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Tau-Argus and SuperCROSS A practical example using the UK Business Register Unit data. Andrea Staggemeier Philip Lowthian Grant Lee. Agenda. Business Problem Tau Argus / SuperCROSS Detail of Solution Tau-Argus in Batch Mode SuperCROSS and Tau-Argus Integration
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Tau-Argus and SuperCROSSA practical example using the UK Business Register Unit data Andrea Staggemeier Philip Lowthian Grant Lee
Agenda Business Problem Tau Argus / SuperCROSS Detail of Solution Tau-Argus in Batch Mode SuperCROSS and Tau-Argus Integration Controlled Rounding Example Business Benefits Issues Conclusion Further Information
Business Problem • Manual process • Time consuming • High risk of human error • Therefore higher risk of disclosure • Risk reduced by exhaustive manual checks
Tau-Argus • Software tool enabling Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) • Interactive or Batch mode • Safety rules (threshold and dominance) • Controlled Rounding • Suppression • History of Tau-Argus • Currently used by BRU within ONS, and other data suppliers to Neighbourhood Statistics
SuperCROSS • Part of SuperSTAR suite from Space-Time Research1 (Melbourne, Australia) • Desktop tabulation tool • Easy-to-use drag and drop interface • Used by BRU, Labour Force Survey, and Census within ONS • Used by many other statistical offices around the world. • 1www.spacetimeresearch.com
Tau-Argus in Batch Mode • GUI or batch interface • Batch file contains parameters and pointers to data/metadata files
Integration with SuperCROSS • Users have familiar tabulation environment • Select desired rule from drop-down list (rules set up by in-house experts) • Rule applied to table, and results presented to user in SuperCROSS
Business Benefits • Tau-Argus is powerful disclosure control tool • Users do not need to understand SDC or how rules are implemented • SDC process is automated, significantly reduces manual effort • Reduces risk of human error and possible disclosure • Easily adapted to other business areas
Some Issues • Table Design • SuperCROSS allows complete flexibility • Doesn’t always make sense for Tau-Argus • Missing totals are a key concern • Table size • Solving time Administration Requirements
Conclusion • Increase in efficiency • Decrease in risk of disclosure • Minimal training for users • Be wary of table design limitations
Further Information For further information, please contact: andrea.staggemeier@ons.gsi.gov.uk or philip.lowthian@ons.gsi.gov.uk or grant.lee@spacetimeresearch.com