Smart Cities – Dataconomy https://dataconomy.ru Bridging the gap between technology and business Tue, 26 May 2020 14:49:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://dataconomy.ru/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/cropped-DC-logo-emblem_multicolor-32x32.png Smart Cities – Dataconomy https://dataconomy.ru 32 32 Are citizens prepared for the data implications of smart cities? https://dataconomy.ru/2019/04/24/are-citizens-prepared-for-the-data-implications-of-smart-cities/ https://dataconomy.ru/2019/04/24/are-citizens-prepared-for-the-data-implications-of-smart-cities/#respond Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:57:59 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=20754 What are the fears around data while exploring potential use cases to demonstrate the value for the ‘smart citizen’? Here is a look. With The United Nations reporting that two-thirds (68%) of the world’s population are expected to live in cities by 2050, scientists are seeking new and innovative ways to improve the quality of […]]]>

What are the fears around data while exploring potential use cases to demonstrate the value for the ‘smart citizen’? Here is a look.

With The United Nations reporting that two-thirds (68%) of the world’s population are expected to live in cities by 2050, scientists are seeking new and innovative ways to improve the quality of life in our urban jungles. With a recent death in the UK linked to illegal levels of air pollution, it’s more important than ever to utilise technology that drives progress and innovates to develop a more sustainable future – creating smart cities.

However, with a large proportion (68%) of the UK public unclear about what a smart city is or the benefits it can bring, it’s obvious that further education is needed. In a post-GDPR world, citizens are increasingly aware of the vast amount of data being collected throughout their day-to-day activities. Once an understanding is established that these smart initiatives save time, money, and provide peace of mind, citizens will be more open to working with their government bodies to future-proof their communities.  

Getting smart about cities

With the aim to provide a more liveable and responsive environment, the smart city industry is projected to be worth $400 billion by 2020, Citywise reports. Underpinned by real-time data, truly smart cities understand how demand patterns change and are able to respond with faster, lower-cost solutions. Benefits from this approach include improvements to safety and congestion for efficient traffic management, healthcare advances from patient experience to data-driven public health interventions, and air-quality monitoring and energy-use optimisation to minimise environmental impact. All alongside further social connectedness and civic participation, new job opportunities provided through e-careers, as well as reduced cost of living thanks to improvements such as dynamic electricity pricing and usage tracking.

To provide these benefits, smart city initiatives must gather the relevant data from multiple sources. Sensors and beacons, communication networks, and open data portals – which can be introduced by city councils and governments to the existing infrastructure – are primary sources. For people management, smartphone data is invaluable in both gathering and providing instant information about transit, traffic, health services, safety alerts, and community news. Other sources include connected networks and devices – such as home-security systems, personal-alert devices, and lifestyle wearables – which offer value that many city stakeholders are willing to pay for. Mobility applications also provide greater value, thanks to the rise in popularity of e-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, and e-bikes or scooter schemes.

From byte to yotta

The benefits this data holds are visible through the deployment of connectivity resources available to many citizens now. But the data is held in several separate silos, each relating to a specific aspect of urban life. To improve the city as a whole and realise its smart potential, an interconnected data system is needed; one that integrates big data from multiple sources – state and citizen.

From traffic and pollution sensors to shared bike schemes, extreme amounts of data can already be collected, processed, and analysed in real-time and at scale. However, to provide a truly holistic citywide view of these, a combination of multiple sources is needed. Once this is achieved, advancement such as improving the daily commute via smart-mobility application can be implemented through networks of internet of things (IoT) sensors on physical assets. Real-time information can then be relayed via mobile apps or digital signage, enabling commuters to efficiently adapt their routes on the move.

This smart approach to modern cities also has impacts on crime levels, with a data-driven policing strategy utilising real-time mapping to cut emergency response rates. For a population of five million, this could mean saving up to 300 lives per year. To protect the environment, citizens and cities can work together to optimise the use of finite resources. The use of sensors is particularly key for the environment, by identifying sources of pollution to enable cities to arm their citizens with real-time protective measures so they can make the best decisions for their health. This digital feedback loop also works for conserving water, with leaking pipes one of the biggest water waste contributors. By collecting data on the health of city infrastructure and its surrounding areas insights can be gleaned, for example, on soil moisture levels to identify the waterlogged environments that surround a leak.

Identifying a truly smart citizen

It’s not only about installing digital interfaces in traditional infrastructure or streamlining city operations. Smart cities are primarily opportunities to use technology and data purposefully to make better decisions, and deliver a better quality of life for citizens.

By establishing channels for two-way data communication that feeds into the data infrastructure, a truly smart city can respond more dynamically to how resource demand is changing. For this smart future to become a reality, governments and councils need a reliable big data source to base long- and short-term decisions on – to safeguard the future health of the urban ecosystem. Only once a holistic view of the city is achieved can stakeholders make the key decisions and positive changes needed to ensure the future sustainability of its metropolitan environment.

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Five Ways We Can Make Our Cities Smarter Using Identity-Driven IoT https://dataconomy.ru/2016/01/06/five-ways-we-can-make-our-cities-smarter-using-identity-driven-iot/ https://dataconomy.ru/2016/01/06/five-ways-we-can-make-our-cities-smarter-using-identity-driven-iot/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2016 09:30:07 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=14679 The Internet of Things (IoT) has taken off and is slowly revolutionising the world we live in. Smartphones, smart cars, even smart fridges – all now boast connectivity designed to make our lives easier and more efficient. This is expanding to a citywide scale, with over one billion connected devices currently in use in smart […]]]>

The Internet of Things (IoT) has taken off and is slowly revolutionising the world we live in. Smartphones, smart cars, even smart fridges – all now boast connectivity designed to make our lives easier and more efficient. This is expanding to a citywide scale, with over one billion connected devices currently in use in smart cities around the world (a number expected to grow to ten billion by 2020). One of the key drivers of this revolution is the increasing use of identity management amongst these smart devices, allowing them to communicate directly with one another (as well as with people) for the first time. So, with this in mind, what areas of our cities are likely to benefit most from the IoT revolution?

