IN WIDESPREAD DAILY USE


There are many answers to the question of the best way to acquire information from data, and knowledge from information. rola has developed one answer with rsFrame, and over almost four decades has expanded it into a standard suite of software used on a daily basis in, for example, central application areas of the police and intelligence services, the military, border protection and tax investigation authorities. Case investigators, manhunt staff, operations managers, profilers, intelligence officers and data analysts all rely on the core product from Oberhausen, and not just in Germany. rsFrame provides the experts’ work processes with a logical structure and a clear framework, from the data collection via the evaluation and analysis through to visualisation, presentation and reporting.


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GOOD BASED ON EXPERIENCE


Maintaining an overview, a clear and analytical view of relevant information and knowledge, at all times and in all locations. rsFrame provides this complete overview. With core and expert functions, the program can be adapted for all application requirements. Retrieved data, investigation results and analyses can be shared without media discontinuities, and further processed in other systems. rsFrame was initially developed as a tool for combatting international terrorism and organised crime. Today, rsFrame is in use in almost all areas of the fight against crime, and in operative and strategic evaluation and analysis. rsFrame provides data, information and reliable expert knowledge at all levels, if necessary also across organisational boundaries and national borders. rsFrame is in essence a central fact analysis database, that not only serves the investigator at the working level, but can be used at all levels.


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One information space: Security is for sharing

Tasks in the high-security environment can only be mastered in a team. Different experts use the data pool in different ways for their special focus of activities, develop their own domain models and run their own analyses. This is the desired method of working, since all partial knowledge gained from a range of different disciplines is subsequently documented and assembled in a central information space. This results in the “big picture”, a structured view of the information situation. This software-based methodology creates knowledge.


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Protection of the data at all times

Data protection was and continues to be an integral element of rsFrame, from its initial concept through to today. It is indispensable in all circumstances, and is ensured in the software design via multi-layer rights and roles concepts. These specifically German-European standards are in the meantime viewed as a decisive advantage, in particular internationally.


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Analysis at the limits

Data tsunamis, floods of data, mass data: These terms that are now in everyday use represent an attempt to “grasp” a development in economic and social life that appears to be increasingly unmanageable. The analyst must be able to rely 100% on his tools. Without this reliance, the necessary energy and the focus also demanded of the expert when dealing with dark data are no longer ensured.

rsFrame incorporates state-of-the-art analysis tools. The experts within rola know that Moore’s Law ceases to apply at the limits of physics. They evaluate how solutions in the areas of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can effectively be employed. Without these technologies, visualisation of complex network structures and flow data, for example, is next to impossible. However: The final decision is always made by people. AI and ML are merely tools.

GOOD BASED ON EXPERIENCE


Maintaining an overview, a clear and analytical view of relevant information and knowledge, at all times and in all locations. rsFrame provides this complete overview. With core and expert functions, the program can be adapted for all application requirements. Retrieved data, investigation results and analyses can be shared without media discontinuities, and further processed in other systems. rsFrame was initially developed as a tool for combatting international terrorism and organised crime. Today, rsFrame is in use in almost all areas of the fight against crime, and in operative and strategic evaluation and analysis. rsFrame provides data, information and reliable expert knowledge at all levels, if necessary also across organisational boundaries and national borders. rsFrame is in essence a central fact analysis database, that not only serves the investigator at the working level, but can be used at all levels.


Image
One information space: Security is for sharing

Tasks in the high-security environment can only be mastered in a team. Different experts use the data pool in different ways for their special focus of activities, develop their own domain models and run their own analyses. This is the desired method of working, since all partial knowledge gained from a range of different disciplines is subsequently documented and assembled in a central information space. This results in the “big picture”, a structured view of the information situation. This software-based methodology creates knowledge.


Image
Protection of the data at all times

Data protection was and continues to be an integral element of rsFrame, from its initial concept through to today. It is indispensable in all circumstances, and is ensured in the software design via multi-layer rights and roles concepts. These specifically German-European standards are in the meantime viewed as a decisive advantage, in particular internationally.


Image
Analysis at the limits

Data tsunamis, floods of data, mass data: These terms that are now in everyday use represent an attempt to “grasp” a development in economic and social life that appears to be increasingly unmanageable. The analyst must be able to rely 100% on his tools. Without this reliance, the necessary energy and the focus also demanded of the expert when dealing with dark data are no longer ensured.

rsFrame incorporates state-of-the-art analysis tools. The experts within rola know that Moore’s Law ceases to apply at the limits of physics. They evaluate how solutions in the areas of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can effectively be employed. Without these technologies, visualisation of complex network structures and flow data, for example, is next to impossible. However: The final decision is always made by people. AI and ML are merely tools.

THE WHOLE IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS


Multiple applications open simultaneously, on two or more computers. This data retrieval situation is still a reality today for many users. Not with rsFrame. The standard software integrates multiple applications and data sources in a single cockpit, with a standard and clear operating philosophy. This saves time and avoids errors, since data only has to be entered once.

PIA, the cockpit

What the cockpit is for the aircraft pilot, is for the security expert the Personal Information Assistant (PIA). The functions most frequently used are accessed from the start screen. Data search and retrieval functions, messages, open tasks, or modules such as GIS can be called up directly from here.





Searching and Deep Learning

The search function delivers hits even when numeric or alphabetic characters have been transposed. This tolerance in terms of “similarities” is an advantage when searching in large amounts of data. The underlying algorithm can be “trained” in combination with Deep Learning, and is also designed for use with different languages. An especially valuable feature is the automatic reporting of duplicates. Based on rules, similar data records are identified and reported to the person entering the data, which for example is particularly useful in the case of names, and results in high data quality.


Reporting tools

Statistical data can be exported as standard via interfaces to e.g. Excel (Microsoft), InfoZoom® (humanIT) and List & Label. The report generator List & Label allows creation of user-customised reports. All other analysis results such as structure diagrams can also be printed.





Text analysis

Documents stored in the system are analysed automatically, with the objective of finding links, e.g. for proper names, locations or numbers, that can be graphically processed and stored.






Geographical analysis

Displaying movement profiles on the basis of mobile communications data is just as straightforward as, for example, a hotspot analysis of offences on a map. Graphical display of all incidents in the vicinity of a location in a section of a map is also possible. These capabilities are supported and enhanced by means of interfaces to all commercially available geoinformation systems.




Structure analyses

rsFrame also allows the user to graphically display links to data and individual persons. Photos and audio and video files can be integrated into this display. With this functionality, structures become evident. Alternatively, these analyses are also possible via an interface to the IBM i2 Analyst’s Notebook.




TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES


Each data analysis is based on a question. Either a specific search for an offender, or for offence patterns and anomalies. rsFrame takes this into account in its fundamental technological design, which is oriented to the Intelligence Cycle. Functionalities and workflows in rsFrame follow this internationally established analysis process, and in this way provide a type of guide via digitalisation and streamlining of familiar methods of working.


Der Intelligence Cycle

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