Mapping population distribution from open address data: application to mainland Portugal

Mapping population distribution remains a common need in various fields of studies. Several approaches and methodologies have been adopted to obtain high-resolution population distribution grids. The use of addresses data to obtain gridded population distribution maps emerges as one of the more recent and accurate approaches. The increasing dissemination and availability of geo-data and more specifically address data allow us to obtain updated, granular and high spatial resolution population distribution maps. This paper describes a bottom-up open addresses data mapping-based approach of gridded population distribution with a fine spatial resolution. Through a QGIS plugin, an adaptation of the housing unit methodology was implemented to obtain 500 m × 500 and 250 m × 250 m population grids for mainland Portugal. The results showed that the use of reliable addresses databases can generate gridded population distribution maps with a high degree of adjustment to reality.