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Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography

Deepening our understanding of opportunities and challenges related to demographic change, migration and mobility.

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Big Data and Alternative Data Sources on Migration

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Big Data and Alternative Data Sources on Migration: from Case Studies to Policy Support

30 November 2017, Ispra (Italy)

Workshop BD4M participants photo
(© EU 2017)

On 30 November 2017, the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography (KCMD) and IOM's Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) organised the workshop "Big data and alternative data sources on migration: from case studies to policy support".

Researchers, data holders/providers, policymakers and practitioners gathered to:

  1. Review latest concrete and innovative applications of big data and alternative data sources for a better understanding of migration-related phenomena, and practical examples of use for policymakers.
  2. Identify the most promising applications of big data and alternative sources to complement and enrich traditional data on migration.
  3. Discuss possibilities, obstacles, and requirements for more systematic use of big data in the field of migration, and for increased collaboration between researchers, data providers and policymakers.
  4. Suggest pragmatic follow-up steps to expand use of such data sources in support of migration policymaking.

The workshop was held at the European Commission - Joint Research Centre premises.

Contact points: Michele Vespe (JRC - KCMD) & Marzia Rango (GMDAC)

Follow us on Twitter: #bigdata4migration

Programme & Presentations

Big Data and Alternative Data Sources on Migration: from Case Studies to Policy Support

Workshop Programme and Presentations

Opening remarks

Alessandra Zampieri, Head of Demography Migration and Governance Unit, JRC and Frank Laczko, Director of IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC)

Video

 

Introduction

Marzia Rango (GMDAC) and Michele Vespe (JRC - KCMD)  

 

Session I

Recent applications of big data and alternative data sources to the study of migration-related trends, including using Facebook advertising platform, Twitter, Instagram and mobile phone data

Ingmar Weber, Qatar Computing Research Institute

Using Internet Advertising Data for Studying International Migration

Video

Fabrizio Natale, Marco Verile, Joint Research Centre

Big data and migration, Buzz-phrase or policy relevant applications?

Video

Stefano Iacus, University of Milan

Big Data and Migration: Limits and Perspectives

Video

Rein Ahas, University of Tartu

Mobile phone data for policy makers. Use cases of transnational migration and social segregation from Estonia

Video

Dino Pedreschi, University of Pisa

Data Science for Migration Studies: the SoBigData.eu Exploratory

Video

Alessandro Sorichetta, University of Southampton/Flowminder

Modelling Subnational Migration Flows in and between Low and Middle Income Countries to Support Health Applications and Policies

Video

Rebeca Moreno Jimenez, Kimberly Roberson, UNHCR

Data innovation and forced displacement, the experience of UNHCR

Video
Session Discussion – Jean-Christophe Dumont, OECD Video

 

Session II

Data holders/providers – perspectives and applications

Zbigniew Smoreda, Orange Lab

Mobile phone data for migration analysis: new possibilities, risks and difficulties

Video

Frederic Pivetta, Dalberg Data Insights

Big Data, Social Impact and concrete examples on Migration

Video

Fernando Reis, Eurostat Task Force on Big Data

The use of big data in official statistics

Video

Mirek Pospisil, LinkedIn

LinkedIn Economic Graph: a focus on Europe

Video
Session Discussion – Piotr Juchno, Eurostat Video

 

Session III

Round table discussion

Stefaan Verhulst, New York University

The Promise and Challenges of “Data Collaboratives” for Migration

Video
Session Discussion: representatives from UN Agencies (including IOM,  UNHCR), European Commission (including JRC, Eurostat and policy DGs), EU Agencies (including EASO and Frontex), Population Europe – Max Planck Institute, The Node. Video

 

Interviews

Using big data to understand migration (part 1)

Ingmar Weber, Research Director at Qatar Computing Research Institute

 

Using big data to understand migration (part 2)

Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of The Governance Lab

 

Using big data to understand migration (part 3)

Alessandro Sorichetta, principal Research Fellow at the WorldPop Programme

 

 

Workshop outcome

Summary report of the workshop:

Big Data and alternative data sources on migration: From case-studies to policy support
English
(577.72 KB - pdf)
Download

BD4M launch Event

Big Data for Migration Alliance - BD4M

25 June 2018, 10:30 – 13:00

European Commission, CDMA Atrium, Rue du Champ de Mars 21, 1050 Brussels

The European Commission’s Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography (KCMD) and IOM's Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) will launch the Big Data for Migration Alliance (BD4M) to advance discussions on how to harness the potential of big data sources for the analysis of migration and its relevance for policymaking, while ensuring the ethical use of data and the protection of individuals’ privacy.

As conveners of BD4M, the KCMD and IOM’s GMDAC welcome the participation of representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations, members of national statistical offices, private sector representatives, researchers and data scientists interested in contributing, in various capacities, to realizing the potential of big data to complement traditional data sources on migration.

If you are interested in attending the event,  contact Michele Vespe (KCMD) or Marzia Rango (GMDAC).

Agenda:

10:00 - 10:30

   Arrival and networking coffee

10:30 - 12:00

   Opening remarks
      Charlina Vitcheva, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), and
      Eugenio Ambrosi, Regional Director of IOM's Regional Office for the EU, Norway and Switzerland

   Why the Big Data for Migration Alliance?
      Alessandra Zampieri, Head of the Demography Migration and Governance Unit, JRC, and
      Frank Laczko, Director of IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (IOM –GMDAC)

   BD4M planned activities: the Joint Concept Note
      Marzia Rango, research officer, IOM – GMDAC

   Big Data for Migration: preliminary BD4M results, and a new dataset for migration using social media
      Michele Vespe, scientific officer, JRC

   Discussion
      All

12:00 - 13:00

   Reception

Concept Note

The Big Data for Migration alliance Joint Concept Note
English
(512.05 KB - pdf)
Download
event image