Below are five core aspects of city living where the growth of identity-driven IoT and smart devices is likely to have the most significant impact on citizens’ lives in the near future:

1. Transport

The transport and travel sector will reap the benefits of the smart city initiative immensely. Gone will be the days of sitting in sluggish traffic, or tirelessly driving round and round the multi-story car park searching for a space. Connected smart traffic systems will be able to monitor and collect real-time traffic information, traffic volume/flow, speeds, and hazards. This data will then be sent directly to commuters (via their unique digital identities) to warn of delays on their usual routes and suggest better alternatives. This same data will also be used to pinpoint regular traffic trends and black spots, helping city planners to develop efficient plans for improved transport infrastructure in the future. This initiative has already started to roll out in the UK; for example, Manchester has introduced ‘talkative bus stops’ as part of its £10m Smart City plan.

Give a smart city an inch and it’ll take a mile. Smart parking measures can also be brought into play. Smart meters will monitor parking availability, notifying drivers of free space locations as soon as they enter the vicinity. Once parked, smart payment systems can time the duration of the stay, capping it as soon as the car is moving again. Charges incurred can then be automatically paid via a pre-registered account, removing the need to queue at payment machines or carry large amounts of change for parking meters.

2. Sanitation

Another benefit of utilising connected devices in the IoT is the improvement it can bring to overall city cleanliness and sanitation. Thinking with the outlook that no ‘thing’ is too big or too small to have its own digital identity, public bins fitted with smart sensors could be used to alert council refuse collectors when they are full and need emptying; an initiative that has already been introduced in Milton Keynes and Camden. A network of ‘smart bins’ would help to improve the efficiency of rubbish collection routes throughout the city, preventing build up and significantly improving hygiene as a result.

On a more personal level, strategically placed motion sensors linked to a smart meter could be used to alert homeowners to any pest/rodent infestations in their homes. If required, pest control specialists could be automatically contacted to deal with issues as soon as they arise, saving nasty shocks (and potentially costly repairs) further down the line, and preventing the infestation from spreading.

3. Energy Saving

Many of us have already installed a smart home hub that can automatically regulate temperature and/or be accessed remotely by homeowners. But why stop there? The same smart hub system can be deployed on a citywide scale, used to monitor much larger public spaces such as museums, office buildings, and shopping centres. Glasgow has introduced energy efficiency through the smart city initiative, by connecting the city’s energy grid to buildings with smart capabilities, in order to manage energy consumption. In addition to temperature monitoring, smart sensors can also be used to make significant energy savings in areas such as lighting or escalator use in public spaces by ensuring the systems are only activated when citizens are in the vicinity.

4. Emergency Response

We are already coming to see how identity-driven IoT and Smart Cities can help make our lives easier on a day-to-day basis, but could they be utilised to save lives? For instance, if a smart fire detector in a building picks up smoke, it can immediately send an alert to the nearest fire station, instigating a series of pre-planned emergency response measures. As the emergency services make their way to the incident, the collaboration with smart transport meters allows them to receive a real-time update on traffic, avoiding any congestion. Similarly, their unique vehicle identities can be tracked and traffic lights automatically changed as they approach to ease their journey to the incident site. Each stage of what could have been a complicated operation is made simple and efficient. This kind of initiative is already being introduced in the UK – for example, through ‘Uber for fire engines’, recently launched in London.

5. Overall Public Safety

Many of the above-mentioned technologies will help to make cities a safer place to live by protecting citizens from issues including acts of God, transport overcrowding, and poor sanitation. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what identity-powered IoT can do. The same smart monitors used to save energy in the home could also detect gas leaks, alerting key parties to the leak based on key variables such as time of day, location of the homeowner, and severity of the leak. If the leak is not severe and the homeowner is within a five-minute radius, emergency services would not need to be alerted as well. This level of automated situational analysis means emergency services would avoid unnecessary call outs and can remain available should another more serious situation develop elsewhere.

Similarly, other smart systems can be deployed in different ways to help improve overall public safety within a city. For instance, smart street lighting can be used to deter street crime by increasing lighting intensity and alerting authorities if significant/unusual movement is detected in the vicinity or suspicious noises are heard.

In making our cities smarter, not only do we make our lives easier and more efficient, but we also make them safer. As the IoT continues to adopt an increasingly identity-driven approach, a wealth of new opportunities is opening up that can do all of the above and so much more. For the citizens who live, work, and socialise in smart cities, there are exciting times ahead.

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Cars, Trains and the Internet of Things https://dataconomy.ru/2015/10/26/cars-trains-and-the-internet-of-things/ https://dataconomy.ru/2015/10/26/cars-trains-and-the-internet-of-things/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:08:23 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=14359 Last year, London made numerous popular IoT additions to their public transit. Helsinki, Seoul and other major cities are employing the new technology in their own ways. Tackling concerns about safety and energy as well as the obvious desire for maximum efficiency, the Internet of Things is making its way on the streets in more […]]]>

Last year, London made numerous popular IoT additions to their public transit. Helsinki, Seoul and other major cities are employing the new technology in their own ways. Tackling concerns about safety and energy as well as the obvious desire for maximum efficiency, the Internet of Things is making its way on the streets in more ways than one. In fact, according to the GSM association, by 2025 there won’t be a single new car on the road that isn’t connected.

