One significant cause for  this uncertainty is that some deadlines for completing research do not  have firm dates, while other deadlines that have been set continue to slip. Bureau studies initially estimated that during the 2000 Census, about   2.4 million duplicate addresses existed in the MAF. However, the operation was not able to determine with certainty whether  the remaining 1 million addresses were duplicates. The Bureau is aware of the  overlapping schedules, but officials stated that they need to start LUCA in  2007 in order to complete the operation in time for address canvassing— an operation where census workers walk every street in the country to  verify addresses and update maps. Meeting the demands of the shortened time frame for  completing address canvassing is a concern because the workload for  address canvassing has significantly expanded from including only urban  areas in 2000 to including the entire country for 2010. Reliability of MCD to Conduct Address Canvassing Activities is Unknown

The Bureau’s ability to collect and transmit address and mapping data  using the MCD is not known. During 2006  testing, the MCD used to collect address and map data was slow and  locked up frequently. Bureau officials have acknowledged that the MCD’s  performance is an issue but believe that a new version of the MCD, to be  developed under the Field Data Collection Automation (FDCA) contract  awarded on March 30, 2006, will be reliable and functional. However,  because the 2008 Dress Rehearsal will be the first time this new MCD will  be tested under census-like conditions, it is uncertain how effective that  MCD will be, and if problems do emerge, little time will be left for the  contractor to develop, test, and incorporate any refinements. To conduct address canvassing, each MCD was loaded with address  information and maps and was also equipped with GPS. Bureau officials do not believe a specific plan is needed to update the  address and map files for those areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and  Rita. For example, new housing and street  construction in the areas affected by the hurricanes could require more  frequent updates of the Bureau’s address file and maps. However, if  after the Dress Rehearsal the MCD is found to be unreliable, the Bureau  could be faced with the remote but daunting possibility of having to revert  to the costly paper-based census used in 2000. Recommendations for Executive Action

To mitigate potential risks facing the Bureau as it plans for 2010 and to  ensure a more complete and accurate address file for the 2010 Census, we  recommend that the Secretary of Commerce direct the U.S. Census Bureau  to take the following three actions:    Establish firm deadlines to complete research, testing, and evaluations of  the MAF to prevent missed, deleted, and duplicate addresses, as well as  map errors, and develop an action plan that will allow sufficient time for  the Bureau to revise or establish methodologies and procedures for  building the 2010 MAF. Finally, to determine the extent to which the Bureau has a plan to update  the address file and maps in areas impacted by hurricanes Katrina and  Rita, we interviewed Bureau top management officials.
Why GAO Did This Study

To conduct a successful census, it is important that the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) produce the most complete and accurate address file and maps for 2010. For this review, GAO's specific objectives were to determine the extent to which (1) the Bureau's efforts to modernize the address file and maps are addressing problems experienced during the 2000 Census, (2) the Bureau is managing emerging address file and map issues, (3) the Bureau is able to collect and transmit address and mapping data using mobile computing devices (MCD) equipped with global positioning system (GPS) technology, and (4) the Bureau has a plan to update the address file and maps in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. GAO reviewed the Bureau's progress in modernizing both the address file and maps.

What GAO Found

The Bureau's address and map modernization efforts have progressed in some areas. The Bureau is researching how to correct addresses that were duplicated, missed, deleted, and incorrectly located on maps. However, some deadlines for completing research are not firm, while other deadlines that had been set continue to slip. Thus, whether research will be completed in enough time to allow the Bureau to develop new procedures to improve the 2010 address file is unknown. Also, the Bureau has not fully addressed emerging issues. For one such issue, the Bureau has acknowledged the compressed time frame for completing address canvassing--an operation where census workers walk every street in the country to verify addresses and maps--but has not reevaluated the associated schedule or staffing workloads. Also, the Bureau has allotted only 6 weeks to conduct address canvassing it completed in 18 weeks in 2000 and expanded the operation from urban areas in 2000 to the entire country in 2010. Whether the Bureau can collect and transmit address and mapping data using the MCD is unknown. The MCD, tested during 2006 address canvassing, was slow and locked up frequently. Bureau officials said the MCD's performance is an issue, but a new MCD to be developed through a contract awarded in March 2006 will be reliable. However, the MCD will not be tested until the 2008 Dress Rehearsal, and if problems emerge, little time will remain to develop, test, and incorporate refinements. If after the Dress Rehearsal the MCD is found unreliable, the Bureau could face the remote but daunting possibility of reverting to the costly paper-based census of 2000. Bureau officials do not believe a specific plan is needed to update the addresses and maps for areas affected by the hurricanes. Securing a count is difficult under normal conditions, and existing procedures may insufficient to update addresses and maps after the hurricanes' destruction--made even more difficult as streets, housing, and population will be in flux.