Canada/Edmonton and Calgary certified for data usage
Last week, Calgary and Edmonton were awarded the Bloomberg Philantropies - What Works Cities certification (gold and silver levels) by the Results for America organization.
The award, created in 2017, rewards their administrations' use of data to develop policies, inform citizens or improve their services.
Data is essential to ensure we make the best decisions to improve everyday life with limited means. It's not partisan, it gives you the facts," explains Rochelle Haynes, CEO of What Works Cities.
To date, 700 cities have applied for certification, and 104 have obtained it. Calgary is one of 38 cities to have achieved the gold level, which is awarded to the cities that have best complied with more than 40 criteria imposed by Results for America.
This distinction rewards our efforts and reinforces our project to incorporate data into decision-making," commented Herman Cardoso, head of the city's data analysis sector.
Data shared by all
For almost 10 years, Calgary has been multiplying initiatives to develop the use of this information. Whether it's the creation of an internal platform for sharing among its 16,000 employees, or an online portal where the public has access to some 400 databases.
We are experienced in putting this information into perspective in all our departments. This improves the transmission of facts for decision-making. Gathering information faster enables us to serve our customers faster," says Herman Cardoso.
In particular, the creation of a solar calculator that allows people to evaluate the installation of solar panels on the roof of their home has strengthened Calgary's case.
Edmonton, for its part, was awarded silver status, thanks in particular to its traffic management system. This system is part of Edmonton's Vision Zero project, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on its roads by 2032.
Data is at the heart of our decisions. We have engineers, automated control teams, planners, analysts and so on. This information is disseminated to all departments so that everyone can work to improve safety," explains Jessica Lamarre, Edmonton's Director of Mobile Safety.
Multiple sources
She takes the example of places where pedestrians cross the road. The city has studied testimonials, neighbourhood density, population growth, road configuration, traffic levels and so on.
Between 2023 and 2026, we're going to make 400 sites safer by improving signage, road layout and crosswalks," says Jessica Lamarre.
Today, we make much wider use of data. In the past, we looked at where the worst accidents occurred and applied engineering solutions. But we've broadened our data collection. We can anticipate, be proactive, modify infrastructure before tragedies occur," she says.
But while data science has become much more modern, it is now undergoing a new revolution: that of artificial intelligence (AI).
All the cities in our network are thinking about this. Local governments often lag behind when it comes to new technologies. But this time, many are ready to incorporate AI," says Rochelle Haynes.
The CEO of What Works Cities is already imagining very concrete uses, such as hyper-efficient conversational robots to respond to citizens in real time.
We'll need to incorporate AI gradually to reassure teams.
A quote from Rochelle Haynes, CEO of What Works Cities
She's also thinking about the deployment of emergency services, forecasting forest fires and evaluating the resources to be used for this or that disaster.
This technology is going to spread. But cities are cautious about ethical issues and the biases of certain AIs. They have to respond to employees who fear losing their jobs, and so on.
Ongoing reflection
Calgary is in the throes of reflection. A team is studying the issue. But we have to be careful and responsible. Technology evolves very quickly, and we mustn't rush into things," explains Herman Cardoso.
In Edmonton, the thinking process seems to be a little more advanced. AI is already being used in urban planning and pothole repair.
We're just getting started. We have a partnership with a university laboratory working on these issues. It's new, but we're actively thinking about it," concludes Jessica Lamarre.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
