The Commissioner of Social Services is authorized to undertake and carry out research activities, including, but not limited to, (a) examination of the needs of municipalities, metropolitan areas and the state, with respect to services, facilities and programs such as housing, schools, community recreation and health facilities, transportation systems, refuse disposal and other public services; (b) examination of methods to meet those needs; (c) examination of the means by which the state and the municipalities can effectively analyze and project those needs; and (d) examination of the feasibility of establishing and using information data and systems and data banks in order to provide comprehensive information, to construct indicators of economic, physical and social change, and to project economic, physical and social trends.