From spreadsheets to operational outputs – case studies in enabling human, animal and environmental health intelligence

Dr. Uli Muellner

Managing Director, Epi-Interactive

Abstract

Whilst there are growing pressures on analysts and researchers to create intelligence from existing data streams and on decision-makers to act on insights created, this is in practice not easily achieved and commonly requires considerable effort and change. For starters, it can be a difficult transition to move from manual processes (such as spreadsheet-based data management) to automated analytics. Similarly, it can be challenging to translate complex outputs into easy-to-navigate and digestible data visualisations that don’t create cognitive overload and are fit for purpose. Given these complexities it is often difficult to identify priority starting points and to choose the most suitable tools to work with.

This talk will showcase several intelligence tools we had the opportunity to contribute to, including MAISRC’s AIS Explorer, WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) data visualisations and dashboard, New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries’ Climate Matching Tool and the disease modelling application Epidemix. Uli will showcase challenges and how they were overcome and share success stories to inspire others to give it a go.