Don't Break the Timeline: An Intro to Time Series Forecasting

Time series are all around us. From the number of steps you take each day to the trends you see in social media, stock prices, or even the traffic on your commute, so much of the data we interact with changes over time. When your goal is to anticipate what comes next, time-series forecasting will enable you to move beyond describing the past and begin predicting the future to transform your temporal data into actionable insights.

Working with time-based data can feel different from other types of analysis, but the Unit for Data Science and Analytics at ASU Library is here to help you out! Once you understand the basics, time-series forecasting will become a practical tool you can use in many real-world situations, whether you’re exploring environmental data, planning resources, studying human behavior, or tracking project performance. With the right mindset, forecasting can become a powerful and accessible technique that supports better decision-making in research, business, and beyond.

In this introductory Open Lab, we will introduce the core concepts behind time-series forecasting in a simple, clear, and practical way. We will guide you through the process of preparing your data, selecting a forecasting method that suits your needs, and assessing your results. We’ll also walk through a live Python demo so you can see how everything fits together in practice. No experience needed, reinforce what you know, or come and learn something new!