Left In Lowell

Digitial Data Measuring

4 Responses to “Digitial Data Measuring”

1. Right in Lowell Says:
   August 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

   Lowell has a similar site where we can submit suggestions, requests, etc. but I haven’t used it and not sure how good it is:

   http://www.egovlink.com/lowell/action.asp

2. Mimi Says:
   August 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

   Right:

   It works somewhat. I have used it. I am not sure who is going to do the data analysis now that the staff at the CM’s office has been cut by 1/3.

3. Kim Says:
   August 24th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

   Lowell’s system has worked great for me. I emailed 3 concerns after reading Bernie’s blog and all three were addressed promptly! They send you an email to let you know the issue has been resolved or you can go in and check what the status is.
   1) graffiti (next day)
   2) gaping pot hole (2 days)
   3) Illegal dumping of tv’s (1 week)

   Bernie’s post
   http://lowellma.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-latest-from-city-hall/

4. tryin to stay anonymous Says:
   August 25th, 2009 at 8:30 am

   The city’s GIS system allows you to view resources, boundaries and so on, but it is not integrated into the service delivery system that Kim touched on. I find the capability to gather and analyze data (and make it public) lacking in the department I work for. The last time I asked about it, I was told the city couldn’t afford that module on the proprietary software it purchased and it required an expensive computer consultant to come in a conduct those operations if needed. Yet I remember Dick Howe doing some very simple mapping of forclosures using Google which was very insightful. In addition the Boston Globe has done some similar analysis using mapping techniques and the state has the new highway construction maps.

   I don’t know if mapping or data mining is used based on the Lowell e-gov service request inputs. I can’t imagine that system generates enough data by itself to be fully effective citywide. Its a nice piece, but not the whole puzzle. The one problem with analyzing data entered online is that has a limited scope. There are many people of limited means in this city that don’t have computer access or know how to utilize it, nevermind the language barrier. A 311 citizen phone line where calls are logged by a person entering the data (or in some cases fully automated), routed to the appropriate department and then later analyzed, would perhaps generate better input data because it would empower far more people. This type of service meshes nicely with implementing the broken windows theory, but since this analysis isn’t even in place for all the calls that come into the emergency communications (911) center, that may be geting ahead of ourselves.

   I’ll give you an example. The council passed an ordinance a while back to bill responsible parties for repeated false alarms of burglary and fire protection systems. When I asked about that, I was told there is no system in place to document, report or bill for that ordinace.

   I posted a question on the use of technology for council candidates in that thread. I doubt we’ll get many answers.

   Besides who needs this new fangled technology when you can use Lowell’s time tested system of service delivery. Call the councillor you gave a campaign contribution to take care of it for you.

Leave a Reply