Data, Insight, and Value Co-Creation Workshop

September 20-30, 2016

Deploying data infrastructure in informal communities can present a formidable challenge as the most vulnerable segments of the grassroots community often have low or limited data literacy. This can result in reduced adoption rates of conventional technological solutions and can be a critical impediment to the data collection strategies used to define and represent these communities. Overcoming this challenge is essential as a deficiency in digital transparency and data literacy is increasingly one of the leading factors that perpetuate and broaden social inequality and poverty worldwide. By meeting this challenge, government entities and non-governmental organizations can gain a higher resolution of on-the-ground realities and obtain real-time feedback on developments and interventions as they unfold. Such insights have ground-breaking potential to radically improve decision-making processes and increase precision in the provision of services to those who need it most. What is more, if in addition to quality, data accessibility can be improved, there is increased potential to empower and equip local populations to participate with greater insight and agency in urban development processes.

The workshop aims to demonstrate this position by prototyping local grassroots community data infrastructure and culturally sensitive data collection tools within two dynamic hutong neighborhoods in Beijing. Shanzhai City has prepared specific fieldwork methodologies integrated with data collection tools to enhance traditional fieldwork and enable bottom-up data aggregation from local communities with socially sensitive incentives to participate. The workshop’s research topic takes the event of Beijing Design Week as a lens through which a grassroots’ understanding of urban development can be anchored. By asking ‘What is the legibility of Beijing Design Week to the existing community?’, we begin a process of problem identification through which further insight into the ‘value’ of urban development to local inhabitants can be uncovered. Additionally, the workshop also aims to analyse both the short and long term impacts of implementing such a data infrastructure into informal communities such as Baitasi and Dashilar. By collecting, analyzing, and presenting data at the intersection of different communities affected by urban development and highlighted by the annual event of Beijing Design Week, how can we increase individual and collective agency and self-sustaining community efforts to improve quality of life for the grassroots? In harnessing technology to this end, are we able to create models and strategies that are agile, replicable, and scalable to other developing regions and communities?

The workshop will take the form of a continuous series of gatherings, discussions, and fieldwork, inviting experts and local students to contribute toward the development of the first prototype data infrastructure system for grassroot communities, social innovators, and funding and administrative organizations. The system itself will consist of a network of field agents and socially innovative community engagement technologies for data collection and insight communication. Data will then be analysed and visualized through a publicly accessible dashboard available online and via public exhibition and video projection within the community.

The workshop will take place from September 20-30, 2016, and the dashboard will be online on September 24.