Improving medical diagnosis, testing with big data
The healthcare industry is rife with patient information that could be leveraged with big data tools to provide more focused treatment and reduce operational expenses for medical facilities. The increased adoption rate of electronic health record systems has given more healthcare organizations the datasets needed to glean meaningful insights about their operations. According to a report issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the number of acute-care hospitals using EHR systems tripled between 2019 and 2012, rising to 44 percent. Although hospital officials have only just begun to scratch the surface of the potential presented by Hadoop big data, many facilities have launched analytics programs that showcase the benefits of the technology.
Providing more accurate diagnoses
CIO.com recently outlined several aspects of the healthcare industry that could be immensely improved with big data tools. For instance, data analytics could help mitigate the risk resulting from "cookbook medicine" diagnosis methods.…
Big data’s potential for realtors
The real estate industry experienced a considerable rough patch over the past few years. The recent recession sapped many prospective home owners of their buying power, leading to fewer sales and plummeting prices. The real estate market has only just recently shown signs of improvement. A forecast released by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young predicted the national average home price would rise 6 percent this year before leveling out at 5 percent in 2015, according to the National Mortgage Professional Magazine. In addition, the Christian Science Monitor reported that figures compiled by the National Association of Realtors showed that the median price of houses sold in March of this year had risen nearly 12 percent compared to the same period in 2012.
The real estate industry still has a long way to go, however. Inman News pointed out that there are several obstacles for realtors to overcome in order to increase their sales.…
Big data aids video game designers
As the Hadoop big data market continues to grow, more enterprises are finding new ways to take advantage of the technology's superior processing power. Regardless of their industry or sector, any organization that generates data can utilize these tools. The video game industry, for example, has long been an excellent candidate for big data implementation. According to the NDP Group's annual market study, video game sales in the United States totaled $14.8 billion in 2012, Financial Post reported.
Not only does the industry as a whole generate massive revenue, but the individual projects can require substantial investments from companies. The New York Times reported that one recent release, "BioShock Infinite," cost developers an estimated $100 million dollars. Analysts who spoke to the news outlet said marketing expenses to support the game could be expected to add another $100 million to total production costs.…
Smart cities taking off with big data
One of the most intriguing uses of data analytics and Hadoop big data tools has been the development of smart cities. By analyzing data gathered from a number of sources ranging from environmental sensors and traffic data, researchers can discern the most effective ways to operate a metropolitan district and improve the quality of living for its denizens. Interest in the field has steadily increased and is expected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. According to report released by Global Information, the smart city technology market is predicted to grow from last year's $6.1 billion mark to $20.2 billion by 2020.
Many European cities have already invested heavily in the burgeoning technology and the results are beginning to roll in. IT PRO reported that Glasgow, Scotland, was recently selected to provide the first demonstration of the U.K.'s "Future Cities" project.…
Using data analytics to improve building efficiency
The amount of electricity needed to operate a commercial building is staggering. According to the Department of Energy, commercial buildings account for nearly 20 percent of all the energy consumption in the United States. Offices, schools and retailers are notable offenders, representing half of all commercial building energy use. Many of these building occupants practice wasteful energy practices, including skyscrapers leaving their lights on through the night or running central heating and cooling units when no one is present. The good news is that these buildings' systems collect a great deal of information, which means that Hadoop big data tools can be deployed to find solutions.
Data Informed recently outlined how data analytics resources could be used to help building managers find more efficient means to run critical operations. Using the information gathered by heating systems, lighting controls and energy meters, big data tools can customize automated functions to create an optimal environment for an individual building.…
Using data analytics to improve building efficiency
The amount of electricity needed to operate a commercial building is staggering. According to the Department of Energy, commercial buildings account for nearly 20 percent of all the energy consumption in the United States. Offices, schools and retailers are notable offenders, representing half of all commercial building energy use. Many of these building occupants practice wasteful energy practices, including skyscrapers leaving their lights on through the night or running central heating and cooling units when no one is present. The good news is that these buildings' systems collect a great deal of information, which means that Hadoop big data tools can be deployed to find solutions.
Data Informed recently outlined how data analytics resources could be used to help building managers find more efficient means to run critical operations. Using the information gathered by heating systems, lighting controls and energy meters, big data tools can customize automated functions to create an optimal environment for an individual building.…
Protecting data in Hadoop
Once an enterprise has its Hadoop platform up and running, it may want to consider employing security measures to protect all of the valuable data it is amassing on its servers. Cybercriminals can find many ways to profit from information, regardless of the industry or field of research. The effects of a data breach can damage any organization. Data analytics research projects can be compromised and sensitive information can be stolen. If a company using personal customer information had its databases breached, the public fallout and erosion of consumer confidence could be harmful. In order to prevent these unfortunate outcomes, data analytics researchers should ensure that their Hadoop big data projects are well secured.
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Journal contributor Manmeet Singh recently outlined several steps that organizations can take to protect their big data projects. One of the major aspects of big data security that managers should take into consideration is preparation.…
Government targets money laundering with big data
Money laundering has been a major tool used by criminal syndicates all over the world in order to hide revenue generated by their illegal enterprises. Terrorist organizations, illegal arms dealers and drug cartels all use laundering procedures to prevent law enforcement agents from tracking their money and establishing a clear connection between criminal activity and generated revenue. According to the United States government's Financial Action Task Force, approximately $1.6 trillion of criminal revenue is laundered each year.
