back-icon

Use Time Series Anomaly Detection Strategies

Hatim Belyasmine
·
02
August 2022

What is data quality?

Data quality is a measure of how accurate, complete, and consistent your data is. In order to ensure that your data is high quality, you need to put in place strategies for detecting and correcting any errors. One effective way to do this is through time series anomaly detection. Time series anomaly detection looks for patterns in data that deviate from the expected behavior. This can help you to identify errors and correct them before they cause any problems.

Time Series Anomaly Detection Strategies

Anomaly detection in time series data can be a helpful tool for quality control and assurance. Time series anomalies can occur for many reasons, such as sensor drift, equipment malfunctions, or unexpected external events. Anomaly detection can help identify these problems so that they can be fixed.

There are many different approaches to anomaly detection in time series data. Some common methods include statistical methods, machine learning methods, and rule-based methods. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to choose the right method for the specific problem at hand.

Statistical methods are often used for anomaly detection in time series data. These methods require a clear understanding of the underlying distribution of the data. Common statistical methods used for anomaly detection include mean/median absolute deviation (MAD/MAD), outlier detection, and change point detection.

Machine learning methods can also be used for anomaly detection in time series data. These methods are often more flexible than statistical methods and can automatically learn complex patterns in the data. However, machine learning methods generally require more training data than statistical methods. Common machine learning techniques used for anomaly detection include support vector machines (SVMs), k-nearest neighbors, holtwinters, etc...

When to use time series anomaly detection strategies

One of the most important aspects of data quality is ensuring that your data is accurate and complete. Anomaly detection can be a valuable tool in this process, allowing you to identify errors and outliers in your data.

There are a few different approaches that you can take when using anomaly detection for data quality. One option is to use a rule-based approach, which defines specific rules for identifying anomalies. This approach can be effective, but it can also be time-consuming and may miss some anomalies.

Another option is to use a statistical approach, which uses mathematical formulas to identify anomalies. This approach can be faster than the rule-based approach, but it may not be as accurate.

The best approach will vary depending on your specific needs, but using time series anomaly detection can be a valuable way to improve the accuracy and completeness of your data.

How to utilize a time series anomaly detection strategy in simple scenarios

It is no secret that data quality is important for any business. But what are some specific strategies that can be used to ensure data quality? One approach is to use time series anomaly detection.

Time series anomaly detection looks for patterns in data that deviate from the expected behavior. This can be useful for identifying errors in data, such as outliers or inaccuracies.

There are many different algorithms that can be used for time series anomaly detection. Some of the more popular ones include:

  • DBSCAN
  • Isolation Forest
  • K Nearest Neighbors
  • Local Outlier Factor
  • One Class SVM

Each of these algorithms has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to choose the one that is best suited for your specific needs.

Once you have selected an algorithm, there are a few simple steps you can take to implement it in your own environment.

  1. Collect data over time: In order to detect anomalies, you need a baseline of expected behavior. This can be accomplished by collecting data over a period of time, such as days, weeks, or months.
  2. Choose an appropriate window size: The window size is the amount of data

Conclusion

There are many different ways to detect anomalies in time series data, but the most important thing is to choose a method that is well suited to your data and your specific needs. In this article, we have outlined some of the most popular methods for anomaly detection, so you can start experimenting with different techniques and see what works best for you. Remember, even the simplest anomaly detection method can be very effective if it is used correctly.