While driverless cars are the exciting buzzword, there are countless other real and tangible applications. Moreover, while it seems obvious that connectivity will make driving easier, safer, and more efficient, the most important (and fun) facts are in the details. So where might you actually be seeing change in your future?

Usage-Based Insurance

Insurance companies can be terrifying. Whether a wreck has occurred or was scarcely avoided, the subsequent long sigh of relief isn’t just for you and your car, but your wallet. Even with the kindest of agencies and plans, it’s hard to know what will happen to your rate—even if it wasn’t your fault.

By some estimates, 50% of drivers will have Usage-Based Insurance by 2020. UBI works by transmitting the policyholder’s actual driving data directly to the provider. Now, a company can see exactly how you drive, allowing you to become far more than a list of claims. While it seems few companies have found a way to properly market the new technology, once it catches on there will be no going back. UBI brings the wildly popular Pay-as-you-go scheme to the roads. Whether you want Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD), Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD), Pay-As-You-Go, or Distance-based insurance, companies will be able to offer better premiums that fit any customer’s specific needs. For those who can’t afford costly annual contracts, this could mean a world of change and saved money. Plus, the program incentivizes better, more efficient driving practices. Pay-as-you-go revolutionized phone contracts — why not cars?

[bctt tweet=”Pay-as-you-go revolutionized phone contracts — why not cars?”]

Micronavigation

35BD398A51For some, taking public transit is a nightmare. If there aren’t exact directions given, or a trip includes multiple stops and changes, a short ride quickly becomes a nightmare. Bad experiences and uncertainty can even lead would-be passengers to skip out on the public system entirely—opting for taxis, or another route filled with less variables.

Perhaps this is why every car seems to be plugged into GPS. Even a five-minute drive to the grocery store and the system tells you exactly which lane to drive in and where to turn. Helpful guidance systems are pivotal in a world where travel is unavoidable. Smart apps already exist for most major cities to help travelers maneuver transit systems. However, these are only a drop in the bucket. When there are twenty buses in front of you, and maps and labels all in a foreign language, how helpful are these apps? If cars, trains and buses are all connected—what’s stopping an app from telling users exactly which bus to take, or whether a user is actually on the correct bus?

Connectivity

If all cars in 2025 are going to be connected, what does that mean? It will, first and foremost, create more hotspots and get more people connected to the internet. In the push to connect entire cities and give internet access to all its citizens, connected cars are one of the most obvious means of gaining traction. Having connected cars opens doors for drivers, passengers, and even companies.
83562AQ2HKIn recent years, cars have become a bit more akin to, well, spaceships. There are digital dashes, and it seems to need more software updates than a new smartphone. Worst of all, there is nothing more infuriating than lights on the dash signaling trouble, prompting a visit to the mechanic where it’s discovered all your car needs is a software update. Being connected could mean over-the-air (OTA) updates. When new information is released, an update is far less painful. With a record number of car recalls made last year—many due to software issues—it’s high time customers had easy access to important, and often necessary, updates.

By creating new hotspots, companies will also have access to a brand new set of data. This means better fleet management, and more efficient decision-making. Data gleaned from a car’s countless sensors can also yield interesting information. While driving patterns, vehicle conditions and similar data is not highly valuable to a driver, it can help companies and regulators pinpoint opportunities for innovation. Much of the focus of connected cars is on advertising—yes, advertisers will likely have a brand new way to learn about and market to customers in their cars; however, anyone from city planners to engineers can put untapped data like this to good use. It’s not only about marketing products better, but building better products.

And then, the VW Emissions scandal…

VW has been reeling since the reveal that they lied to U.S. regulators, actively used software to trick emissions tests and, of course, pumped some 1 million tons of unwanted pollutants in the air. While this raises many questions of security in the use of data and the IoT, it also illustrates the importance of interconnectivity. People are curious, and, quite often, skeptical. While the technology and ability to play with VW’s software is currently a bit tough to grasp, normalizing IoT in the automotive sector could lead to more people keeping tabs on their equipment. Creator of the Raspberry Pi computer, Eben Upton, explains that people are willing to experiment and see if what companies tell them is true. Rather than always placing faith in companies, the current culture is one to take the bull by the horns—as is made readily apparent by the popularity of OBD-II apps for consumers. With better connectivity and available IoT solutions, companies may have to look out for new watchdogs.

While shiny new IoT-based apps and add-ons help users parallel park and avoid overloaded cars, those are only the tip of the iceberg. With an area as volatile as IoT, it’s nearly impossible to dream of what innovators will create. Most importantly, the best disruptions will likely come from far more exciting fields than advertising, and dip into unexpected, seemingly unrelated areas. If designers do their jobs, users may not even notice how prevalent IoT is in their future cars and subway systems. Either way, there’s going to be a long, complicated future as the internet takes over the road.

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Big Data and Energy Conservation: Follow the Money https://dataconomy.ru/2015/09/16/big-data-and-energy-conservation-follow-the-money/ https://dataconomy.ru/2015/09/16/big-data-and-energy-conservation-follow-the-money/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2015 15:07:43 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=14049 Energy is a huge conversation and big data is already being used to make incredible changes. It’s leveraged to create better oil and gas practices, keep better tabs on expenditures, and even ramp up the renewable energy movement. With not just one, but countless companies integrating big data practices, the entire nature of energy and […]]]>

Screen Shot 2015-09-16 at 17.06.02Energy is a huge conversation and big data is already being used to make incredible changes. It’s leveraged to create better oil and gas practices, keep better tabs on expenditures, and even ramp up the renewable energy movement. With not just one, but countless companies integrating big data practices, the entire nature of energy and energy consumption may change in surprising ways. Big data is even being called to help combat climate change. The right data could not only raise awareness but lead to real ­world results. But let’s start a little smaller, with something more tangible: the smart meter.

