP Style Button
Changes the symbology of the edges if you want to do BBSP work in your VTD
module.
Click this icon

in order to toggle between the two symbology.
Table 101: Switch to BBSP Style

Step

Action and Result

Step 1

Starting with a project open:

Step 2

Click the Switch to BBSP style button on the BBSP toolbar.

Step 3

The symbology of the edges changes, allowing you to do BBSP work with the BAS
symbology in the VTD module (it just makes it easier and matches how GUPS looks
for BBSP/BBSPV). Note that the Switch to BBSP style button has changed names to
Switch to VTD style.

Step 4

When you have completed the BBSP work, click on the Switch to VTD style button to
return to the VTD module.

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix G. Switch to BBSP Style Button

Page G-1

Step

Action and Result

Voting District Project GUPS User’s Guide
Appendix G. Switch to BBSP Style Button

Page G-2