Making Data Great Again

Speaker: Julia Lane, New York University, Center for Urban Science and Progress

Abstract: The advent of big data means that the time has come for change in the way in which we collect and use data on human beings. However, that change needs to be effected in a thoughtful, careful way so that we don’t jump out of the frying pan into the fire.

There is enormous potential to use such data to improve decision making at all levels of government. The barriers are complex but at their core stem from (i) lack of local capacity to access and use data and (ii) lack of evidence of the value. Much can be gained when local stakeholders develop use-cases and create value from data sources specific to a jurisdiction. The combination of human and technical approaches is critical success.

We have been developing a multi-step approach to foster data-driven decision making in regional development efforts so that locally driven efforts can grow into a robust, scalable system. Each phase serves the dual purposes of (a) building local capacity while (b) developing useful data and analytic products. The analytics training programs are delivered in a secure remote access environment. They include a mix of targeted introductory material appropriate for a wide audience and tailored sessions specific to jurisdictions. The focus is on facilitating the creation of national standards from the bottom up, directly via (i) a secure, analytics computing platform in which the underlying code and data itself can be shared and evaluated, (ii) conferences and workshops to convene key stakeholders across the community, and (iii) ongoing support to provide continuity of methodologies across jurisdictions.