Some large-scale research projects require acquiring, aggregating, manipulating, analyzing, and reporting on a multitude of data sets. Sometimes, the outputs may even connect to real-time systems, such as data dashboards or sensor networks, which need to be configured as a result of the analysis. For example, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is derived from a multitude of data regarding species sightings, habitat loss, and climate predictions. Among this data is output from the Centre for Earth Observation, which itself constructs complex models that assimilate data. As another example, a network of sensing buoys may receive control inputs from a control system that sends commands on the basis of weather predictions and mission inputs.

Some inputs must be protected. For example, locations of threatened species may be useful in the analysis but need to be kept private lest poachers destroy those populations. Thus, although this scenario benefits from openness and transparency in general, not everything can be made public.

Investigators: Michael Coblenz, Anil Madhavapeddy, Cyrus Omar