ck_long_tail
DESCRIPTION
Describes the essential elements of City KnowledgeTRANSCRIPT
Knowledge Knowledge Farming Farming
City Knowledge and the Long Tail City Knowledge and the Long Tail of Small Cities of Small Cities
Fabio CarreraFabio Carrera
UCL-CASA, March 2, 2007UCL-CASA, March 2, 2007
Born in Venice, Italy Born in Venice, Italy BSEE and MSCS @ WPI BSEE and MSCS @ WPI PhD @ MITPhD @ MIT
Urban Information Systems and Urban Information Systems and Planning Planning
Teaching @ WPI and MITTeaching @ WPI and MIT Director of Venice and Boston Project Director of Venice and Boston Project
CentersCenters Founder and Director of City Lab (WPI)Founder and Director of City Lab (WPI) Planning Board in Spencer, MAPlanning Board in Spencer, MA Consultant to municipalitiesConsultant to municipalities
BioBioFabio CarreraFabio Carrera
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth Certificates Birth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small Cities The Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth Certificates Birth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small Cities The Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
PromotesPromotes
the transformation of the transformation of
municipalitiesmunicipalities
from from hunter-gatherershunter-gatherers of urban of urban
data data
to to farmersfarmers of municipal information of municipal information
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 6 tools for Government only has 6 tools for
implementation and data collectionimplementation and data collection
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of of changechange
Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 5 (or so) tools for Government only has 5 (or so) tools for
implementationimplementation
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
Like politics, “all change is local”Like politics, “all change is local” Change is filtered/allowed by municipalitiesChange is filtered/allowed by municipalities with CK:with CK:
City departments implement information strategiesCity departments implement information strategies Urban information is farmed-in at a fine grainUrban information is farmed-in at a fine grain Documentation becomes InformationDocumentation becomes Information Intra- and Inter-departmental sharing is commonplaceIntra- and Inter-departmental sharing is commonplace Regional patterns (SDI) emerge upon municipal Regional patterns (SDI) emerge upon municipal
foundationsfoundations
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 5 (or so) tools for Government only has 5 (or so) tools for
implementationimplementation
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
“The Fundamental problem is to decide what the form of a human settlement consists of […]
[…] the chosen ground is the spatiotemporal distribution of human actions and the physical things which are the context of those actions […]”.
Lynch, Good City Form, p. 48
Structures are more stable and permanentStructures are more stable and permanent Structural change can be captured as it occursStructural change can be captured as it occurs
Activities are more dynamic and fickleActivities are more dynamic and fickle Activities can be frozen in time and space (snapshots)Activities can be frozen in time and space (snapshots)
with CK:with CK: Information about structures is routinely updatedInformation about structures is routinely updated Activities are “spatialized”Activities are “spatialized” Activities are periodically frozenActivities are periodically frozen
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 5 (or so) tools for Government only has 5 (or so) tools for
implementationimplementation
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
There is a lot of “reality” already out there…There is a lot of “reality” already out there… But the amount of information is finiteBut the amount of information is finite with CK the backlog can be completely capturedwith CK the backlog can be completely captured
Urban change is rather slow so, with CKUrban change is rather slow so, with CK all Structural change is captured at the sourceall Structural change is captured at the source snapshots of activities are creatively obtained snapshots of activities are creatively obtained
with CK, municipal information is “farmed” with CK, municipal information is “farmed” dailydaily
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 5 (or so) tools for Government only has 5 (or so) tools for
implementationimplementation
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
within CK:within CK: Space plays a key role in municipal information Space plays a key role in municipal information
farmingfarming Addresses are no longer primary spatial identifiersAddresses are no longer primary spatial identifiers GIS means Geographic GIS means Geographic IndexingIndexing Systems Systems Space indexes our datasetsSpace indexes our datasets
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 5 (or so) tools for Government only has 5 (or so) tools for
implementationimplementation
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
Top-down is rigorous and structured…Top-down is rigorous and structured…… but is received as an “imposition” and resisted… but is received as an “imposition” and resisted
Bottom-up is passionate and self-interested…Bottom-up is passionate and self-interested…… but unstructured, unscalable and unsustainable… but unstructured, unscalable and unsustainable
