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Data Preparation
Modelling is rarely an automated process by which one transforms a raw set of data into a
set of results. Before any modelling can be attempted, a signicant amount of exploratory
work often needs to be carried out on the raw data. For lack of a standard term, we call this
exploratory work ‘data preparation’ (Figure 10.1). This is often an open-ended exercise but
will normally involve the following activities:
• Checking data to determine whether there are errors or anomalies
• Summarising data to provide a bird’s-eye view of the risk and understand obvious
trends/anomalies
• Preparing a standardised input for the rest of ...