1.

We are now living in increasingly data-rich environments where open data platforms allow us to access, collect and analyze information about the city. As urban sensors become more and more ubiquitous and spatial information even more abundant, data visualization allows a critical evaluation of active policies and city services by transforming otherwise hidden patterns into visual arguments. It is time to address a combination of new technology and transparent policies for cities, collecting, protecting and applying data to improve city living. In order to bridge the gap between open data and civic society data should be made visible, accessible and actionable for a variety of audiences.

2.

There is a growing realization among public authorities in the world that their work should be data-driven. This trend is seen at many different levels, ranging from national to local. ‘Evidence-based’ working has become a focal point for a growing number of municipalities, for instance. This is the reason why we should seek collaboration with different international urban data platforms in order to become a local and regional reference. We need to define performance indicators, trends of urbanization at various territorial scale for a set of indicators and strategies for sustainable urban development based on those indicators and trends.