with CK:with CK: Pure top-down and bottom-up approaches disappearPure top-down and bottom-up approaches disappear Middle-out combines the positive traits of bothMiddle-out combines the positive traits of both
Municipalities are the Municipalities are the locuslocus of change of change Cities = Structures + ActivitiesCities = Structures + Activities Reality = Backlog + Future ChangeReality = Backlog + Future Change Space Is the GlueSpace Is the Glue Middle-out = Top-down + Bottom-upMiddle-out = Top-down + Bottom-up Government only has 6 tools for Government only has 6 tools for
implementation (and information implementation (and information gathering)gathering)
The Premises of The Premises of CKCK
1.1. Ownership & OperationOwnership & Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education & InformationEducation & Information
5.5. RightsRights
6.6. Mitigation & CompensationMitigation & Compensation
with CK:with CK: Municipalities consciously & creatively combine the 6 Municipalities consciously & creatively combine the 6
tools fortools for Information Farming Information Farming Policy/Plan ImplementationPolicy/Plan Implementation
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth Certificates Birth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small Cities The Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’tapplied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
whereby municipalities…whereby municipalities… Adopt internal mechanisms to farm THEIR OWN dataAdopt internal mechanisms to farm THEIR OWN data Emphasize Information in Standard Operating Emphasize Information in Standard Operating
ProceduresProcedures Extract Informational Returns from all internal Extract Informational Returns from all internal
processesprocesses Change “job descriptions” for personnel to include Change “job descriptions” for personnel to include
informationinformation Catch up with their own “backlog”Catch up with their own “backlog” Intercept all future internal change as it happensIntercept all future internal change as it happens
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
whereby municipalities…whereby municipalities… Make informational Returns part of their regulationsMake informational Returns part of their regulations Force outside entities to provide information (for free)Force outside entities to provide information (for free) Change submission requirements (permits, plans…)Change submission requirements (permits, plans…) Modify maintenance and management contractsModify maintenance and management contracts Institute yearly renewals for data updatesInstitute yearly renewals for data updates Apply regulations to capture backlog as wellApply regulations to capture backlog as well Invent creative ways to acquire datasetsInvent creative ways to acquire datasets Become “validators” instead of “collectors”Become “validators” instead of “collectors”
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
whereby municipalities…whereby municipalities… Routinely entice outside entities into providing Routinely entice outside entities into providing
informationinformation Change submission fee structures (permits, plans…)Change submission fee structures (permits, plans…) Make “old ways” costly (disincentives)Make “old ways” costly (disincentives) Make it cheaper to do the right thing (incentives)Make it cheaper to do the right thing (incentives) Provide benefits for data updatesProvide benefits for data updates Invent bonuses for data backlogInvent bonuses for data backlog Reward and enforce collaborationReward and enforce collaboration Validate incoming dataValidate incoming data
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
whereby municipalities…whereby municipalities… Constantly educate citizens about the use of dataConstantly educate citizens about the use of data Are always transparent about motives for data Are always transparent about motives for data
collectioncollection Explore potential for volunteer citizen inputExplore potential for volunteer citizen input Incite “peer-production”Incite “peer-production” Make educational institutions partners in the processMake educational institutions partners in the process Acknowledge and Reward collaborationAcknowledge and Reward collaboration Include this aspect in ALL their initiativesInclude this aspect in ALL their initiatives
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
Requires “real” creativity but is very powerfulRequires “real” creativity but is very powerful More useful for implementation, toMore useful for implementation, to
Trade-up “as-of” rights in exchange for desired Trade-up “as-of” rights in exchange for desired outcomesoutcomes
in the end municipalities can…in the end municipalities can… include informational returns any time rights are include informational returns any time rights are
renegotiatedrenegotiated increase “as-of” rights in exchange for dataincrease “as-of” rights in exchange for data
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation
2.2. RegulationRegulation
3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives
4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information
5.5. Right swappingRight swapping
6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation
applied to Data Farmingapplied to Data Farming
