Outcomes 'Shared Cities, Smart Citizens'
Together with partners from Waag and Universiteit Utrecht, BOLD-researchers Dr. Els Leclercq an Dr. Emiel Rijshouwer, proudly present the outcomes of the 'Shared Cities, Smart Citizens' project. In this project, researchers examined the conditions for building shared smart cities based on data commons - shared digital resources that are developed through participatory practices driven by public values- and explore how these data commons can contribute to the empowerment of citizens in 'smart cities'.
The 'Shared Cities, Smart Citizens' approach is focused on public values, using data for urban issues and securing the rights and needs of citizens and thus differs from other approaches to technology in the city that often optimize for profit or political value. This approach was researched through three subprojects.
The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities organized a 'data empowerment design studio', which uses future and design-driven action research to explore how citizens and other relevant stakeholders, such as the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperatie, could appropriate more structural decision-making and governing power concerning smart city developments. A wide variety of stakeholders partook in this project to co-creatively develop imaginaries of a more democratic, inclusive and resilient Afrikaanderwijk in Rotterdam-Zuid.
Utrecht University researched the availability and usability of open government data through a Living Lab in Utrecht Overvecht. An important outcome of their research is that access to data scientist helps citizens to answer specific questions and helps them to better apply to issues in their neighborhood.
Waag researched the governance of an air (data) commons in the project Hollandse Luchten. In this project citizens measure air quality in several regions of North Holland. In the research, the public stack was further developed as a method to analyze how the experimental cooperation between public, civil and private parties can align more closely with public values and the data use cases of the participants.
The outcomes of the researched can be found via the project website. Below you can also find the Brief for Citymakers.
