LocalData

LocalData makes digital tools to collect and analyze information about urban infrastructure. Across the country, urban planners in non-profits and government agencies collect street-level information about neighborhoods. Typically, the process for collecting, transcribing and cleaning this data is confusing, lengthy and disempowering. LocalData is technology designed to make a cumbersome process simple. In 2012, LocalData began as a Code for America project with the City of Detroit's Office of the Mayor. Three Code for America fellows (Matt, Alicia and Prashant) identified a need for local data in Detroit. Though community groups were actively surveying neighborhoods and using this data - neighborhood level surveys took a long time and further stressed the under-resourced technical assistance providers that were assisting this effort. Additionally, comprehensive city-wide surveys were taken infrequently, often involving multiple partners, with months of surveying and transcription.