DT Talks: Capturing the Complexity of Cities

[Tom Hughes]

Welcome to the start of today’s Digital Twin Talk on Capturing the Complexity of Cities, and a big thank you to @Dan from Cambridge City Council for joining us. We’re looking forward to your thoughts and questions related to Dan’s talk – and maybe posing one or two of our own.

As with all our Twin Talks @Dan is online from 10:30am to 11:30am to answer your questions. To join the discussion please add your thoughts by replying to the conversation thread.

[Dan Clarke]

Hi Kasper,

Yes -there is the potential for conflict with local communities as we capture more granular data. We have been using camera based systems to capture movement (vehicles, cycles and pedestrians), these process data at the edge and are all fully compliant with data regulations. However we need to bring transparency to the way these systems operate to build confidence in communities that data is being collected for a purpose that brings benefit to their communities and that we are not using technologies such as facial recognition.  At the moment this is achieved by including a sign under the camera with some basic information and publishing information on a website. This doesn’t go far enough and we have been looking at various data governance models that would give elected officials and communities control over the way data is controlled and used. 

Dan

 

[Tom Hughes]

@Dan, you mention that the Smart Cambridge Programme was set up about 5 years ago. What challenges have you faced getting the programme to where it is today, and what advice would you give to someone who is starting a similar programme today?

[Dan Clarke]

The key to a successful smart cities programme is to really understand how technology and data can help  create better places for your residents. We spent quite a lot of time working to articulate and think about that the role that technology should play and how best to begin to pilot and trial emerging technologies with the aim that at some point they should be mainstreamed into operational services. 

The key challenges we faced have been:

Governance – Giving local members from both the city authority and county authority oversight and representing their communities. Getting the governance right also helped to unlock funding from the Greater Cambridge Partnership

Data – as an organisation we are data rich but most is trapped in legacy systems or of poor quality and we have faced quite a challenge to begin to sort ou the internal data plumbing

Siloed systems and polices – One of the key benefits of a ‘smart’ approach is to begin to work across siloes and take a more ‘system of systems’ approach – there are a number of organisational barriers that we have come up against that make this difficult

Business cases – the business cases for the deployment of ‘smart’ technology are not well developed and we tend to be competing for funding against infrastructure projects that have a well worked through assessment process that gives a BCR 

What has been important is collaboration with academia, business other public sector bodies and most importantly communities. If your starting a programme today build your network, work with local partners and know what problem your solving.

[Holger Kessler]

Hi, its a repeat story from me – have you thought about taking the subsurface into consideration? A significant amount of the urban infrastructure interacts with it…

[Holger Kessler]

And I would like to compare some notes on your learnings regarding the governance Dan, perhaps we could catch up some time – the National Underground Asset Register has taught us many lessons which match yours…

[Dan Clarke]

Hi Steven,

The real time data from buses is collected locally and we work with a local company ITO world to clean and structure it and then we feed it into Google Transit, Apple Maps and Motion Map. At the current time there is no national real time data feed suitable for journey planners, this may change as the government has mandated data sharing by bus companies and data will be published through a DfT website. Real time will be added t this site next year but is likely to still need some work to be suitable for apps. 

Time table data is now being published nationally but wasn’t when we set up the app so we need to take a feed from the local bus companies. 

Rail companies publish their real time data nationally on a feed called Darwin.

 

[Holger Kessler]

And finally it is vital that you keep the CPNI and NCSC involved as there are clear risks to our national and cyber infrastructure that need to be mitigated

 

[Dan Clarke]

Hi Holgerkessler,

Yes we would like to map the sub surface but haven’t progressed it yet. Having seen talks about work in this area i understand that governance can be an issue and welcome a conversation.

Yes – Cybersecurity is critical and needs to be embeded from the start. The challenge for LA’s is around skills and understanding when it comes to things like cybersecurity.

 

[Tom Hughes]

@Dan, the importance of governance is prominent in your talk. From the Gemini principles, to the new governance you highlight in your digital strategy, and the risk that insufficient governance can pose to smart city projects. Are there any key resources you have used to shape your governance model?

[Holger Kessler]

Just now, Tom Hughes said:

@Dan, the importance of governance is prominent in your talk. From the Gemini principles, to the new governance you highlight in your digital strategy, and the risk that insufficient governance can pose to smart city projects. Are there any key resources you have used to shape your governance model?

 

could we see a slide on your governance model?

 

[Holger Kessler]

2 minutes ago, Dan Clarke said:

Hi Holgerkessler,

Yes we would like to map the sub surface but haven’t progressed it yet. Having seen talks about work in this area i understand that governance can be an issue and welcome a conversation.

yes please – I can put you in touch with the Regional Geologist at the British Geological Survey – message me on holger.kessler @ cabinetoffice.gov.uk

[Dan Clarke]

Kasper,

The city council have had some poor experiences with ‘smart bins’ giving false readings and have struggled with the business case. Smart Grid technology is maturing as are the business cases and are now being successfully deployed. The use of data for better travel information and to optimise operations is well proven as is the use of data to better manage the road network. We still have many areas we haven’t begun to operate in and are looking to develop an infrastructure (data architecture and networks) that will allow us to begin to easily deploy more sensors to deliver better services.

 

[Dan Clarke]

On the governance model 

Resources – we have worked looked at some of the work the ODI have done on data trusts and worked with a company that was developing a data governance model. The overall governance model (oversight of members) we used existing structures (Greater Cambridge Partnership boards). I can look out a slide and share post chat.

[Tom Hughes]

Hi Holger, there is a slide in the recording from 10m:15s that shows 4 input to “new governance” for the Smart Cambridge Digital Strategy

•  New competence framework
•  Data sharing and security
•  Citizen engagement
•  Legislation, regulation and risk management

At a high level how does this compare with the governance around NUAR?