The first eight winning cities have been announced for a $42 million, 100-city data-use program.
The competition, called "What Works Cities" and is sponsored by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's foundation, promotes innovation in city government by making the massive amounts of city operations data more publicly accessible to better improve issues like job creation, public health, and blight.
The cities will receive "expert support and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to make government more effective," according to a press release.
The AP reports that the eight cities—Seattle; New Orleans; Louisville, Ky.; Jackson, Miss.; Mesa, Ariz.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Tulsa, Okla.—will each receive portion of the $42 million.
The press release provided examples of how cities are relying on data and evidence to deliver better results for city residents:
• New Orleans used data to reduce blighted residences by 10,000 and increased the number of homes brought into compliance by 62% in two years. The city’s “BlightStat” program has put New Orleans, once behind in efforts to revitalize abandoned and decaying properties, at the forefront of national efforts.
• New York City focused efforts to reduce air pollution and improved the health of residents after the local government studied and publicly released data showing which areas of the city were most polluted, and which local sources were contributing the most harmful air pollutants.
• Louisville is using data from volunteers who attached GPS trackers to their asthma inhalers to better identify and target the sources of air pollution.
• Kansas City, Mo., achieved a 20% increase in overall satisfaction with the city’s image since 2010, after using data from their annual citizen survey and 311 services to drive decision-making for city departments.
The What Works Cities program is open for cities between 100,000 and one million people, and 110 cities have already applied. More winners will be chosen through 2017.
Related Stories
BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022
The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them
Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers.
Green | Oct 5, 2022
In California, a public power provider’s new headquarters serves as a test case for an innovative microgrid and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the public power provider for California’s Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, recently unveiled its new all-electric headquarters.
Smart Buildings | Jun 1, 2022
Taking full advantage of smart building technology
Drew Deatherage of Crux Solutions discusses where owners and AEC firms could do better at optimizing smart technology in building design and operations.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020
The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips
The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
Smart Buildings | Oct 26, 2020
World’s first smart building assessment and rating program released
The SPIRE Smart Building Program will help building owners and operators make better investment decisions, improve tenant satisfaction, and increase asset value.
Smart Buildings | Oct 1, 2020
Smart buildings stand on good data
The coming disruption of owning and operating a building and how to stay ahead through BIM.
AEC Tech | Jan 16, 2020
EC firms with a clear ‘digital roadmap’ should excel in 2020
Deloitte, in new report, lays out a risk mitigation strategy that relies on tech.
Urban Planning | Oct 20, 2016
Despite troubled development, Masdar City forges ahead
The detailed master plan for Phase 2 of Masdar City has been unveiled by CBT.
Smart Buildings | Feb 10, 2016
100 Resilient Cities to partner with Perkins Eastman
Perkins Eastman joins 100RC group of Platform Partners to offer resilience-building services to member cities.