Last modified: 2016-04-28
Abstract
Theme(s) 1 - VGI, Crowdsourcing, and Citizen Science & 3 – e-Government and e-Governance
Target Audience Policy Makers, Urban Planners, Elected and Appointed Officials, Maintenance and Operations Directors, GIS Managers
Abstract
Location based e-Government systems are capable of enabling 24 hr / 365 day eservice options for engaged community members. Access to location based eServices afford community members a digital means to provide feedback on issues and priorities which can be managed and analysed to improve levels of service, governance and community planning efforts. However, technology is only part of the equation, citizen science and human behaviour are key elements to successful implementation of location-based solutions.
To improve community engagement for the East Santa Clara Urban Village planning project, the City of San Jose California deployed a comprehensive citizen engagement program which included integrated geospatial technology to facilitate centralization and action oriented feedback from citizens. The program was created to engage the public and analyse approaches, outcomes and how results translate to better public policy and planning.
The geospatial solutions used to communicate and engage citizens included mobile data collection technology, online citizen engagement portals with GIS information, and street rendering technology to allow for easy communication, priority identification, processing, action, and reporting of urban planning concepts, plans and comments. Geospatial data supplemented conventional community engagement methods to offer a broader engagement opportunity for citizens and community groups.
Citizen feedback collection methods used by the city included in person comments, mail, emails, phone calls, online forms, and mobile comments. Historically, management of multiple communication channels had proved challenging. Citizen communication was managed by creating and implementing a program to centralize feedback and harmonize comments into a single geospatial solution for processing, analysis, decision-making, and sharing of information.
By combining outcomes of location-based solutions, the city was able to spatially demonstrate citizen priorities, how they were taken into account for planning, and how they translated into proposals for improvement. Because the program was a comprehensive community engagement program that included changes in human behaviour and technology, the city was able to better connect with community and ultimately improve levels of service.
This paper will share processes, guidelines, programs and use of technology as a means to share best practices and lessons learned from location-based services for crowdsouring and better citizen science.
Websites with Solution:
City of San Jose, CA, E Santa Clara Urban Village Plan, http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=4476
CommUniverCity, E Santa Clara Urban Village Plan, http://cucsj.org/programs/esc/
Keywords
References
Rick Kos, Geospatial Faculty, San Jose State University, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Hilary Nixon, Department Chair, San Jose State University, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Matt Vanoosten, City Planner, City of San Jose, Department of Planning
Mariaclara Zazzaro, Geospatial Project Manager, CommUniverCity, San Jose State University