Predictive technologies, in which organizations use data to identify trends and make judgements about the future, are growing in government.
While discussions of predictive policing, the most prominent example, are bound to devolve into screaming matches, there are many more government uses that go unnoticed. Whether it’s collecting trash, managing the power grid, providing safe water, responding to a pandemic or providing services to children and families, agencies are finding new ways their data can help avert danger and save money.
Bill Eggers, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Government Insights, told StateScoop predictive technologies are guiding decision-making at all types of agencies.
“You can’t predict everything, but you can get a lot better at getting anticipatory in some of these areas, whether it’s preventing deaths, preventing child abuse, but also making sure your resources are deployed toward where they’re needed most, whether they’re in the form of police officers or inspectors or social workers,” Eggers said.