Apex Data Analytics Engine

S&T’s Apex Data Analytics Engine (DA-E) applies leading-edge data analytics research and development techniques to enable user-focused, data-driven solutions for the missions of the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE). DA-E operates a state of the art data analytics laboratory infrastructure to support mission relevant evaluations of strategic data research and development, emerging technology assessments and rapid experimentation.

Technologies

Working with industry, academia, government technologists and end-users, DA-E strategically develops and adapts existing and emerging data-driven solutions for:

Data Wrangling and Preparation
Distributed Storage Architectures
Advanced Computational Concepts
Analytics and Visualization
Human Centered Systems
Decision Support and Business Processes
Privacy and Security
Analytics for the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems

Applications

Partnering with DHS Components, technologists and end-users, DA-E addresses mission needs including:

Fraud Detection
Law Enforcement
Risk-based Screening
Integrated Security and Privacy Operations
Informed Resource Allocation for Disaster Response and Recovery
Situational Awareness for Field Operations and First Responders
Real-time Analytics for Threat Assessment

Resources

Collaborating across the HSE, DA-E is building an active and empowered community of practice for big data and innovation. Throughout the year, we lead information exchanges and hands-on workshops to strengthen partnerships and develop a community that can effectively leverage Big Data and innovation methodologies. Educational materials, open-source tools and summaries of recent engagements include:

Data Analytics:

Predictive Analytics Center Bootcamp: Introduction to R Curriculum
Predictive Analytics Center Workshop Highlight: Tessera Open Source Environment for Deep Analysis of Large Complex Data, including Trelliscope Large-Scale Visualization Tool
Big Data Industry Technology Day Videos
Big Data 101 slides

Innovation Methodology, Maker Movement, and Civic Hackathons:

Ideation Community of Practice (ICOP) monthly meetings: Government Innovators can subscribe here
Crowdsourcing Ideation in Government Workshop with DigitalGov and the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies (OCSIT)
DC Mini Maker Faire and White House Maker Faire Fact Sheet
Civic Hardware Hackathon in support of the White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Initiative

Work with Us

DA-E engages with DHS components and other government agencies to identify and transition capabilities for exploring, evaluating and implementing emerging technologies in data storage, computation, analytics and visualization, security and privacy and embedded systems / Internet of Things.

Our activities include:

Conducting user-driven systems studies to effectively bridge operational gaps
Evaluating technologies and analyzing alternatives
Leading hands-on experiments
Hosting workshops to build a homeland security-focused community of practice in data science and innovation

Our team also works with industry, Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, academia and other stakeholders to leverage emerging data analytic technologies and support our nation’s innovation ecosystem for next-generation homeland security applications.

Opportunities to engage include:

Grants and contracts including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and Interagency Agreement (IAA) mechanisms
National Science and Technology Council Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups including the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Big Data Senior Steering Group (BDSSG), Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction and Topics in International Science and Technology Innovation
Administration Initiatives and Public-Private Partnership efforts including the White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Initiative and Interagency Maker Working Team
Collaboration and career opportunities including internships and fellowships
Data Analytic workshops, conferences, technology days, civic hackathons and webinars