Abstract
Tackling complex urban problems requires us to examine and leverage diverse sources of information. Today, cities capture large amounts of information in real-time. Data are captured on transportation patterns, electricity and water consumption, citizen use of government services (e.g., parking meters), and even on weather events. Through open data initiatives, government agencies are making information available to citizens. In turn, citizens are building applications that exploit this information to solve local urban problems. Citizens are also building platforms where they can share information regarding government services. Information that was previously unavailable is now being used to gauge quality of services, choose services, and report illegal and unethical behaviors (e.g., requesting bribes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the range of citizen applications ("citizen apps") targeting urban issues and to address their effects on urban planning, decision-making, problem solving, and governance. We examine citizen apps that address a wide range of urban issues from those that solve public transportation challenges to those that improve the management of public utilities and services and even public safety.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 107-136 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| Journal | Journal of Urban Technology |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- applications
- citizen apps
- citizen engagement
- information
- information systems
- innovation
- open data
- urban apps
- Urban governance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urban Studies
Cite this
Citizen Apps to Solve Complex Urban Problems. / Desouza, Kevin C.; Bhagwatwar, Akshay.
In: Journal of Urban Technology, Vol. 19, No. 3, 07.2012, p. 107-136.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Citizen Apps to Solve Complex Urban Problems
AU - Desouza, Kevin C.
AU - Bhagwatwar, Akshay
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Tackling complex urban problems requires us to examine and leverage diverse sources of information. Today, cities capture large amounts of information in real-time. Data are captured on transportation patterns, electricity and water consumption, citizen use of government services (e.g., parking meters), and even on weather events. Through open data initiatives, government agencies are making information available to citizens. In turn, citizens are building applications that exploit this information to solve local urban problems. Citizens are also building platforms where they can share information regarding government services. Information that was previously unavailable is now being used to gauge quality of services, choose services, and report illegal and unethical behaviors (e.g., requesting bribes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the range of citizen applications ("citizen apps") targeting urban issues and to address their effects on urban planning, decision-making, problem solving, and governance. We examine citizen apps that address a wide range of urban issues from those that solve public transportation challenges to those that improve the management of public utilities and services and even public safety.
AB - Tackling complex urban problems requires us to examine and leverage diverse sources of information. Today, cities capture large amounts of information in real-time. Data are captured on transportation patterns, electricity and water consumption, citizen use of government services (e.g., parking meters), and even on weather events. Through open data initiatives, government agencies are making information available to citizens. In turn, citizens are building applications that exploit this information to solve local urban problems. Citizens are also building platforms where they can share information regarding government services. Information that was previously unavailable is now being used to gauge quality of services, choose services, and report illegal and unethical behaviors (e.g., requesting bribes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the range of citizen applications ("citizen apps") targeting urban issues and to address their effects on urban planning, decision-making, problem solving, and governance. We examine citizen apps that address a wide range of urban issues from those that solve public transportation challenges to those that improve the management of public utilities and services and even public safety.
KW - applications
KW - citizen apps
KW - citizen engagement
KW - information
KW - information systems
KW - innovation
KW - open data
KW - urban apps
KW - Urban governance
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84870620108&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10630732.2012.673056
DO - 10.1080/10630732.2012.673056
M3 - Article
VL - 19
SP - 107
EP - 136
JO - Journal of Urban Technology
JF - Journal of Urban Technology
SN - 1063-0732
IS - 3
ER -