More useful for implementation, to…More useful for implementation, to… Mitigate negative consequences of initiativesMitigate negative consequences of initiatives Remove final obstacles to implementationRemove final obstacles to implementation
with this tool municipalities could…with this tool municipalities could… accumulate complaints and suggestions from affected accumulate complaints and suggestions from affected
partiesparties provide online tools for quantifying and logging provide online tools for quantifying and logging
problemsproblems
6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’t
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth CertificatesBirth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small Cities The Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
Birth CertificatesBirth Certificates
Municipalities treat their assets as newborn Municipalities treat their assets as newborn babiesbabies
Municipalities identify “parent” dept’sMunicipalities identify “parent” dept’s Dept’s produce a “birth certificate” for each Dept’s produce a “birth certificate” for each
asset asset Parent dept. assigns “name” (and code)Parent dept. assigns “name” (and code) Death and Adoption certificates are treated Death and Adoption certificates are treated
similarlysimilarly
Other dept’s refer to assets by their given Other dept’s refer to assets by their given namename
A municipal spatial data infrastructure A municipal spatial data infrastructure emergesemerges
the conceptthe concept
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth Certificates Birth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small Cities The Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
Data FarmingData FarmingCatch up with Backlog
Intercept Future Change
Birth Certificates SnapshotsSnapshots
New Geometry Birth Record
Current Structures Current Activities
Structures Activities
Current Reality
Spatial Reference Activity Measurement
Additional Information
Municipal Spatial Data Infrastructures Municipal Spatial Data Infrastructures emergeemerge
Towns have “plan-ready” informationTowns have “plan-ready” information Municipalities stop hunting-and-gatheringMunicipalities stop hunting-and-gathering
Information is farmed insteadInformation is farmed instead Change is captured at the source (for Change is captured at the source (for
free)free) Open-source web-GIS dominateOpen-source web-GIS dominate New business models emergeNew business models emerge Profits come from “changers” and “users”Profits come from “changers” and “users” Private sector contributes fine-grained Private sector contributes fine-grained
datadata Web services are the means/currencyWeb services are the means/currency
Data FarmingData FarmingWith the farming of City Knowledge:With the farming of City Knowledge:
Web-servicesWeb-services Open-source web-GIS are the platformOpen-source web-GIS are the platform
Light clients or AJAX apps replace standalone appsLight clients or AJAX apps replace standalone apps Systems are upgraded regularly on serverSystems are upgraded regularly on server
Municipalities get data and applications for Municipalities get data and applications for freefree
Web services are available as toolsWeb services are available as tools Dept’s mash-up web-services to suit needsDept’s mash-up web-services to suit needs
Metadata is reliably availableMetadata is reliably available Web 2.0 techniques are commonplaceWeb 2.0 techniques are commonplace
FolksonomiesFolksonomies Reputation Management, etc.Reputation Management, etc.
Urban Information Systems exploit the Long Urban Information Systems exploit the Long TailTail
and City Knowledgeand City Knowledge
MERTON BUILDINGS INFORMATION SYSTEMS
tan
dal
one
App
licat
ions
DB
DB
DB
Ordnance Survey
DTI
ONS
Onl
ine
Dat
aset
s
Permits
Plans
Notifications
OwnershipUse
Construction
Energy
data
data
Cit
y K
no
wle
dg
e
Mastermap
Energy Use
Demographics
BuildingsCKDB
data
Schoolsdata
Estatesdata
Analysis…
NewEdit
Uses…
buildingsroadsparksschoolschurchesindustries
orthoshydrology
boundaries
Energy… Maintenance…
Leases…Repairs…
Notifications… Contracts…
Permits… Inspections…
public buildingscouncil estatesbusinessesorthophotos
roadsCHP plants
50 m
LOUIS – The CITY LAB “Local On-line Urban Information System”
City KnowledgeCity Knowledge The 6 ToolsThe 6 Tools Birth Certificates Birth Certificates
Data FarmingData Farming The Long Tail of Small CitiesThe Long Tail of Small Cities
Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline
The Long TailThe Long Tail
163,547 towns (local gov.t) in the world163,239 < 1 Million pop.159,349 < 100,000 pop.130,206 < 10,000 pop. 64,307 < 1,000 pop.
The Long TailThe Long Tailand City Knowledgeand City Knowledge
Size of CitiesSize of Cities
Large Large CitiesCities
Small Small CitiesCities
The total population that lives in small and medium cities is greater than the population in megacities. Small towns (“tail”) represent a huge market opportunity.
ANY TOWNANY TOWN
The Long TailThe Long TailChange managed by various Change managed by various
DepartmentsDepartments
Planning, Buildings, Planning, Buildings, DPWDPW
Other Other DepartmentsDepartments
The Long Tail is Fractal.
within a Municipalitywithin a Municipality
Target main Target main departmentsdepartmentsANY DEPARTMENTANY DEPARTMENT
The Long Tail is Fractal. Starting with the “head” makes sense, but all departments ought to eventually adopt the CK approach.