Because money laundering activity is hidden in plain sight, it can be enormously difficult for law enforcement officials to identify it. However, officials from the U.S. Treasury Department said big data may provide a potential solution. Security Management reported that the agency's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) had begun deploying data analytics tools to help its agents better identify instances of money laundering.
Uncovering money launderers with big data
Federal investigators have used a software tool called the FinCEN Query to comb through 11 years' worth of Suspicious Activity Reports compiled under the Bank Secrecy Act.…
British retail giant receives big data results
Brick and mortar retailers in the United Kingdom have not had it easy as of late. Like virtually every other nation in the world, the U.K. seen its e-commerce market surge in recent years, providing considerable competition to existing retailers. According to a February eMarketer study, ecommerce sales in the U.K. increased 14.4 percent to approximately $124.76 billion in 2012. E-commerce sales in the nation are nearly three times larger than in Germany, which is the second-largest market in Western Europe. In addition, the U.K. spends more per person – $3,585 – on e-commerce sales than any other country in the world. A separate report released by the Boston Consulting Group found that online sales accounted for 8.3 percent of the entire U.K. economy.
Big data provides relief for struggling retailers
With all of these obstacles stacked in front of them, British retailers need any advantage they can get.…
Big data spending on the rise
Big data and Hadoop software have provided enterprises from different industries with the resources to tackle a number of issues. The many success stories for data analytics appear to be spreading as more enterprises invest in the technology.
MarketsandMarkets recently released a study detailing the success of the big data market across the globe. According to researchers' findings, the worldwide Hadoop market is predicted to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 54.9 percent through 2017. Last year, the global market was worth $1.56 billion, but that figure is expected to reach $13.95 billion in 2017.
According to the report, businesses are using Apache Hadoop to provide real-time analytics to a wide variety of unstructured data covering everything from internet traffic to information collected from environmental sensors. Hadoop applications have been deployed by organizations looking to enhance their customer engagement, recruitment and retention practices as well as enterprises seeking more scientific applications such as is the case in the healthcare industry.…
Improving waste management with big data
Over the past few decades, waste management has become an important issue in the United States. As Americans consume more, they inevitably create more waste that needs to be disposed of. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the population of the United States created approximately 250 million tons of trash in 2010. In response to these growing demands, the American waste management sector has grown into an $85 billion a year industry, according to a report published by First Research.
Operational costs for these businesses are not cheap, however. Trucks, manpower and resources can be a major expense for waste management companies. One Finnish business, however, is attempting to reduce the costs of operating a waste management enterprise with the help of data analytics. GigaOM reported that Helsinki-based Enevo is using big data solutions to develop technology that could help waste disposal businesses make their operations more efficient.…
Improving postal services with data analytics
The outlook for government-funded postal services has been pretty dismal over the last few years. Operating budgets are tightening while organizations are still expected to provide timely and reliable delivery services at an unrealistically low cost. These policies have resulted in record losses among the world's postal agencies. The United States Postal Service, for example, reported a $15.9 billion loss for the 2012 fiscal year, prompting its officials to scale back delivery services.
Although funded by governments, mailing agencies are not much different from private businesses. They need to provide customers with satisfying products, reduce wasteful practices and effectively market services in order to make a profit. Many companies have used big data tools to address these issues and there is no reason that postal services could not do the same.
CIO reported that Australia Post launched a data analytics program in 2011 in order to monitor cash flow and predict revenue forecasts.…
Improving retail sales through big data
The spread of ecommerce businesses has created a formidable threat to the continued prosperity of physical retail stores. More consumers are turning toward online stores because of their convenience and low prices. The proliferation of mobile devices has made this trend even more pronounced with many shoppers having access to digital shops anytime and anywhere. In order to compete, retailers need to leverage every advantage they can get. Fortunately, big data analytics can help.
Creating a more personalized experience
In a recent ClickZ article, big data expert Krishnan Parasuraman offered several ways that retailers could improve their business with data analytics software. One method was to use big data tools to provide a more personalized experience for shoppers. Online stores have it easy in this regard since from the moment a customer logs into his or her account, the site has access to personal information, order histories and shopping preferences to craft an individualized marketing and sales approach.…
Tackling water conservation with big data
Sustaining the American Southwest's growing population has been a matter of concern for years now. Despite the region's inhospitable desert environment, the area has seen a massive influx of inhabitants recently. According to the United States Global Change Research Program, the increasing number of people will continue to compete for a scarce and rapidly depleted resource - water. Exacerbating this issue even further will be projected climate changes over the course of the next century. By 2090, the average temperature in the Southwest is expected to increase by 4 to 10 degrees F above the historical baseline.
Water availability becoming an increasing problem
Inhabitants will not have to wait 100 years for water access to become a problem. Major reservoirs have been faced with overuse and lower levels as a result of extended drought conditions. For instance, the American Southwest should be using at most 40 percent of the water contained in the Colorado River Basin, reported Science Daily.…
Improving education with big data
Big data has not saturated the education field in quite the same way as other sectors such as retail, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. However, the technology has just as much to offer administrators looking to improve their institutions. Schools generate huge volumes of data, from test scores to admissions numbers. With the advent of online coursework, the amount of data available to school officials has exploded. This information can be leveraged with big data tools to not only enhance the business side of academics but also improve the overall quality of education provided to students.
SmartData Collective contributor Ana Andreescu recently argued for big data solutions to be more widely used in academia, citing the example of the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies' efforts to launch data mining projects using approximately three million student course records. The initiative has allowed the organization to gain insight into the relationships between retention rates, performance and demographics.…