RAND > Topics >

Big Data

  • A man being interviewed by police in dark interrogation room

    Commentary

    What Data Is the Government Keeping About You?

    Governments are amassing a wealth of data on citizens, a trend that will continue as technology advances. But with no reliable way to ensure that the data is accurate, risks abound. In the criminal justice system, for example, poor quality data could affect individual freedoms and employability.

    Mar 1, 2017

  • Man opening a black box with a light inside

    Commentary

    No Company Should Be Able to Keep You from Checking Your Government's Math

    Data and computer models are becoming more and more important for making policy decisions on everything from prison sentences to tax bills. But citizens should be able to “check the math” on decisions that affect them.

    Jan 18, 2017

  • Police desk with crime case records containing a mobile phone, photos, and keys

    Report

    Preparing the U.S. Legal System for Emerging Technologies

    Personal technology gathers data that can be useful in criminal justice proceedings. But this can also pose challenges for protecting individual rights. Identifying future conflicts ahead of time can help.

    Jan 10, 2017

  • News Release

    News Release

    Rise of Technology in Criminal Proceedings Poses Risk to Protecting Individuals' Rights

    Personal devices like fitness trackers and smartphones are likely to be used increasingly in criminal investigations. Such technology offers new tools to law enforcement, but raises unique issues regarding constitutional rights such as self-incrimination.

    Jan 10, 2017

  • Report

    Report

    Defining the Roles, Responsibilities, and Functions for Data Science Within the Defense Intelligence Agency

    This report addresses and recommends potential methods for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to identify, hire, and organize data scientists.

    Nov 17, 2016

  • Digital silhouettes of people

    Commentary

    How to Rethink Data Privacy

    Society benefits from the exchange of large-scale data in many ways. Anonymization is the usual mechanism for addressing the privacy of data subjects. Unfortunately, anonymization is broken.

    Oct 5, 2016

  • Double decker bus going by Big Ben and Parliament in London, UK

    Commentary

    Looking Out the Window to Transport in 2035

    The UK's roads, railways, and airports are some of the most congested in the world. Exploring future transport scenarios and the technologies that will drive them can help guide today's policy and investment decisions.

    Jun 27, 2016

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Travel in Britain in 2035: Future scenarios and their implications for technology

    By 2035 UK transport infrastructure may be severely congested. Innovate UK commissioned this study to explore how technology might address the congestion problem by using capacity more efficiently, supporting modal choice and managing travel demand.

    Jun 24, 2016

  • Red bus passing over Westminster bridge with Big Ben in the background, London, UK

    Report

    Travel in Britain in 2035

    Without substantial investment, the UK will experience severe congestion across its transport infrastructure by 2035. How might emerging technologies be able to address the problem?

    Jun 24, 2016

  • Cloud computing and lightning

    Commentary

    Cloud Computing: Can Data Localization Threaten Future Growth?

    A growing number of constraints have been imposed around the world on information in the cloud, fueling concerns that the Internet—the economic engine of the information age—may become hopelessly fragmented.

    Apr 29, 2016

  • A fish-eye view of a rack of computers

    Report

    Using Big Data to Identify the Concerns of Potential Army Recruits

    How has interest in military careers evolved over time and by geographic location? And what are potential recruits' biggest concerns related to the Army? Anonymous data from Internet searches can provide insight.

    Mar 9, 2016

  • Report

    Report

    The Digital Catapult and productivity: A framework for productivity growth from sharing closed data

    This study frames thinking about how the Digital Catapult can contribute to economic productivity. The Digital Catapult targets market and innovation inefficiencies that likely inhibit the up-take of data-driven innovation across sectors.

    Sep 22, 2015

  • Satellite image of the United States at night

    Essay

    How Smart Grids Can Change the Way We Live

    A modernized, “smart” grid could change how much you pay for electricity, where it comes from, and how likely you are to lose it in a summer storm. But has the reality of the smart grid kept pace with the promise?

    Apr 27, 2015

  • Brochure

    Brochure

    Spotlight on 2014

    Spotlight 2014 is RAND Europe’s annual review. We present our research to support policymaking in four areas of transformation: harnessing the power of ICT, safeguarding society, building healthier communities and innovating for efficiency.

    Jan 27, 2015

  • Holding a tablet computer with a weather icon

    Report

    The Adoption of New Smart-Grid Technologies

    A smart grid for the United States could have large-scale benefits. There are technological, economic, and regulatory barriers, but new policies or changes to policy could help overcome them.

    Jan 15, 2015

  • Montage of images depicting big data and public policy

    Project

    Exploring the Links Between Big Data and Public Policy

    Understanding the context and impacts of the complex problems associated with big data, as well as related cultural and governance issues and policy frameworks, is important to businesses, governments, research organisations, citizens and policymakers. RAND Europe connects diverse strands across these areas.

    Sep 29, 2014

  • intelligence specialist monitors automatic identification systems aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush

    Report

    'Cloud' System Could Help Navy Analysts Consume Expanding Ocean of Data

    The Navy has a growing demand for intelligence to help Navy vessels avoid collisions, pinpoint targets, and perform other vital tasks. But the amount of data it may collect in the future is more than it can process today. “Cloud” strategies offer promising options.

    May 1, 2014

  • Content

    Content

    Rebecca Balebako

    Information Scientist
    Education PhD in engineering and public policy, Carnegie Mellon University; BA in Math, Asian Studies, Mount Holyoke College

  • Content

    Content

    Julie A. Brown

    Director of Survey Market Development
    Education B.A. in social ecology, University of California, Irvine

  • Content

    Content

    Andrew Michael Cady

    Assistant Policy Analyst; Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School
    Education M.Phil. in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; B.S. in economics, U.S. Air Force Academy