RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS
HARNESSING BIG DATA
The Research and Analytics team is responsible for maintaining information and datasets, creating maps and other data visualizations, and performing analysis in support of the organization’s programs and local member data needs. PYTHON SCRIPTING AND AUTOMATION Over the last year, GNRC’s research team has developed a powerful programming script to automate data collection and management. This new tool will save significant time over the prior method of manually downloading files from multiple public data sources and will increase data integrity by minimizing human error. The efficiency will allow the team to be more responsive to member requests for data and analytics. HISTORIC LAND COVER GNRC’s research team has prepared new analyses of the trends in regional coverage for tree canopy, farmland, and impervious surface over the last 25 years. Developing an in-house methodology, the team has converted historical information from the National Land Cover Database into comparable data sets to assess the loss of tree canopy and ag land, and the gains in impervious surface since 2001. The analysis is a major step in forecasting future changes across the landscape to help communities understand the impacts of growth on environmental quality, stormwater management, and the ag economy.
One of the biggest challenges facing the research team is processing sizable complex data sets, or Big Data, beyond traditional processing techniques. Big Data’s value is its ability to improve analytics which reveals hidden patterns or relationships beyond GNRC’s traditional modeling and data analysis processes. Over the last year, the Research and Analytics team has been assessing the impacts the expansion of data set sizes will have on computing resources and how current data sources will enhance the development of the Regional Council’s products.
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