Designing IA for AI - Information Architecture Conference 2024
Open Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Cities
1. openplans.org
Open Infrastructure for
Tomorrow’s Cities
Nick Grossman
Director of Civic Works, OpenPlans | @nickgrossman
American Planning Association
National Conference
April 9, 2011
Boston
6. OpenPlans
NYC nonprofit tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Photo: eyeheartnewyork http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans
7. OpenPlans
NYC nonprofit tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Livable Cities, Open Government
Software & Journalism
Photo: eyeheartnewyork http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans
8. OpenPlans
NYC nonprofit tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Livable Cities, Open Government
Software & Journalism
Incubator for civic
technology initiatives
Photo: eyeheartnewyork http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans
9. OpenPlans
NYC nonprofit tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Livable Livable Cities, Open Government
Cities Software & Journalism
Incubator for civic
technology initiatives
“Gov 2.0” “Open”
Photo: eyeheartnewyork http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans
22. 5 Exabytes*
Amount of data created
between the
dawn of time and 2003
* = 5 billion Gigabytes
Source: http://techcrunch.com
23. 5 Exabytes* 5 Exabytes
Amount of data created
between the
dawn of time and 2003
* = 5 billion Gigabytes
Source: http://techcrunch.com
24. 5 Exabytes* 5 Exabytes
Amount of data created Amount of data that
between the will be created
dawn of time and 2003 in the next two days
* = 5 billion Gigabytes
Source: http://techcrunch.com
37. A little information goes a long way
“I no longer sit with pitted stomach
wondering where is the bus.
It’s less stressful simply knowing it’s
nine minutes away, or whatever the case”
44% of respondents reported being
much more satisfied
Source: OneBusAway
38. A little information goes a long way
“While my work usage was pretty
much on a fixed schedule,
OneBusAway has made impromptu
trips much more convenient.”
Non-commuters reported the
highest increase in usage
Source: OneBusAway
39. A little information goes a long way
“Having the ability to know when my bus
will arrive helps me decide whether or
not to stay at a bus stop that I may
feel a little sketchy about or move on
to a different one.
21% of respondents
reported feeling safer
Source: OneBusAway
46. Closed Model
Mobile, web & other apps
Real-time Server
47. Closed Model Open Model
Mobile, web & other apps
Real-time Server
48. Closed Model
• Single end-to-end solution
• One user interface
• “Black box” that can’t be customized
• Reliance on single vendor (i.e., “lock-in”)
82. Next generation
planners should:
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
83. Next generation
planners should:
• Learn to work
with “big data”
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
84. Next generation
planners should:
• Learn to work
with “big data”
• Learn to code
(even just a little bit)
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
85. Next generation
planners should:
• Learn to work
with “big data”
• Learn to code
(even just a little bit)
• Study IP (licensing)
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
86. Next generation
planners should:
• Learn to work
with “big data”
• Learn to code
(even just a little bit)
• Study IP (licensing)
• Become advocates for
open systems
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
87. Next generation
planners should:
• Learn to work
with “big data”
• Learn to code
(even just a little bit)
• Study IP (licensing)
• Become advocates for
open systems
• Be students
of the internet
Image adapted from http://servopuff.com
88. Thanks!
Nick Grossman
nick@openplans.org
@nickgrossman on twitter
openplans.org
codeforamerica.org civiccommons.org
