By Ejaz Hussain – Lead Data Scientist
What is machine learning?
To make it simple and short, “machine learning is one of the foundational branches of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which focuses on the use of data and mathematical based calculations (algorithms) to imitate the way we (as humans) learn, and then gradually improve its accuracy to predict outcomes (results)”.
What is predictive modelling in machine learning?
In a nutshell, predictive modelling is “a statistical technique using machine learning and data processing to predict and forecast likely future outcomes (results) with the support of historical and existing data”. Predictive modelling works by analysing historical and current data where it projects what it learns using a model ‘forecasting likely’ outcomes.
Machine learning examples and initiatives
Machine learning practices has helped many businesses in both private and public sector and potential for opportunities are unlimited which really support local businesses to achieve their targets. To make it more relevant for the London Borough of Hounslow, here are few examples which have acted as a driver for a greater change.
- Data Science helped identify potential savings of over £581m for the NHS – click here to view detailed article.
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics using machine learning in a completely new way to improve climate models – click here to view detailed article.
- Data Science to tackle ‘global targets for sustainable development’ which are set by the United Nations – click here to view detailed article.
How Data Science and Predictive Analytics can contribute to sustainable development
In the past, data science practices were limited to the top fortune 500 global businesses, however; there is a larger shift where data science is now adopted by nearly all private and public sector organisations which is mainly due to big data ease of access and reduced costs of using open-source technologies.
The illustration below is one of the examples, set by the United Nations where the focus is on data science and analytics. In this example, data is an integral part where we (London Borough of Hounslow) can step in and support the common goal which is to make our world safer and sustainable.
