Digital Observatory

The QUT Digital Observatory provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for tracking, collecting, and analysing digital media data. Our ability to manage large sets of continuous and dynamic digital data enables innovative digital media and society research with applications across a range of fields.

The unprecedented use of digital platforms and technologies, coupled with the emergence and growth of ‘big social data’ on digital media consumption and communication, have enabled groundbreaking new research approaches that support the unobtrusive observation of large-scale, population-wide activity patterns in society – often in close to real time. For example, this form of research allows observation of the changing topics in public debate, shifting preferences in cultural consumption, and the rise and fall of particular technologies and platforms.

Our capabilities

We can provide connection to established researchers experienced in social media data analytics and big data support. Our specialist infrastructure allows on-demand data gathering for Twitter and Facebook, and other live and dynamic digital datasets, and access to our analytical software collection.

The Digital Observatory provides researchers with access to the following dataset:

Australian Twitter Activity dashboard

The Australian Twitter Activity dashboard shows broad hourly trends in Australian Twitter discussions. The dashboard builds on TrISMA (Tracking Infrastructure for Social Media Analysis), a joint project involving many Australian universities and led by the QUT Digital Observatory. We can provide direct access to the raw data underlying these trends.

Other projects

Working with us

If you're interested in collaborating with the Digital Observatory team, or in learning more about our capabilities and facilities, please contact our Digital Observatory Manager.