What is a Robust Data Foundation?

Date: 5 Jul 2023

The path to becoming a digital and resilient city is not a one-step route. It is the result of an interplay of vision, needs and systems to develop a plan that meets the unique requirements of each city. A critical element in achieving this transformation is the identification and collection of data.

Local governments need to build an information layer through a comprehensive data governance, protection and management strategy. Data highlights problems, represents needs and offers insights into the various components of an economy, enabling recognition and implementation of solutions with a greater focus on customization.

In societies where the demand for and use of digital services has multiplied, it should now be a prerequisite to upgrade systems to meet these needs. This must be done while explaining to users how their data will be used, ensuring its protection and creating an atmosphere of trust in the system.

Blueprint for Digital Transformation in a Resilient City¹

PRIORITIZATION OF ISSUES

Optimized dispatching and synchronized traffic lights could cut emergency response times by 20-35 percent.

E-hailing can reduce traffic fatalities by more than 1 percent by reducing impaired driving.

DATA FOUNDATION

Technology can empower people to take charge of their health, preventing disease rather than treating it after the fact.

Remote patient monitoring systems have the potential to reduce the burden of healthcare costs in high-income cities by more than 4 percent.

CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE

In many parts of the developing world, the biggest source of water waste is leakage from pipes. Deploying sensors and analytics can cut those losses by up to 25 percent.

USE CASES AND DIGITAL APPLICATIONS

New digital channels for public communication with local officials could double the share of residents who feel connected to the local community, and nearly triple the share who feel connected to local government.

ADOPTION AND USAGE

By 2025, cities that deploy smart mobility applications could cut commuting times by 15-20 percent on average.

Intelligent syncing of traffic signals could reduce average commutes by more than 5 percent in developing cities where most people travel by bus.

¹Visa and Resilient Cities Network , Resilient Cities Shaping a Digital World, 2020.

Use of Technology to Enable Use Cases for Smart City Management

With the right data, technology providers can create intelligent and functional solutions that turn raw information into the insights needed. A wide range of digital solutions that contribute to improved resilience can be enabled in categories such as mobility, community engagement, healthcare, security, water and waste and payments.

MOBILITY

Diverse multimodal transport systems and information systems that enable access and coordination between services.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The importance of participation and equality, an engaged government that makes decisions based on dialogue with business and civil society.

HEALTHCARE

Minimizing human vulnerability through integrated services and rapid response to emergencies.

SECURITY

Comprehensive safety and protection from natural disasters, as well as appropriate crime prevention and emergency management measures.

WATER AND WASTE

Provision and management of critical services through active management and maintenance of ecosystems, infrastructure, and contingency planning.

PAYMENTS

Sustainable economy and digital inclusiveness enable prosperity for all sections of society.

In addition to these use cases, data and technology capabilities can provide critical insights for managing the recovery of post-Covid-19 economies. Two important benchmarks: community data before the shutdown and data at the height of the crisis, can serve as a reference for restoring economic and social activity.

Finally, just to re-emphasize, systems need updating. It is not a question of modernization. There are compelling arguments behind the reality that has thrown financial systems into a post-pandemic modernization frenzy. One is the high cost of maintaining outdated technology. But there are also the dwindling numbers of legacy systems specialists and their incompatibility with new technologies, among other factors.

In some ways, this new reality is a positive legacy arising from a pandemic that was devastating on so many levels. And dealing with outdated IT systems today represents a fresh new insight to be considered in city management. Ultimately, good governance and efficient management will remain critical to building a solid data foundation.

What is a Robust Data Foundation?