Case Study: Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative improves data analysis and collaboration with Google for Education

N3 analyzes 58 million rows faster with Google for Education

The Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (N3) faced challenges with managing large, complex social science datasets. Their data was difficult to access securely, especially when working remotely, and managing user permissions for internal and external collaborators was complicated. To improve data collection, collaboration, and access, they turned to Google for Education's Google Cloud platform, including BigQuery.

By implementing Google Cloud, N3 consolidated its data into BigQuery, creating clear pipelines and enabling centralized governance. This solution dramatically improved data processing turnaround times and allowed for the analysis of previously unmanageable datasets, such as one with 58 million rows. The results include the ability to perform real-time, interactive analysis and create shareable data visualizations, which has enhanced their community impact. Google Cloud has made complex projects possible, transforming N3's research capabilities.

Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (N3)