ESSNet on Statistical Disclosure Control

Contact:

Peter-Paul de Wolf
Statistics Netherlands
P.O. Box 24500
2490 HA The Hague
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 70 337 5060
Last update: 10 Oct 2011

Task 2. Making SDC-tools better usable by NSIs


2.a. Widening the scope of input and output data formats

Although it is not a specific SDC-task of the ARGUS-software, the usability of the software can be improved by widening the data formats supported by ARGUS. For µ-ARGUS a moderate step forwards has already been made by including the option of directly protecting SPSS system files. By studying the answers to the CENEX-inventory we will conclude which options are most important. SAS, Stata, SQL. We will start to widen the scope of formats supported by ARGUS. Also the problems with different alphabets (Cyrillic) will be studied.
Partners: NL, DE, UK, IT
Deliverables: Improved versions of µ-ARGUS and τ-ARGUS with extended I/O facilities. New versions of the software are foreseen at the end of each year.

2.b. Addressing problems concerning with the IT-infrastructure

In the CENEX-inventory some countries reported that the IT infrastructure caused problems for using ARGUS. We will follow up with some of those countries by clarifying and reporting on these issues. Following this report we will decide whether or not it is possible to adapt the software or propose solutions to be realised in another project. In this sub-task we will also allocate some work to partners for the testing of ARGUS. A by-product of these testing activities the countries involved will get a better understanding of the software.
Partners: NL, DE, SI, SE, PT, HU, BG, RO, LU, NO
Deliverables: Test reports and improvements to ARGUS

2.c. Sustainability

With the growing use of ARGUS there is a greater need to look at the future. At the moment the software relies heavily on one or two developers at Statistics Netherlands. For the immediate future this can work, but it is time to think a bit further ahead. Also changing infrastructures and operating systems will require measures to safeguard the future of ARGUS. Several NSIs are moving towards R and open source. We will produce a report describing the best way to move forward to ensure the sustainability of the future of ARGUS. This report should include suggestions for a board controlling the future developments of ARGUS. Also the helpdesk function will be addressed in this report
Partners: CBS, DE, AT, URV, IT
Deliverable: Report in year 2