From the USGS:
In the complicated world of statistical math, the more data you analyze, the more certain you can be of an accurate result. Having a lot of data also helps to answer really complicated scientific questions. Which is exactly why “Big Data” is such a big deal.
The term “Big Data” may seem intimidating, but it has a modest meaning. It is simply either a very large collection of data, i.e., a big data set, or a very complex data set.
The challenge is, once you try to analyze very large or complex data sets, regular computers start to smoke and fizzle out. So, working with big data often requires more advanced computers and computer software.
There are many benefits, however, to big data that make it worth the computational challenges. First and foremost, it can democratize the way data are collected: if many scientists studying the same phenomenon combine their data, they can get the benefits of working with big data without collecting it themselves. This removes some of the barriers to what a scientist can research– such as limited funding or geopolitical borders. It promotes research into “bigger” questions, geographically and temporally speaking.
Unfortunately, just as scientists may speak different languages, they can also use different units of measurement or methods to acquire the data. Think centimeters versus inches or a tape measure versus a laser rangefinder. This leads to considerable, time-guzzling effort spent translating or converting data into similar formats just so they can be used together.
The solution? Standardization!
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