Smart meters are electronic devices that record energy consumption on a usually hourly basis. Compared to usual methods where energy is gauged quarterly or even annually, smart meters keep consumers and providers up­to­date with accurate, relevant information. They help businesses and households understand their energy consumption as well as how to decrease it. Once consumers see how much energy they are wasting and where, there is no doubt many of them will cut back. Whether for financial or environmental reasons, most of us don’t particularly enjoy wasting energy.

FirstFuel Case Study - BusinessInsider
FirstFuel Case Study – BusinessInsider

There are five components to energy consumption: water, air, gas, electricity and steam. Energy analytic software records and analyzes the exact expenditures, breaking consumption down into bite­size pieces. Data technology illuminates that exact point where waste is occurring. For the consumer level, there is (or was) Apple’s smart meter “Nest.” The meter learns your patterns and adjusts energy automatically. For companies, there’s intelligence provider FirstFuel. According to CEO Swapnil Shah “We don’t just say you need more energy­efficient lights. We can tell the building manager he needs to replace five lights on the 14 technologies are often more accurate than an on­site audit, and might leave you baffled by their results. Such analyses helped the GSA discover two large exhaust fans running unnecessarily. The realization led to the fans being reset, and saved about $800,000 in just one year. Strangely enough, Microsoft also used data technology to uncover rogue fans wasting some $60,000.

If it’s so easy and wonderful, why don’t we all have Smart meters?

GE’S chief development officer Paul Rogers noted that such machines could eliminate up to $150 billion in waste, and yet most of us are still doing things the old ­fashioned way.

One huge hang­up about integrating big data and energy consumption is that it is, quite simply, complicated. It’s hard to understand; it’s hard to collect. The last thing a busy person wants to hear is “let me explain to you how big data can save you money.” Trying to shove more information down a consumer’s throat is almost always going to end badly. This is why companies properly utilizing big data are necessary to help those same consumers understand and overcome these hang­-ups.

[bctt tweet=”Let me explain to you how #BigData can save you money.”]

The Laissez­faire approach

Companies like IBM have already gone ahead and wrangled in big data to save big money. The IBM Insights Foundation for Energy isn’t just helping other companies, it represents IBM’s own, very real conservation measures. Again, whether it’s cutting down on expenditures for the environment or your own bottom dollar, the result is the same. IBM saved $43 billion in one year just by cutting back on energy consumption. This cause came about not because of political or social pressure, but because it made sense financially It seems that everyone wins when big data meets energy.

Reaffirming the idea going green equals more green, the manager of Industrial Cyber Security at GE explained just how many billions of dollars some of the world’s largest energy users could save by being more efficient. He adds that data gleaned from connected machines could lead to over $60 billion in savings in the gas power sector alone. It’s clear that big data can help clean up a messy industry by cutting back on wasting precious fuels. But up next, the future.

Big Data and sustainable energy

Building energy efficient cities is a huge field of study that has yielded tangible results. Studies indicate that two­thirds of the population will be living in cities by 2050. This doesn’t simply mean waving goodbye to suburbia, it means facing a host of new problems. How can we accommodate all of those automobiles? What does that mean for power plants and distribution?

Study after study has indicated that big data will be integral to keeping the city of the future running smoothly. Many are suggesting that cities do away with the “ship in goods, ship out waste” paradigm. Hence, the smart grid.

Smart Grid, from 3M
Smart Grid, from 3M

Though it truly sounds like a crazy hyper­-connected sci­-fi world, the smart grid relies on interconnected smart meters, appliances and renewable energy that works as a unit. It can identify faulty parts, and let’s providers predict where energy is most needed or wasted.

The only thing missing in our city of the future is optimized renewable energy. This doesn’t just mean strapping solar panels on every side of an apartment building. Renewable resources are notoriously finicky. They seem unpredictable and intermittent. Only by properly collecting and analyzing data can the potential of these resources be fully harnessed. Hard up­-to-date evidence is necessary for understanding and properly managing these well­ intentioned endeavors.

IBM, once again, proves to be a great example. In 2011 they mixed business with accidental environmental friendliness. Teaming up with energy company Vestas Wind System, IBM used their big data skills to pinpoint exactly where wind turbines would function most efficiently. Making better business decisions meant that Vestas could simultaneously accelerate their own growth while addressing some of the world’s biggest problems. Now, consulting big data before installation, or even visiting the installation site has become widespread.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of how big data will impact our future relationship with energy can be seen in the way global companies have already been utilizing it for years. With names like Microsoft and GE already on the bandwagon, it’s a matter of time until we get to experience it first hand.

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How to Hack a Smart City https://dataconomy.ru/2015/04/13/how-to-hack-a-smart-city/ https://dataconomy.ru/2015/04/13/how-to-hack-a-smart-city/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2015 12:46:36 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=12616 A year ago, Cessar Cerrudo, the CTO at IOActive Labs showed how the poorly secured traffic control system in the US cities can be hacked into and manipulated, much like what we’ve seen in movies like Die Hard 4 and Italian Job. Such vulnerability is common to most countries, using sensor based traffic control measures. […]]]>

A year ago, Cessar Cerrudo, the CTO at IOActive Labs showed how the poorly secured traffic control system in the US cities can be hacked into and manipulated, much like what we’ve seen in movies like Die Hard 4 and Italian Job.

Such vulnerability is common to most countries, using sensor based traffic control measures. The system lacks basic security protections like authentication and data encryption.

