- May 26, 2018
- Civic Data
Each week we will bring you a summary of what happened this week on our site, on Twitter, and in the wider world of civic data. Suggest stories on Twitter with #ThisWeekInData.
Next City profiled New York City’s new tool that maps population, economic, and housing data across the five boroughs, Long Island, upstate New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The city plans to use this data to develop future affordable housing, economic development, and transportation policy, devoting increased consideration to the city’s relationship with areas outside its borders.
GovTech outlined four key lessons San Francisco’s Office of Housing and Community Development learned in developing its new affordable housing application portal. According to Barry Roeder, his team learned they must obtain broad user input, develop an agile approach that enables flexibility in design, build a team that supports this approach, and find passionate partners equally invested in solving public problems. Following these steps, the city was able to make its affordable housing application process simpler and speedier for constituents.
Here on Data-Smart, Jess Weaver wrote about Louisville’s approach to innovation in mobility. Louisville’s efforts begin with city’s Mayor, Greg Fischer, who has adopted data-driven tools and established an innovation team within city hall. Louisville also benefits from internal collaboration and sharing of data to reduce friction between departments. And, Louisville has engaged residents with events like hackathons and conducted detailed research into citizen requests and complaints.
GovTech reported on the city of Henderson, NV’s new Smart City Strategy, which aims to harness data and technology to improve public safety, education, and transportation. Part of the city’s plan involves exploring the potential use of drones in emergency situations. Officials suggest drones may be useful to the fire department, providing angles of vision that improve dousing efficiency, and could also help to locate and provide medical equipment to lost or injured hikers along Henderson’s trail system.
An article on Route Fifty called for a national infrastructure map. Experts agree that United States infrastructure needs massive improvements and politicians are calling for increased investment, but political gridlock stymies progress. The federal government, as well as state and local governments, all collect critical infrastructure data but often lack interoperability. Collaborating to create a national infrastructure map would build a shared vision of the country’s investment needs and could catalyze political action.
An article on Wired suggested that the US follow France, China, and the European Union’s lead in adopting an AI strategy. The article suggests that U.S. policymakers acknowledge the large role AI will play in reshaping the citizens’ jobs and way of life and institute a plan to capitalize on this change. Doing so will promote job growth rather than obsolescence.
On Data-Smart, Erica Pincus outlined the keys to scoping a data project. First, one must identify a problem that is challenging but solvable and meaningful to people, and isolate relevant data and partners to work with. From there, using a data maturity framework can help improve data, technology, and organizational readiness. With enough readiness to address an identified problem, a city can begin its problem formulation, identifying goals, methods, and areas for analysis. Following the detailed process described in the article can help cities improve their process for implementing data-driven initiatives.
The Center for Data Innovation discussed how policymakers can improve algorithmic accountability without discouraging the use of AI. The article recommends minimal regulation, since both developers and users of algorithms are sufficiently motivated to ensure their processes eliminate bias anyway.
StateScoop reported that New York City has assembled a 16-member Automated Decision System Task Force to investigate whether the city’s algorithms, which complete a range of tasks ranging from predicting crime to placing students in schools, lead to biased decisions. This is the first panel of its kind in the country. Its members will work closely with several departments to increase transparency and accountability while minimizing bias based on a variety of social and economic factors.
Co.Design profiled O’Neil Risk Consulting and Algorithmic Auditing (ORCAA), a company built to help organizations determine whether their algorithms are causing harm. The company provides a visual seal of approval, much like an “organic” seal on foods, to organizations whose algorithms are not inaccurate or discriminatory. While companies must submit requests to be audited (and therefore many offenders will not make such a request), the seal will benefit the brand trust and marketability of companies that pass, promoting a fairer algorithmic environment.
Also on Data-Smart, Chris Bousquet profiled a map assessing the effectiveness of Providence’s Safe Stations program, an initiative established to provide residents abuse and addiction services. The map allows officials to see which city neighborhoods have sufficient access to services through the Safe Stations program and which neighborhoods need extra help. With this information, policymakers can implement interventions in better locations to reduce opioid addiction.
