Data Services In Virginia At NW Database Services

Information About Data Cleaning

Data Cleaning Tools

We’ve now covered the steps involved in data cleaning. It’s obvious that this is not an easy task. What tools are available to help you? It depends on the data and systems you are using. Here are some tools that you can use to start to understand the basics.

Microsoft Excel

Since its inception in 1985, MS Excel has been a standard part of computing. It is still a very popular data-cleansing tool, regardless of how you feel about it. Excel has many functions that automate data cleaning, including replacing numbers and text with deduping, shaping columns and rows, and combining data from multiple cells. Excel is also easy to use, making it the first choice for data analysts new to the field.

Programming Languages

Data cleaning can often be automated using scripts. Excel has pre-existing functions that can accomplish this. To run specific batch processing tasks (tasks that are performed without the need for user interaction) on large and complex data sets, you will often have to write your own scripts. This can be done using programming languages such as Python, Ruby, SQL or–if your coding skills are really sharp–R. R is more complicated but also more flexible. These scripts can be written by data analysts who are more skilled, but there are many libraries that already exist. Python has many data cleaning libraries, including Pandas and NumPy, that can speed up this process.

Visualizations

Data visualizations are a great way to spot errors in your data. A bar plot, for example, is a great way to visualize unique values. It might also help you spot a category that was labeled in different ways (like the earlier example of Iron’ or Fe). Scatter graphs are also useful in identifying outliers, so you can examine them further and remove them if necessary.

Last Thoughts

• Data cleaning is the most critical part of data analytics. Data hygiene doesn’t only pertain to data analytics. It’s also a good idea to regularly update and maintain your data. Clean data is an essential tenet in data analytics, and data science as a whole.
  This post reveals that:
• Data analytics is a hugely important process that requires clean data. Using poor data will result in flawed insights. It is said that garbage in, garbage out.
• Data cleaning can be time-consuming. This is why it is worth the time. Data analysts can spend 60 to 80% of their time cleaning up data.
• Data cleaning can be a complicated process. It involves removing outliers, correcting structural errors, standardizing and validating your results. This is not an easy or quick task.

There are many tools available to assist you. You can also find many proprietary software tools.

Northwest Database Services has 34+ years experience with all types of data services, including mail presorts, NCOA, and data deduplication. If your database systems are not returning poor data, it is definitely time for you to consult with a data services specialist. We have experience with large and small data sets. Often, data requires extensive manipulation to remove corrupt data and restore the database to proper functionality. Call us at (360)841-8168 for a consultation and get the process of data cleaning started as soon as possible.

NW Database Services
404 Insel Rd
Woodland WA 98674
(360)841-8168

Virginia Information

Find Out About Virginia

Virginia, also known as the Commonwealth of Virginia is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic or Southeastern regions of the United States. It lies between the Atlantic Coast, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlantic Coast. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Chesapeake Bay have shaped its geography and climate.

History

Virginia’s history began with several indigenous groups, such as the Powhatan. The London Company founded the Colony of Virginia in 1607 as the first permanent English colony of the New World. The Old Dominion is Virginia’s state name. The colony’s growing plantation economy was fuelled by slave labor and land acquired from displaced tribes. However, it also led to conflicts within and outside of the colony.

Major Cities & Towns

Virginia is divided into 95 county and 38 independent cities. The U.S. Census Bureau calls these “county-equivalents”. This method of treating counties and cities on equal terms is unique to Virginia. Only three independent cities exist in other states in the United States.

Climate

Virginia’s subtropical climate transitions to the humid continental west of Blue Ridge Mountains. Seasonal extremes range from 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4°C) in January to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30°C) July. The climate in the Commonwealth’s eastern and southeastern coasts is warmer and more consistent because of the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Ocean.

Population

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s resident population increased 7.9% since 2010. The state has an additional 23,149 Virginians living overseas. This gives it a total population 8,654,542. Due to its military personnel and federal employees, Virginia is the fourth-largest state with an overseas population.

Economy

The economy of Virginia has many income sources, including federal, local, and military, as well as farming and high-tech. In 2021, Virginia’s per capita income was $66,305, which was 12th highest nationwide. The gross domestic product (GDP), was $654.5 billion in 2022 and was the 13th largest among U.S. states.

Virginia Map