A year later, on Wednesday, a security researcher, Cerrudo published a paper that outlines how globally, cities, even though are becoming increasingly smart, remain prone to cyber attacks due to underlying security problems.

“It’s a matter of time until someone launches an attack over some city infrastructure or system,” Cerrudo told Motherboard. “Of course it’s not something simple, but it’s possible.”

Through the report, Cerrudo explains how smart cities are evolving and essentially what makes them smart and then goes over to expose the potential chinks in the armour. And as is evident, there could be many.

He lists out a few security issues that could trigger a chaotic scenario:

  • Lack of Cyber Security Testing
  • Poor or Nonexistent Security
  • Encryption Issues
  • Lack of Computer Emergency Response Teams
  • Large and Complex Attack Surfaces
  • Patch Deployment Issues
  • Insecure Legacy Systems
  • Simple Bugs with Huge Impact
  • Public Sector Issues
  • Lack of Cyber Attack Emergency Plans
  • Susceptibility to Denial of Service
  • Technology Vendors Who Impede Security Research

“The current attack surface for cities is huge and wide open to attack. This is a real and immediate danger. The more technology a city uses, the more vulnerable to cyber attacks it is, so the smartest cities have the highest risks,” he wrote. Through the report Cerrudo also offered recommendations to reduce problems.

“When we see that the data that feeds smart city systems is blindly trusted and can be easily manipulated, that the systems can be easily hacked, and there are security problems everywhere, that is when smart cities become Dumb Cities,” he added.

The report can be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Christopher.F Photography / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

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Uber Plans to Set “New Standard for the Future Development of Our Cities” https://dataconomy.ru/2015/01/14/uber-plans-to-set-new-standard-for-the-future-development-of-our-cities/ https://dataconomy.ru/2015/01/14/uber-plans-to-set-new-standard-for-the-future-development-of-our-cities/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:36:47 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=11406 Uber, the app-based transportation network and taxi service provider, has revealed a data-sharing alliance with Boston authorities, touting it a “first-of-its-kind partnership”. The insights gleaned from Uber’s vast trove of data will assist in developing strategies for the urban sprawl- relieving traffic congestion, expanding public transportation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Mayor, Mr. Martin […]]]>

Uber, the app-based transportation network and taxi service provider, has revealed a data-sharing alliance with Boston authorities, touting it a “first-of-its-kind partnership”.

The insights gleaned from Uber’s vast trove of data will assist in developing strategies for the urban sprawl- relieving traffic congestion, expanding public transportation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Mayor, Mr. Martin J. Walsh said in this regard : “In Boston, data is driving our conversations, our policy making and how we envision the future of our city. We are using data to change the way we deliver services and we welcome the opportunity to add to our resources. This will help us reach our transportation goals, improve the quality of our neighbourhoods and allow us to think smarter, finding more innovative and creative solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.”

Uber will provide Boston with anonymized trip-level data by ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), i.e., data with time stamp on individual trips, distances, durations as well as support for Vision Zero and other transportation safety initiatives, explains an Uber blog post.

However, critics have found the ride-sharing app’s intentions murky, owing to incidents relating to misuse of rider data in the recent past- how this partnership works out, only time will tell.


(Image credit: Uber)

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Top 14 Big Data Books of 2014 https://dataconomy.ru/2014/12/12/top-14-big-data-books-of-2014/ https://dataconomy.ru/2014/12/12/top-14-big-data-books-of-2014/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:20:46 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=10974 2014 has been a huge year in big data- and big data publishing. Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger and Kenneth Cukier re-published and added an extra chapter to their bestselling “Big Data”; Nate Silver graced the publishing world with his presence once more with the Best American Infographics of 2014. We’ve compiled a list of the most insightful, […]]]>

2014 has been a huge year in big data- and big data publishing. Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger and Kenneth Cukier re-published and added an extra chapter to their bestselling “Big Data”; Nate Silver graced the publishing world with his presence once more with the Best American Infographics of 2014. We’ve compiled a list of the most insightful, beautiful, thought-provoking and challenging books on big data this year. Whether you’re a casual data enthusiast or a hardcore statistician, you’re sure to find a book among our selections to add to your Christmas Wishlist.

