GREEN BUILDING GUIDE
Scientists are using it to analyse vast volumes of
medical records to spot patterns of disease. Farmers
are embracing it to maximise crop yields. Police forces
are scrutinising it to fight crime. Manufacturers are
employing it to customise their products. And retail
giants are employing it to drive foot traffic. Data is
transforming every industry around the world.
Each of us generates data whenever we jump online,
switch on our smartphones, chat to our friends through
social media or pay for a purchase with our credit card.
We leave a digital impression wherever we go.
Every business collects information on its customers
and sales, its operations and future opportunities. But
until recently, most of that data sat in unwieldly Excel
spreadsheets, or in a series of isolated software packages.
While it’s always been possible to collate and crunch
numbers, it’s only in the last few years that the massive
increases in data collection and storage, together with
immense computing power, has enabled deep analysis
of this data.
Big data is about taking all that data and analysing it
to create more value. And one of the biggest value adds
will be found in the footprint of our cities.
One of the most popular sessions at this year’s Green
Cities conference, which brought together the leaders
in Australia sustainable property industry, explored the
role data will play in creating sustainable cities.
“Information flows faster than ever before in history,”
said futurist Chris Riddell “And data is the new oil. We
need to find it, mine it and refine it.”
The Internet of Things – the interconnection of
everyday objects to computers, enabling them to send
and receive data – is “transforming our cities”, Riddell
told the Green Cities audience.
Catherine Caruana-McManus, a serial disruptor who
has launched successful internet businesses including
whitepages.com.au, said we are rapidly moving from “a
world full of data to a data-driven world”.
GOVLINK » ISSUE 2 2017
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