NFI and LIACS to develop new methods for handling big data
The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) and Leiden University plan to collaborate more intensively in tackling forensic challenges that involve big data. By working together, they hope to develop new, validated methods that can be applied in criminal cases and other projects.
The NFI and the Leiden Institute of Advanced Science (LIACS) - Leiden University’s information science institute – confirmed their closer alliance in December last year. Scientific researcher Cor Veenman from the NFI will conduct the research within the LIACS.
Big data
Enormous amounts of digital evidence relating to crime are being collected from various sources, including computers, telephones and hard drives, as well as telephone records and car registration information. Large quantities of digital evidence are referred to as big data.
“The information collected in this way relates to the essential questions in any investigation of who, what, where, when and how. The methods required for this come from machine learning, natural language processing, social network analysis, visualisation and statistics”, explains Veenman.
Researchers at the NFI are working on these methods, enabling them to process, analyse and interpret large quantities of information with increasing effectiveness. The collaboration between the NFI and the LIACS will bring together knowledge of these areas from the world of forensics and the academic world.
Education
In addition to research, Veenman will also teach Master’s students on the University’s data science programmes and supervise researchers in their doctoral research.