Big Data A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think1. Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think by Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger & Kenneth Cukier
A collaborative project by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger of the Oxford Internet Institute and Kenneth Cukier of The Economist, “Big Data…” explores how the data explosion is touching every facet of our lives. Protecting us from future diseases and exploding manhole covers, overhauling our retail experiences and transforming every industry, it’s indisputable that the big data revolution is colouring how we experience the world. This book- re-released in paperback this year with an additional chapter- may be the defining guide to big data for uninitiated.
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The Big Data-Driven Business How to Use Big Data to Win Customers, Beat Competitors, and Boost Profits Russell Glass2. The Big Data-Driven Business: How to Use Big Data to Win Customers, Beat Competitors, and Boost Profits by Russell Glass & Sean Callahan
A complaint we hear time and time again is that companies have plentiful data, but no idea how to use it. Contrary to popular belief, hiring a data scientist to crunch some numbers is far from the most effective strategy; industry leaders should be integrating a data-driven approach into every aspect of their company culture. “The Data Driven Business” is an excellent tool for helping to implement such strategies in organisations of any size. Filled with examples of how businesses are using the data to outshine the competition- and cautionary tales about ignoring the insights at your fingertips- this book is a must-have guide for those looking to infuse data into their business practices.
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Advances in Complex Data Modeling and Computational Methods in Statistics3. Advances in Complex Data Modeling and Computational Methods in Statistics by Anna Maria Paganoni and Piercesare Secchi
Truly a statistician’s Bible. A quick glance at the contents page demonstrates that this book offers a comprehensive insight into some of the most widely-used and valuable methods in computational statistics today. It includes:
“Statistical methods for research on the human genome dynamics; inference in non-euclidean settings and for shape data; Bayesian methods for reliability and the analysis of complex data; methodological issues in using administrative data for clinical and epidemiological research; regression models with differential regularization; geostatistical methods for mobility analysis through mobile phone data exploration.”
If that list has inspired more intrigue in you than confusion or fear, buy it now. It will become your most treasured possession.
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Data Architecture A Primer for the Data Scientist Big Data, Data Warehouse and Data Vault Immon4. Data Architecture: A Primer for the Data Scientist: Big Data, Data Warehouse and Data Vault by WH Inmon and Dan Linstedt
New database technologies & data science tools offer data analysis at unprecedented speed and scale; but for most businesses, it’s neither feasible nor desirable to do away with the existing architecture altogether. This technical and insightful read offers a guide into an often-overlooked area of the data scientist’s workflow; how to integrate new big data tools into existing IT architectures. Author Bill Inmon- the man who defined data warehousing, and was the first to offer data warehousing classes to the world- proves to be a knowledgeable guide on infrastructure old and new.
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Data Fluency Empowering Your Organization with Effective Data Communication by Zach Gemignani et al.5. Data Fluency: Empowering Your Organization with Effective Data Communication by Zach Gemignani et al.
Big data the whole company get on board with has certainly been a trend in big data publishing this year, and this book is one of the best. This book- written by a whole troupe of data presentation specialists- walks you through the best practices for data visualisation, communication and presentation. It helps you turn you data into comprehensible and engaging insights, so that your whole organisation can understand and act on the information at hand. The roadmap between data and decision making is often fraught with peril- this book will definitely help you down the path.
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Big Data, Data Mining, and Machine Learning Value Creation for Business Leaders and Practitioners by Jared Dean6. Big Data, Data Mining, and Machine Learning: Value Creation for Business Leaders and Practitioners by Jared Dean
It’s indisputable that big data can create modern companies a huge amount of value- but, as the blurb of this book acknowledges- “having the data and the computational power to process it isn’t nearly enough to produce meaningful results”. This book is aimed at both data science practitioners and business leaders alike, helping both parties to harness data science and reap bottom-line results. This book walks you through many of the key developments in big data technology today- from MPP to in-memory procession, from text mining to machine learning algorithms- and could prove an invaluable resource for industry professionals and data scientists alike.
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6. Smart Cities Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for the New Utopia by Anthony M. Townsend7. Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for the New Utopia by Anthony M. Townsend
It’s becoming increasing clear that we’re living connected, data-infused lives. Perhaps this is most apparent in how our lives as urban citizens are being affected- from the sewage systems to transport, from our stores to wifi access. This book is a fascinating glimpse into how our cities are getting “smart”, drawing on examples from all over the world. An insightful read for urban planners, tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and any city-dweller interested in discovering how smart cities shape how we live, work and see the world.
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Big Data Now  2014 Edition by Raymond I Morridon8. Big Data Now: 2014 Edition by Raymond I Morrison
Every about this book- right down to the front cover- serves as a reminder of just how far we’ve come today. Data warehousing and business intelligence were once considered revolutionary- now, constant monitoring of performance via sensor data, the explosion of the internet and the rise of social media & connected devices have blown such developments out the water. The book serves as a wonderful account of the dizzying heights big data has scaled up to the present moment.
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The Best American Infographics 2014, by Nate Silver and Gareth Cook9. The Best American Infographics 2014, by Nate Silver and Gareth Cook
In what is undoubtedly the most visually pleasing entry on this list Gareth Cook & big data wunderkind Nate Silver explore the year’s best infographics. The infographic has risen to prominence as the medium for making sense of the data deluge, and looking through this beautiful compendium, it’s easy to see why. Ranging topics such as population and demographics to wine pairings, this book is the perfect gift for any aesthetes or data enthusiasts.
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Data Science at the Command Line Facing the Future with Time-Tested Tools by Jeroen Janssens10. Data Science at the Command Line: Facing the Future with Time-Tested Tools by Jeroen Janssens
Janssens, a senior data scientist at YPlan, is on a mission to make the lives of data scientists everywhere easier. This book demonstrates how to the harness the power of the command line, using shell commands and short scripts to join up various tools at your disposal. This book makes a compelling argument as to why the command line is an “agile, scalable, and extensible technology”- and although it might be for everyone, this book could just help you to improve your data science workflow.
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10. Big Data, Big Analytics Emerging Business Intelligence by Dio L Herben11. Big Data, Big Analytics: Emerging Business Intelligence by Dio L Herben
Named as one of our Top Acquisition Trends for 2014, Business Intelligence is certainly still a massively valuable and relevant space. But BI is not the same as it used to be- it’s moved away from merely retrospective analysis of historic data, and towards real-time, operational analytics- and even predictive analytics which forecast future performance. This book is an invaluable read for anyone in the BI sphere looking to discover how big data has transformed BI, and keep abreast of the latest trends in a field which continues to adapt and innovate.
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Trendology Building an Advantage through Data-Driven Real-Time Marketing by Chris Kerns12. Trendology: Building an Advantage through Data-Driven Real-Time Marketing by Chris Kerns
As you might expect from a book by marketers for marketers, everything about this book is attention grabbing. The cover, the contents- even the blurb:
Should an airline be talking about the royal baby? What’s a candy bar doing Tweeting about a soccer match? Since when does laundry detergent weigh in on TV shows? Those conversations seem crazy, right? They’re mismatched, they’re nonsense…and they are working.
This book takes a data-driven approach to examining the real-time marketing strategies of some of the world’s biggest brands on Twitter, including Disney, MTV, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, BMW, J.C. Penney, Nike, Sony, IKEA. It uncovers what has made these brands into the social behemoths they are today- and proves to be an insightful guide into how just about any business can emulate some of their success.
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Practical Data Science Cookbook13. Practical Data Science Cookbook, by Tony Ojeda, Sean Patrick Murphy, Benjamin Bengfort, and Abhijit Dasgupta
Our favourite book published this year for the aspiring data scientist. Rather than offering a mere glossary of technologies, and no insight into the day-to-day work and best practices of a data scientist, this book delves into what a data scientist actually does. Filled with data science projects, pipelines and programming challenges in R and Python, this book is fantastic starting point for anyone looking into the fast-growing and fascinating field of data science.
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Data Science and Big Data Analytics14. Data Science and Big Data Analytics by EMC Education Services
The last entry on our list is somewhat of a cheat, as it’s yet to be publically released, but we have high hopes for EMC’s training manual for budding data scientists. Covering how to contribute to a data science team, what a data science lifecycle looks like and the key techniques you may need to use, this is a great resource for aspiring data scientists. It’s also released the day before Valentine’s Day- why not order it for your data-obssessed significant other? We can’t think of a more romantic gift.
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What the Future Holds for the Internet of Things & Smart Cities https://dataconomy.ru/2014/09/30/what-the-future-holds-for-the-internet-of-things-smart-cities/ https://dataconomy.ru/2014/09/30/what-the-future-holds-for-the-internet-of-things-smart-cities/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:41:11 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=9549 In the latest installment of our expert interviews about the future of the Internet of Things, we discuss the promise of these smart cities with RF Code‘s VP of Worldwide Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Richard Jenkins. As a leading environmental monitoring and asset management solutions provider, RF Code have been working within the RFID and […]]]>

