Big data and Emerging Technologies

Our research group’s blueprint is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to secure a sustainable, peaceful, prosperous, and equitable life on earth for everyone now, and in the future. In particular, our research contributes to objectives 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (1 Sustainable cities and resilient communities), and 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions).

We perform fundamental and applicable research covering all aspects of data, information and knowledge management, and artificial intelligence (AI). This includes big data analytics and management, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, data security and privacy. Our group brings together expertise in the aforementioned areas and targets its application in a variety of research and innovation projects that require ICT enabling technological convergence.

We work with a wide range of application domains, including public safety, social cybersecurity, disaster response and resilience, transport, mobility, energy and agriculture. Our research work is cross-disciplinary, collaborating with domain experts within and outside Norway, and based on innovative methodologies and with society at large.

One of our new focus areas is resilience in complex systems: Our current work investigates the intersection of online violence and the resilience of communities. We are interested in the mechanisms that allow such systems to adapt to overcome different types of emergencies, both natural and man-made. 

We also have extensive experience in requirements elicitation, specification, analysis and management; design and execution of empirical studies (case studies, action research); validation of innovative solutions through large scale demonstrations, pilots or testing of use cases in a real setting. We offer cross-industry expertise, technological and socio-economic insight, and commitment to sustainable solutions.

In parallel, our research also addresses prominent issues around privacy, data protection and ethics, to apply big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve challenging problems for society. We support international, national and regional collaboration and knowledge transfer in this field.

We collaborate with national and international partners from academia and the public and private sectors. The research group receives funding from major national and international funding agencies.

For more information about the Big Data research group, please visit the group's web page

 

Publications

Projects

Articles

  • Gruppe med vaksne forskarar av begge kjønn står oppstilt i lobby

    A recently initiated research project seeks to develop new methods to combat online hate speech and misinformation. The project has a total budget of more than NOK 19 million and is coordinated by Western Norway Research Institute (WNRI).
    "This is an ambitious project which combines research and innovation to contribute to solving a societal problem", says project coordinator Rajendra Akerkar.

  • Formelt kledde kvinner står framme i klasserom. Menn sit og klappar. Lerret i bakgrunnen.

    The Research Council of Norway recently announced that Western Norway Research Institute and its partners will receive more than NOK 19 million to conduct research into artificial intelligence, big data, and social media. The project seeks put an end to online hate speech and radicalisation through developing new methods based on big data.

  • Mann framfor uteplass ved høgskulebygg

    With an international career in research, 16 scientific book titles and a large network stretching across the globe, Rajendra Akerkar is one of Sogndal's academic stars. The Big Data Professor is currently working to recruit young researchers to his field of research, as two positions are open this summer in the field of big data and innovation in regional businesses.

  • Foto

    Identifying and exposing fake news and online hate speech is to be a research topic in a new, international collaboration project within big data. Western Norway Research Institute will be cooperating with colleagues in India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the USA. The top researchers taking part in this project will be sharing knowledge as well as research methods, in addition to including students in their ongoing research.

  • Foto frå delegasjonreise til India

    Research collaboration with Indian researchers may soon be a reality for Western Norway Research Institute, following the institute’s recent participation on an official, Norwegian delegation visit to India. One of the institute’s IT researchers, professor Rajendra Akerkar, travelled to New Delhi and Chennai in February, making new academic contacts.

  • LeMo møte-deltagere, september 2019

    The fifth general meeting of the EU project "Leveraging Big Data for Managing Transport Operations" (LeMO) was held in Sogndal on September 5th and 6th, organized by Western Norway Research Institute.