DataPlace is a fascinating idea, it allows users to place sensors on a map to collect (visualise) data. It’s designed to help regular people understand and use open data, which can then help them develop ideas for improving their surroundings. Here’s the paper title and abstract: Towards a DataPlace: mapping data in a game to […]
Better Block is an organisation providing resources (e.g., How to Build a Better Block) to help communities create healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. The group’s website is full of resources and ideas for transforming streets and vacant properties into lively, safe and interesting places. It’s a great source of information for community activists who want to act to […]
Chicago is installing sensors throughout the city in a project called Array of Things (AoT) to collect a wide variety of data. The sensor data will be provided to the public for analysis via the city’s open data policy. This is an excellent example of sharing data so residents can use it to help improve […]
The project BREATHE (European Research Council Grant Agreement number 268479) studied whether exposure of children in primary school to traffic-related air pollutants is associated with impaired cognitive development. As part of the study they gave mobile sensors to students to assess their exposure to black carbon on their trip to school. Results were published in Environmental […]
Mission Control: A History of the Urban Dashboard is a fascinating article taking you from the word dashboard’s origin through examples of what we think of today as urban dashboards. But it’s more than a history, author Shannon Mattern integrates critical thought about data, how it’s analysed and used, as well as ideas for the […]
I just submitted a proposal for a session at the re:publica 15 conference being held in Berlin from May 5-7. If you are interested in speaking contact me and let’s talk about the idea. Here’s my session idea: The session will focus on how information technology can be used to help improve public participation in […]
From: “Data Driven Cities“, by Sally Kneeshaw in URBACT News: 22 January 2015: Nesta in the UK, in collaboration with Code for Europe partners, hosts the Civic Exchange network allowing cities to find and share technology in order to deliver better public services. The showcase starts from the fact that cities across Europe share similar problems, […]
Ringstrasse 150 is a project to crowdsource ideas for making Vienna’s Ringstrasse the world’s most liveable street. We’re looking for ideas to make it safe and attractive for pedestrians and bicyclists – helping encourage more people to walk, bike and promenade along this historic boulevard. The project will include a detailed map for crowdsourcing ideas, […]
Just returned from a very interesting Smart City conference in Milkosc Hungary where I gave a talk called People Make Cities Smart. It was very interesting to learn about all the exciting projects going on in Hungary that are using information technology to improve transport, energy, water resources, waste management and more. The conference organisers […]
I’m organising a roundtable discussion on using social applications (social networks, crowd sourced reporting, online games, wikis, and other tools) for helping improve sustainable transport. We’ll start by identifying existing applications and then brainstorm ideas for Vienna (and beyond). If there’s interest we’ll organise a group to develop a real application or two. If you […]