Data and the capacity to engage with it are critical

Primary challenges local authorities may face include urban database building, data mapping, and urbanization of information systems. Another need where local authorities will require capacity is the extent to which the data and maps are up to date, context-relevant and valid (called data freshness). Information that is too old will not be of much use for decision making, and may in fact lead to poor short- and long-term decisions being made. On the contrary, maps produced on the basis of the daily experiences of the population can serve as a medium for dialogue and coordination of action.

In order to utilise up-to-date data, local authorities need to ensure they have an appropriate set of tools to manage digital urban services. This tool set does not need to come at an overwhelming price, particularly for local authorities that are beginning their adoption of digital. In fact, as evidenced in mapping projects such as in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya⁴¹, which used Open Street Maps, it has been shown that local authorities can leverage open source GIS software to support mapping and data collection exercises, with universal formatting applied. This should also be combined with communications protocols that are appropriate for the user base in question. Citizens in cities in the Global South may be best reached by SMS rather than internet-based platforms, and data collection projects and engagements should bear these nuances in mind.

Critically, the systems designed and implemented for a local authority should be designed with scale in mind. This includes ensuring that systems that handle and store data are resilient and perform at scale. This is particularly important in allowing departments to fully transition to running a digital office and moving their internal processes onto digital systems. To support this, secure third-party cloud services may be required to avoid a dependence on local physical infrastructure.