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Electronic Data Collection at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Louise Ku-Graf
Third International Conference on Establishment S urveys
June 19, 2007
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Electronic Data Collection at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Electronic Data Collection at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Electronic Data Collection at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Louise Ku-Graf Third International Conference on Establishment S urveys June 19, 2007 Outline Background Automated Survey Transmission and Retrieval (ASTAR) System
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Background
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Produces national and international
economic accounts
- Most source data from outside sources
(Census, Bureau of Labor S tatistics)
- Collects primary source data in two areas:
- Direct investment
- Trade in Services
- 16 surveys
- Mandatory
- Confidential
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Automated Survey Transmission and Retrieval System
(ASTAR)
- Developmental efforts began in
late 1990s
- Initial implementation in 2000
(2nd quarter)
- Gradually expanded to cover
almost all surveys
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ASTAR Usage
Chart 1: Total documents filed via ASTAR and paper for Form BE-605
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
2 6 Q 4 2 6 Q 3 2 6 Q 2 2 6 Q 1 2 5 Q 4 2 5 Q 3 2 5 Q 2 2 5 Q 1 2 4 Q 4 2 4 Q 3 2 4 Q 2 2 4 Q 1 2 3 Q 4 2 3 Q 3 2 3 Q 2 2 3 Q 1 2 2 Q 4 2 2 Q 3 2 2 Q 2 2 2 Q 1 2 1 Q 4 2 1 Q 3 2 1 Q 2
D o c u m e n t c o u n t
Total documents filed via ASTAR Total documents filed via paper
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ASTAR Usage - continued
AS
TAR users account for an ever increasing proportion
- f key metrics
Chart 2: Documents Filed via ASTAR as a Percentage of Total Assets and Total Sales*
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 2002 2003 2004 2005
Total Assets Total Sales
*Data obtained from the benchmark and annual surveys of foreign direct investment in the United States, BE-12/15.
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System Description of ASTAR
JAVA applet runs in the respondent’ s browser Respondents can work on-line or off-line Data are encrypted in transit Assigned unique passwords are used to
retrieve/ decrypt/ encrypt data
Generates printable forms in PDF format
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System Description of ASTAR - continued
Encrypted data are stored on BEA’ s web
server
SQL server accesses encrypted data, and
decrypts the data
Decrypted data are loaded into internal
database
Automated e-mail notification is generated
AS
TAR system includes import and export features (CS V file format)
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ASTAR Usage – continued
Import feature tends to be most widely used for the quarterly
survey of U.S. direct investment abroad, Form BE-577
Reflects only time spent online
Table 1: Minutes Per Document for Form-577 ASTAR Users Average Minimum Maximum Total Documents 2006 Q1 6.27 0.05 42.00 4973 2006 Q2 6.49 0.12 205.00 5013 2006 Q3 6.19 0.01 50.50 5609 2006 Q4 7.87 0.01 181.00 5528
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ASTAR Success
Chart 3: Method of filing used by respondents for Form BE-605
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 2 6 Q 4 2 6 Q 3 2 6 Q 2 2 6 Q 1 2 5 Q 4 2 5 Q 3 2 5 Q 2 2 5 Q 1 2 4 Q 4 2 4 Q 3 2 4 Q 2 2 4 Q 1 2 3 Q 4 2 3 Q 3 2 3 Q 2 2 3 Q 1 2 2 Q 4 2 2 Q 3 2 2 Q 2 2 2 Q 1 2 1 Q 4 2 1 Q 3 2 1 Q 2 Total documents filed via ASTAR as a percentage of total mailouts Total documents filed via ASTAR as a percentage of total documents received
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ASTAR Successes - continued
Improved timeliness Reduces BEA’ s costs Reduces timeframe for accessing
reported data
Eliminates keypunch errors Increases data integrity
Data pass through a series of checks prior
to submission
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ASTAR Challenges
High maintenance costs
Must be supported by outside contractor
Significant maintenance effort
Changes in technology Changes in forms
Burden of password maintenance
Unique period-specific password
Limited flexibility in applying checks
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eFILE
BEA’S 2nd GENERATION OF ELECTRONIC FILING
BEA began researching and developing
electronic filing alternatives in 2005
Adobe E-forms were selected: eFile eFile prototype went into production in
2005 for Form BE-10, Benchmark Survey
- f U.S. Direct Investment Abroad
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eFILE - continued
Initially supported by outside contractor BEA subsequently began constructing
PDF markup, encryption, and hosting of data collection in-house
Currently used for 9 surveys Over the next 18 - 24 months, eFile will
be extended to all BEA surveys
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System Description of eFile
Compatible with any computer that has
Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader
Users can change and update passwords
at eFile password “ portal” site
The password portal meets the E-
authentication requirements
Passwords are never transmitted via email
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System Description of eFile - continued
Password “ portal” site
Users complete an online form and submit a password Portal verifies and validates password to UserID E-mail confirmation is sent to respondent Respondent confirms password by following link given
in email
Respondents save and submit data through BEA website Data transmitted via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and
encrypted on BEA web server
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User Acceptance of eFile
3 surveys converted to eFile in
late 2006
6 additional surveys recently
converted to eFile
Encouraging usage rates
30 percent of all BE-45 respondents 26 percent of all BE-120 respondents
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Benefits and Features of eFile
Lower maintenance cost Improved password administration
Respondents manage their own
passwords
Reduces BEA and respondent burden Meets E-authentication requirements
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Benefits and Features of eFile – continued
More flexibility in validity
and form-specific logic checks
Data security Rapid confirmation of
submissions
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Future Plans
Over the next 18 to 24 months, BEA
will phase out ASTAR and convert to eFile for all surveys
Develop an XML-based import and
export feature
Continue to improve and enhance the
system
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