Data-Driven Cities – Building Urban Resilience and Enabling Knowledge Sharing Through DataIntensive Learning, Leadership, and Citizen Participation

In this event will showcase practical examples of how Ecocity Builders and partners are using participatory research methods and citizen mapping techniques in order to visualize and assess neighborhood ecologies and urban ecosystems in ways that facilitate city-to-citizen and city-to city-cooperation, knowledge sharing and engagement leading to solutions that enhance both human habitats and the natural systems they depend upon.Through case studies and participatory research presented by our pilot city partners, we will show how the ecocity approach to data collection, digital curation, and data visualization is and will continue to be a growing driver in sustainable policy, decision-making and urban management — from the scale and use of the citizen and neighborhood, to the city, region, and beyond.Project partners will share stories and results of how the data are being used to more effectively deliver critical services and protect essential urban resource sheds.Demonstrations of on-theground activities related to these projects will showcase the ways and means of fostering partnerships for the creation of holistic urban information systems. From there, we will further show how this information increases efficiency and cost effectiveness to deliver the core services of the city.The result? Smarter, risk-based resource allocation, better sharing of information agency-to-agency to facilitate sensible decision-making, and using data in a way that integrates in the established day-to-day patterns of city service providers and citizens.