What the Future Holds for the Internet of Things & Smart Cities Richard JenkinsIn the latest installment of our expert interviews about the future of the Internet of Things, we discuss the promise of these smart cities with RF Code‘s VP of Worldwide Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Richard Jenkins. As a leading environmental monitoring and asset management solutions provider, RF Code have been working within the RFID and Internet of Things space for over a decade, and are uniquely placed to offer insights into what the future holds for the internet of things and smart cities.


Why do you think the interest in the Internet of Things and smart cities has grown so much in recent years?

The Internet of Things describes the connection of people and things, via the internet, to other people and things. The IoT is all about data, how that data is used to extract valuable information and, subsequently, how that information is used to improve ‘something’.

Public interest has grown through the invention and availability of consumer devices and interconnected media. We socialize instantaneously through mobile devices that track our every activity and now wearable technology is enabling the monitoring and understanding of our health, sport and environmental interactions.

From a commercial perspective, the IoT has been around longer, but not always under its current much-hyped moniker. Supply chains have tracking devices, the retail industry manages inventory using RFID and critical assets in healthcare are located in real-time to ensure they are where they should be, when they are needed.

The commercial value of the IoT is rapidly becoming indispensable; a competitive differentiator that could not only affect success, but also the existence of brands and services if not utilized correctly. Automated communities, product development and accurate management of organizations’ facilities and data centers further increases profitability and market dominance.
What the Future Holds for the Internet of Things and Smart CitiesWhat are the opportunities that the IoT and sensor data open up to us? Are there any current uses you find particularly interesting?

The applications are almost limitless but that is where a common issue lies. Too many people discuss an ambitious world vision where data from countless sources is shared and utilized. This vision may eventually occur in the future but currently there are three areas with tangible benefits:

  • The inbound corporate IoT – real-time intelligence and a competitive differentiator that delivers realistic corporate outcomes
  • The internal IoT – intelligent buildings, the smart office, operational control and efficiency
  • Smart urban infrastructure management – transport and traffic efficiency, utilities management, healthcare advancement, public services

Take the intelligent business as an example – with integrated internal and inbound IoT environments, the business knows in real-time what something is, its available capacity, where it is, where it is going and what condition it is in.

This combination of sensor networks, advanced data analytics and business process management ensures a business can be connected from the customer all the way to the boardroom.

What about the challenges?

Maintaining focus is critical. Thinking ‘Big’ is undeniably valuable for certain sectors – financial services, healthcare and other public services – but for the majority, a targeted and strategic implementation of sensor data will deliver positive outcomes and benefit our lives.

Data security and scalability are issues, but the largest challenge is how to store, analyze, predict and utilize the data being generated and collated. The IoT relies entirely on the data center. Businesses and governments have to address data center inefficiency before they can strive forward with the IoT.

How will the rise of the Internet of Things change our data warehousing requirements?

Data warehousing is an interesting term as the IoT will put significant pressure on both the application (storage, Big Data analytics, etc.) of the IoT and the facilities in which these massive data processing environments are housed.

The aforementioned focus will be the only method that ensures the IoT data deluge does not confound organizations. Understanding what is relevant and valuable, and then how it can be used to better the provision of products or services will be critical. The data center allows an organization to collate, analyze, predict and act on data which, ultimately, will keep the hub of any company running.

How intelligent do you think intelligent cities are going to get? What possible future applications do you foresee?

We already see cities looking at far more intelligent uses of sensor networks. Today, the infrastructure that runs cities – transportation, utilities, traffic flow, financial services – are using a rudimentary level of sensors. As population density increases, the public’s expectations increase, (and technology advances), so the instrumentation of cities will demand unprecedented data center infrastructure and data analytics.

