Open data and smart communities – Lessons from the Field

Highlights from the 2018 GO Open Data Conference

With technology advancing at an exponential rate – with terms like “smart cities” and “open data” becoming essential parts of the modern day lexicon for municipalities across the country – key questions are being raised: How do you keep up? What’s coming next? And, perhaps most vital for government officials, what do the changes in technology mean for the community and the citizens on the ground? These questions – and more – were at the forefront of the GO Open Data Conference in Barrie, Ontario this May.

Drawing a diverse audience of data professionals, municipal staff, academics, and students, the conference was focused around the core theme of “Open Data and Smart Communities” – a term that even expert panelists acknowledged was a bit nebulous, with as many different meanings as there are advocates in the field. While the conference didn’t nail down a perfect definition, it demonstrated the breadth and depth of the topics that can be a part of the “Smart City” mandate, with an emphasis on providing a practical look at what this means in our communities.

The morning sessions featured a number of presentations and discussions from both the public and private sectors. Open North’s Jean-Noé Landry spoke passionately about issues relating to Smart Cities beyond simply using data – data poverty, citizen agency, consent, and bias, just to name a few. Discussing both the present and future of the open data movement, there was a very strong municipal presence in the morning sessions, with Ryan Garnett from the City of Toronto discussing one of the city’s newer initiatives. And, as part of a lively discussion on Smart Cities, AMO President/Innisfil Deputy Mayor Lynn Dollin discussed the town’s partnership with Uber – a topic that drew a fascinating range of opinions and viewpoints, ranging from intelligence operatives to the impact on citizens on the ground

Perhaps the highlight of the morning session, though, belonged to Bonnie Healy of the First Nations Information Governance Centre, who gave an impassioned, thought-provoking lecture on the impact of open data on the First Nations communities, and how her organization’s mandate of “Ownership, Control, Access, and Protection” of information and free, informed consent can fit within the open data community. Her concern that the open data movement will “voluntarily and proactively disclose all of the information without a request being made” – something that is antithetical to the values of First Nations communities, and is something that needs to be addressed to build a respectful, healthy relationship going forward.

The afternoon sessions featured a diverse range of breakout panels that touched on a variety of practical issues that communities of all sizes and descriptions need to consider – health and wellbeing; justice and equality; education and libraries; community needs; and the unique needs of our rural communities. Featuring speakers such as (MW columnist) Ashleigh Weeden from the University of Guelph, Warren Patterson from Linkgreen, Connie McCutcheon of MISA, Pamela Robinson of Ryerson University, and representatives from Barrie Health and LifeLabs, the roundtable discussions were a great way to bring up practical issues ranging from policy to practical. By encouraging discussion, attendees could get answers to their specific questions and share valuable insights from not only panelists, but also others who shared similar opportunities and challenges.

The final speaker of the day – Teemu Ropponen of Open Knowledge Finland – gave a presentation on a new model that brought together the intersection of open data and one of the more topical subjects in the data world: personal ownership. By introducing MyData, a new model gaining traction on both sides of the Atlantic, it gave an opportunity to be exposed to a new vision for what could come of data, with potentially huge impacts on the relationship between citizens, the public and private sectors, and data.

Some of the biggest takeaways from the event are as follows:

• The Smart Cities movement is large and diverse; but, when people talk about it, usually the conversation revolves around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and other urban hubs. What works in large communities doesn’t necessarily work in smaller or mid-sized communities – it’s about finding what’s right for the local context.
• There is an absolutely massive amount of information out there – and municipal resources are stretched. It means you can’t chase every initiative, but you have to be strategic, finding the opportunities and partnerships that can leverage your community and drive it forward.
• Ultimately, while there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered (and the questions arise faster than they are answered), at its core, open data in the smart communities context is about making our communities – and the lives of our citizens – better. That should always be the end goal. Technology has the chance to solve some real problems … if it is leveraged properly.

In short, the GO Open Data Summit was an important event for the open data movement and for those who care about our communities. It allowed for learning, networking, and communication of some great ideas – but, the world of data is not stagnant. As the rate of change continues to accelerate, having knowledgeable, informed leaders will serve our communities well, so take advantage of these opportunities.  MW