Your City in Data: Visualizing Info that Matters

How can we use data visualization and other engaging communication strategies to show the value of municipal services?

Project Description:

Municipal Benchmarking Network of Canada (MBNCanada) is a collaborative of Canadian municipalities whose mission is to enhance municipal service delivery by leading the development and application of municipal performance measurement and benchmarking programs. MBNCanada collects data from across 36 municipal service areas that informs evidence- based decision making and ensures municipalities are providing effective and efficient public services that citizens want and need. The data is summarized into an annual performance report.

The performance report, while available online to the general public, is not engaging to the reader and does not fully demonstrate the value of municipal services to the local user. In addition, the limited descriptive or contextual information that does exist could create confusion or result in misinterpretation.

Challenge Summary:

MBNCanada would like to create a product that uses data visualization and other communication strategies to translate MBNCanada data into a reader-friendly product for multiple end users (i.e., City Council, municipal service planners and the general public which tells a story about municipal performance and service delivery. The goal is to create a product that can inform municipal planning, illustrates service quality and value for money and enhances public trust and confidence. MBNC would like to address one or more of the following challenges:

1. What are the barriers to the public in understanding the value or quality of municipal services?

2. How can data be used to illustrate service quality, value for money, and enhance public trust and confidence in municipal services?

3. How can MBNCanada report on municipal service delivery in a way that is user- friendly and engaging to the general public?

4. How can data be presented in a manner that informs or enhances municipal service planning.

City Staff:

Greg Witt - Municipal Lead, Municipal Benchmarking Network of Canada (MBNCanada) and Senior Policy and Program Specialist, Housing Services Division, Healthy and Safe Communities

Meighan Finlay - Executive Director, MBNCanada

Faculty, Course, and Students:

Katie Moisse (McMaster University), SCICOMM 2A03 (150 students)

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Student Projects:

Water For All

Swamped by the Stats

Every Second Counts

Deliverables:

Students will submit a report containing two evidence-based audiences profiles, two sets of data visualizations, and a defense of their communication strategies.

Where will the work go?

The work will be used to facilitate the future production of the MBNCanada Performance Report in user friendly and engaging formats. 

 This work will also be made available and used by participating MBNCanada municipalities to inform the planning, implementation and monitoring and reporting of municipal service delivery. 

Portions of the report may also be used to report to municipal governments as part of municipal performance measurement reports

Project Agreement

FOR BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT, VIEW THE MATCH MAKER DISCUSSION BELOW

Enhancing Wi-Fi at the Hamilton Public Library

How can we improve the wireless guest network at all HPL branches to further enable member access to online resources?

Project Description: HPL provides free Internet access at all branches via their wireless guest network (HPL_Guest), enabling members to use online resources and the Internet with their own wireless-enabled equipment.

Library members depend on this free access to the Internet; we want to know how this service can be improved across the system.

Challenge Summary: Research Hamilton Public Library’s public Wi-Fi service across all branches, including public spaces and bookmobiles. Examine the service in terms of coverage, signal strength, capacity and user experience. Report on findings and provide recommendations to improve the service across all branches and public spaces.

City Staff: Sukh Jatana, Hamilton Public Library

Faculty, Course, & Students: Lisa Pegg, Mohawk College, Business Analysis - 334 (~3 students)

Group two:

Analyze WiFi coverage, signal strength, capacity, Terms and Conditions

Students: Andrea Thomas, Alex Hubling, Mishal Kella, Rachel Kolenko, Inja Yun

Group four:

Providing recommendations to improve the public Wi-Fi service at HPL

Students: Amna Sadiq, Avi Khurana, Luz Mejia Sierra, Tam Truong, Tina Vineham, Ogochukwu Assams

Group five:

Enhance Wi-Fi UX: Research current problems. provide solutions.

Students: Foluke Raji, Mohammed Sinaj Kalathil, Maigreth Lacouture-Diaz, Khushi Apurvakumar Shah, Yash Mukesh Makwana

Goals: This project will give HPL a clear understanding of the HPL public Wi-Fi network in terms of coverage, signal strength, capacity, connectivity and user experience, noting inconsistencies and opportunities for improvement.

Deliverables: The final report will describe HPL’s public Wi-Fi network across all branches in terms of coverage, signal strength, capacity, connectivity and user experience, noting inconsistencies and opportunities for improvement. The report may include maps, diagrams and tables to ensure it is easy to read and understand.

Project Agreement

Vanier Towers Data Analysis

How can we use data to identify needs and solutions in a neighbourhood facing high rates of poverty?

Project Description:

Vanier Towers faces significantly poorer health outcomes than other areas in Hamilton. Tenants at these two buildings report higher rates of poverty, mental health issues, physical health issues, and addictions, than the average citizen in the City. A hub of services was implemented in 2017, to bring support and programs to the towers to address the social and health needs of this community. Partners include: Wesley (meals, recreation/social activities, mental health support), tenant led groups (peer support, art programming, social activities), Shelter Health Network (doctors drop-in hours on site), St. Josephs social worker (mental health and addictions support), OW, ODSP, Home Management, Tenant Support Workers (address issues putting tenancies at risk). The hub continues to develop according to tenant and community partner feedback. Evaluation and assessment of the hub is complex and ongoing. Since the spring of 2019, community partners for Vanier Towers have been entering data from their interactions with tenants using a Google Form. This project aims to analyze and enrich the current data to identify trends, gaps, and potential solutions.

City Staff: Kelly Coxson, CityHousing

Faculty, Course & Students: Steven Way, Mohawk College, Capstone Project (Analytics for Business Decision Making Program)

Goal: It is hoped that the data analysis plan will help with the following:

• Improved data collection/analysis process so information can be analyzed using defined time periods (ex. monthly or quarterly).

• Improved data collection/analysis process so information on referrals between hub partners is clearer.

Deliverables:

• Written reports on data collection and analysis improvement suggestions, and data analysis visualizations (10 to 20 pages)

• Presentation of analysis (30 min)

View Project Agreement