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Tau-Argus and SuperCROSSA practical example using the UK Business Register Unit data

Andrea StaggemeierPhilip Lowthian

Grant Lee

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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

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Business Problem

• Manual process• Time consuming• High risk of human error• Therefore higher risk of disclosure• Risk reduced by exhaustive manual checks

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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

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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.

• 1 www.spacetimeresearch.com

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Solution

SuperCROSSTable created by

end user

Tau-Argus

Protected TableData File

Results read backinto SuperCROSS

SuperCROSS creates files forTau-Argus batch process automatically

Tau-Argus outputstable after SDC applied

User chooses ruleto apply to table

SuperCROSS invokesTau-Argus batch mode

Table Data

Table Metadata

Batch Program

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Tau-Argus in Batch Mode

• GUI or batch interface• Batch file contains parameters and pointers to

data/metadata files

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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

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Controlled Rounding Example

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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

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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

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Conclusion

• Increase in efficiency• Decrease in risk of disclosure• Minimal training for users• Be wary of table design limitations

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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

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Questions

?