This document discusses how civic technology and open data can help cities make better data-driven decisions. It presents LocalData, a startup that develops mobile and web apps to help governments and communities collect data. LocalData has conducted surveys in Detroit, Gary, and other cities to gather information on vacant and abandoned properties to help with issues like rightsizing. The platform allows custom surveys, real-time mapping and analysis of data, and engages citizens. LocalData aims to give cities more accurate and timely data to address challenges in areas such as development, transportation, and supply chains.

1. Collecting and Understanding Community
Data to Drive Civic Decision-making
Knight Digital Media Center
!
Alicia Rouault + Matt Hampel
@arouault @matth @golocaldata
localdata.com

2. !
"Leak the knowledge of the
neighborhood into codified
systems, like a backward Wikileak.
Activate a citizenry."
!
— Saskia Sassen, 2013

3. Bottom-up Smart City?
NATURAL
CITIES
incomplete
mutable
rapid change
INTELLIGENT
CITIES
top-down
closed source
proprietary

4. OPEN SOURCE
URBANISM?
CIVIC TECH
knowledge transfer
open data
democratized

5. What is civic technology?
!
a new industry changing the way you interact with local government in the
same way that earlier tech start-ups have changed what’s possible on the
Internet

6. Civic Tech Ecosystem
institutionalized
innovation
government
agencies
startups and private
sector technology
non-profits +
academia

7. Code for America
LocalData began as a project of
Code for America, a national
organization matching city
government with technologists to
produce lightweight technology
designed to address civic
challenges

8. Detroit, 2012

10. Uncertain Future

11. 40 Square Miles of Vacant Property

12. Targeting New Investment
paper is fun

13. Property Data Mismatch
twob

14. Paper.

15. Lengthy Data Collection
9 MONTH TIMELINE
40 surveyors went out and surveyed over the
course of 2 months using paper and pen
Data entry & manual transcription
Geocoding and Analysis (ArcMap)
Maps, Reports and Strategic Decision making

16. Inefficiency: Residential Parcel Survey
350,000 parcels
9 months
3 questions
Static data

17. Rapidly Changing Cities

18. Ubiquity of Devices :: Citizen Generated Data

19. To solve new problems...
Cities need more data
better
local
faster

20. How can we help civic institutions make
data-driven decisions?
!
How can we empower residents to be a part
of this process?

21. Custom Spatial Survey Design
Create surveys in
your browser, quickly
!
Set geospatial
boundaries for your
survey
!
unlimited data
collectors
!

22. Mobile Spatial Data Collection
Geocodes in
real-time
!
Add data to
existing datasets
!
Simple interface
!

24. Visualize, Filter and Export in Real Time

25. Crowdsourcing vs. Flocksourcing

26. Do More with Less
Increase capacity of underresourced governments and
non-profits do good work
efficiently
Leverage Human Experts
valuable qualitative
knowledge converted to
quantified, visual data

27. Agency in Data
Participatory Data
as Civic Engagement
Connect to Citizens
Increase transparency

28. Case Studies

29. Detroit, MI: Commercial Corridors
9,000
properties
6
weeks

30. Gary, Indiana: Rightsizing
14,600
properties
surveyed
!
2,000+
acres
!

31. Real-Time Insights
Total Parcels:
Parcels Surveyed:
2,440
1,270
12,421
7,857 (63%)
1,145
3,749
Vacant/abandoned:
…of which ‘D’ or ‘F’:
512
3,305
71%
58%
Aetna
Downt.
30%
Emers.
% Surveyed - Building
35%
Midt.
Miller
21%
% Surveyed - Empty
# Not Enclosed/Secure
P'ski
# of Parcels
69
39
# with Fire Damage
Aetna
69
27
Downt.
18
49
6
Midt.
16
Miller
12
P'ski
36%
31%
35%
29%
26%
25% 16%
17%
Aetna
20%
12%
Downt.
Emers.
Midt.
% Vacant / Abandoned
Miller
P'ski
% 'D' or 'F'
Key Takeaways
Downtown / Emerson worst hit
Aetna and Pulaski at tipping point:
recently abandoned homes
Many homes need boarding up;
some areas more prone to fire
•
•
54
Emers.
27%
% Unsurveyed
148
77
% of Surveyed
Parcels
% of Total
Parcels
36%
39%
1,447 (30% of surveyed)
1,103 (23% of surveyed)
•

32. Understand Cost + Inform
Deconstruction Policy
z

33. Malden, MA: Nighttime Economy
208
streetlights
!
43
bad routes

34. Mexico City (MIT): Supply Chain Logistics
130
collectors
!
3
days
25,000
datapoints
!

35. Southeast Michigan: Bike Infrastructure
412
bikes
!
15
locations
!
2
days
!

36. community
development
asset
management
logistics +
supply chains
transportation
infrastructure

37. 16 Cities Globally
TOP PLANNING APP: 2014

38. Visit localdata.com
to get started!
localdata.com

39. !
localdata.com
alicia@localdata.com