Intelligent buildings that manage their own lighting, temperature, power distribution, IT networks and space are increasingly being assessed. The power demands of data centers, and their associated climatic impact, is driving the deployment of sophisticated environmental monitoring technology, with positive results seeing rewards from energy companies and governments. Elsewhere asset control in hospitals is leading to improved patient care and lower treatment costs.

The IoT is already having an impact of the quality of our lives and will, noticeably, drive new economies and allow a small planet to accommodate a large number of people!


(Image credit: Brian Koprowski)

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New Jersey Pushes Big Data Bill to Enhance Capabilities as a leader in Innovation https://dataconomy.ru/2014/09/29/new-jersey-pushes-big-data-bill-to-enhance-capabilities-as-a-leader-in-innovation/ https://dataconomy.ru/2014/09/29/new-jersey-pushes-big-data-bill-to-enhance-capabilities-as-a-leader-in-innovation/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2014 08:33:44 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=9506 Experts in the U.S. state of New Jersey believe that the conception of data sources and the resultant deluge of digital data is affecting all sectors of industry, academia and society. Underlying obstacles with the collection, management and analysis of troves of data sets permeate many industry sectors in New Jersey. Last week saw a […]]]>

Experts in the U.S. state of New Jersey believe that the conception of data sources and the resultant deluge of digital data is affecting all sectors of industry, academia and society. Underlying obstacles with the collection, management and analysis of troves of data sets permeate many industry sectors in New Jersey.

Last week saw a conglomerate of academia, government officials and industry spearheads come together to set up a silo for the massive amounts of data collected through sensor cameras, weather data, the Internet, social media and a variety of other sources, throughout the state.

According to Courier Post, Governor Chris Christie officially signed a bill that recognizes the New Jersey Big Data Alliance as the state’s advanced cyber-infrastructure consortium. providing NJBDA legitimacy in the eyes of industry, informed Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, the associate vice president for economic development at Rutgers University.

“The NJBDA will increase public and private access to advanced cyber-infrastructure, increase the ability of member institutions to secure federal funding and enhance the state’s competitiveness to attract and retain industry,” she added.

“New Jersey is open for innovation,” said outgoing Assemblyman and Deputy Speaker Upendra Chivukula. “The legislation is a big step in strengthening New Jersey’s hand in attracting investment, retaining high-tech jobs and creating real economic growth. I look forward to finding ways to capitalize on this opportunity in my new position at the BPU.”

(Image credit: EJP Photo)

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Chicago: Improving City Life with Big Data https://dataconomy.ru/2014/06/23/chicago-improving-city-life-big-data/ https://dataconomy.ru/2014/06/23/chicago-improving-city-life-big-data/#respond Mon, 23 Jun 2014 06:16:38 +0000 https://dataconomy.ru/?p=5945 Follow @DataconomyMedia A report from The Chicago Council on Global Affairs was released this month aiming to tackle the question of how big data can be used in municipal and government decision-making. Using specific examples from the City of Chicago, the report suggests that as cities become more populated, officials will have to implement big data analytics to […]]]>

report from The Chicago Council on Global Affairs was released this month aiming to tackle the question of how big data can be used in municipal and government decision-making. Using specific examples from the City of Chicago, the report suggests that as cities become more populated, officials will have to implement big data analytics to improve the delivery of goods, depth of services, and the quality of life.

The report looks at four sectors that could benefit from big data and where early action will have significant benefits. Below is a summary of each sector:

1)    Energy – The report calls upon the amount of energy that is wasted due to ineffective management and distribution of power. “Smart grids”, a network of power lines and substations that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage, is one way data will help cities increase efficiency and decrease costs. As the report says, “eventually, as more data becomes available and smart grids develop, we expect to see significant changes in both suppy and demand that will increase reliability and reduce costs and environmental impact.” One example of this is the “smart-grid bill” (formally known as the Energy Infrastructure and Modernization Act), which will see ComEd, a major electricity company, invest $2.6 billion in smart grid implementation in Chicago and install smart meters in 1.3 million homes by 2018.

2)    Transportation – The use of analytics in transportation is vital to the way a city “moves.” The report highlights that, “providing efficient movement of people and goods locally, nationally, and internationally is critical to a vibrant and thriving city.” To ensure transportation runs smoothly, open and available data should be accessible by the public. As such, the report shows two case studies where open data helps improve transportation: 1) Chicago Traffic Tracker, a website that provides real-time traffic conditions on arterial streets, average daily traffic volumes, traffic signal locations, pedestrian counts, and automated red light enforcement programme intersections through the city. 2) Train and Bus Tracker, a programme that estimates arrival times, produces customer alerts, allows users to track a bus in real-time, and many more functions. The Chicago Transport Authority sees around 1.6 million trips taken on the transit system daily and collects a massive amount of data – On travel routes, the way people get on and off each bus/train stop and where these trains and busses are in real-time. All of this information, the report claims, can be leveraged to improve reliability and quality of public transport.

3)    Education – With one of the worst graduation results and test scores, the Chicago Public School System (CPS) has implemented data analytics to understand the causes of this and make timely and meaningful adjustments to address “critical gaps in school and student performance, student safety, and job preparedness.” In 2003 the graduation rate was 44 percent, and now it is 65.4 percent – which big data played a part in, according to the study. The study goes on to say, “by collecting and analysing linked data sets, researchers can develop a clearer understanding of what drives student performance and test whether new initiatives are successful at addressing gaps in the education system”

4)    Public Safety – To combat the recent surge in crime, Chicago is employing big data analytics to better coordinate responses, anticipate crimes, provide social services, “understand the criminal landscape, and quantify outcomes.” Big data, the study claims, has helped law enforcement create “social networks” that, for example, “indentify individuals who are more likely to be crime victims and thus allow for better targeting of prevention stratgeies.”

Read the report here

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