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Role of Data Intermediaries in Civic Data Ecosystems

Bob Gradeck

May 2, 2017

csv, conf,v3

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@BobGradeck

@wprdc

www.wprdc.org

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Open Data in Other Cities

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Inclusive Open Data Infrastructure

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We Manage an Open Data Portal & ETL Processes

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Data Intermediary Roles

Intermediaries help people apply data to achieve impact

  1. Assemble, transform, and maintain data
  2. Disseminate information and apply the data to achieve impact
  3. Use data to strengthen civic capacity and governance

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Intermediaries Can Overcome Obstacles to Data Use

  • Skills to use data lacking
  • Lack of context (producers and users)
  • Lack of trust
  • Data quality
  • Accessibility
  • Awareness
  • Exclusionary messaging

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

​

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

​

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

​

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

​

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Assemble, Transform, and Maintain Data

Curate data

Broker data requests

Improve data quality

Archive data

Privacy consultation

Primary data collection

​

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Disseminate and Apply Data

Share data

Technical assistance

Build data tools

Build data into processes

Community analysis

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Disseminate and Apply Data

Share data

Technical assistance

Build data tools

Build data into processes

Community analysis

​

​

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Disseminate and Apply Data

Share data

Technical assistance

Build data tools

Build data into processes

Community analysis

​

​

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Disseminate and Apply Data

Share data

Technical assistance

Build data tools

Build data into processes

Community analysis

​

​

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Disseminate and Apply Data

Share data

Technical assistance

Build data tools

Build data into processes

Community analysis

​

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Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

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Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

21 of 33

Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

22 of 33

Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

23 of 33

Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

24 of 33

Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

25 of 33

Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

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Strengthen Civic Capacity & Governance

Community organizer

Feedback

Provide context

Training

Connect organizations

Celebrate data users

Advocacy

Storytelling

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Regions Can Have Multiple Organizations Play Intermediary Roles

  • University Departments
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Civic Libraries
  • University Libraries
  • Civic Organizations
  • Journalists
  • Government Agencies

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What Does it Take for Intermediaries to be Effective?

  • Institutional support
  • Leadership (institutional and project)
  • Legal infrastructure
  • Technical infrastructure
  • Networks of relationships
  • Communities of practice
  • Flexibility and agility

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Intermediary/Ecosystem Takeaways from Pittsburgh

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1. Create a culture and ethic of stewardship for the civic data ecosystem.

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Intermediary/Ecosystem Takeaways from Pittsburgh

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2. The role of a network manager is very important

  • Strengthen intermediaries
  • Establish new connections
  • Coordination

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Intermediary/Ecosystem Takeaways from Pittsburgh

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3a. Sustainability depends on institutionalizing roles and funding.

3b. View your intermediaries as infrastructure.

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Intermediary/Ecosystem Takeaways from Pittsburgh

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4. Communities of practice provide inspiration and knowledge transfer.

    • NNIP (see the NNIP Guide to Starting a Local Data Intermediary)
    • Code for America
    • American Library Association
    • Civic Analytics Network
    • Coalition for Networked Information
    • What Works Cities Initiative

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Contact Me

Bob Gradeck

412-624-9177

rmg44@pitt.edu

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@BobGradeck

@wprdc

www.wprdc.org

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