Data captured by Municipal Processes (Merton, UK)
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
Bui
ldin
g N
otic
e F
ull P
lans
RS
L H
ous
ing
Sto
ck
Land
& P
rope
rty
Gaz
zett
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Map
Mas
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App
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Cou
ncil
Tax
Tra
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otifi
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usin
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ates
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ollu
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Bus
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Ass
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Bus
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Fire
Cer
tific
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Dut
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Car
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spec
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Land
Rec
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Dat
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oods
Reg
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nH
ealth
& S
afet
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spec
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Cou
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Pro
pert
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ist
Dire
ctor
y of
Est
ablis
hmen
tsIn
dust
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apM
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nerg
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udit
The Long TailThe Long TailLog-log of Data Captured
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0.00
0.60
0.85
1.00
1.11
1.20
1.28
1.34
1.40
1.45
1.49
1.53
Log (rank)
log
(fr
equ
ency
)
Number of Urban Elements (Venice)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
Ad
dres
ses
Bu
ildin
gs
Str
eets
Las
tric
ato
Bo
at P
arki
ng
Pav
imen
tazi
oni
Sto
res
Sew
er h
oles
Pu
blic
Art
Do
cks
Pla
teat
ici
Gre
en S
pace
sB
rid
ges
Ho
tels
Pal
aces
Seg
men
tsN
ode
sF
onda
men
te
Wel
lsC
anal
sC
hur
ches
Isol
eB
ellto
wer
sZ
ones
Mon
umen
tsL
unet
teC
onv
ents
Rii_
tera
Insu
leS
esti
eri
Mun
icip
alita
'
The Long TailThe Long Tail
Log-log of Venice Elements
0
1
2
3
4
5
0.00
0.48
0.70
0.85
0.95
1.04
1.11
1.18
1.23
1.28
1.32
1.36
1.40
1.43
1.46
1.49
Log (rank)
Lo
g (
freq
uen
cy)
Number of Urban Elements (Cambridge, MA)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
Addresse
s
Buildin
gs
Parce
ls
Trees
Man
holes
Curbs
Street
Lig
hts
Segm
ents
Met
ers
Nodes
Roads
Hydra
nts
Traffi
c Lig
hts
Street
s
Open
Spac
e
Parks
Met
er z
ones
The Long TailThe Long Tail
Log-log of Cambridge Elements
0
1
2
3
4
5
0.00
0.30
0.48
0.60
0.70
0.78
0.85
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.04
1.08
1.11
1.15
1.18
1.20
1.23
Log (rank)
Lo
g (
freq
uen
cy)
Number of Urban Elements (Merton, UK)
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
Address
es
Buildin
gs
Trees
Unlit S
igns
Gully
Bollard
s Unlit
TPO
Illum
inat
ed S
igns
Adopted H
wy
Bollard
s
Beacons
Privat
e st
reet
s
Unadopte
d Hwys
Dogbins
School F
lash
ers
TFL Red
Route
s
The Long TailThe Long Tail
Log-log of Merton Elements
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0.00
0.30
0.48
0.60
0.70
0.78
0.85
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.04
1.08
1.11
1.15
1.18
1.20
Log (rank)
Lo
g (
freq
uen
cy)
The Long TailThe Long Tail
From RedfishGroup (redfish.com) – Santa Fe
The Long TailThe Long TailAmount of Change by different Amount of Change by different
“agents”“agents”
specific developers, specific developers, contractors, staffcontractors, staff
Other agentsOther agents
Again, the “head” will yield instant benefits, although the change generated by agents in the tail may be quantitatively just as large. Target all agents eventually
major agentsmajor agents
within a Departmentwithin a Department
ANY AGENTANY AGENT
The Long TailThe Long TailChange produced via various Change produced via various
processesprocesses
subdivision subdivision approvals, approvals,
construction construction permits, contractspermits, contracts
Other ProcessesOther Processes
Processes in the head are major vehicles of change. Minor processes in the tail still add up to major change. Eventually all processes will be addressed by CK.
within an administrative processwithin an administrative process
Low-hanging Low-hanging fruitsfruits
ANY PROCESSANY PROCESS
The Long TailThe Long TailChange produced over time Change produced over time
BACKLOGBACKLOG
Future Future ChangeChange
The backlog may be huge but it is finite and worth catching up with. Focusing on the long tail of future piecemeal change will close the loop forever.
past and futurepast and future
Municipal Spatial Data Infrastructures Municipal Spatial Data Infrastructures flourishflourish
Departments farm their “data plots”Departments farm their “data plots” The 6 tools make data farming The 6 tools make data farming
perpetual/freeperpetual/free Fine-grain is achieved routinelyFine-grain is achieved routinely Backlog is completely captured Backlog is completely captured Change is intercepted as it happensChange is intercepted as it happens Technologies automate/facilitate data Technologies automate/facilitate data
collectioncollection Web-services enable intra-/inter-dept. Web-services enable intra-/inter-dept.
sharingsharing Information is treated like an infrastructureInformation is treated like an infrastructure
In SummaryIn Summary
More about CKMore about CK
[email protected]@wpi.eduhttp://www.wpi.edu/~carrera/Publications/http://www.wpi.edu/~carrera/Publications/
Publications.htmlPublications.htmlhttp://www.wpi.edu/~carrera/MIT/dissertation.htmlhttp://www.wpi.edu/~carrera/MIT/dissertation.html