The proposed book explores the transformative power of open data in urban and transport planning, examining how it fosters a multifaceted understanding of cities (for research and practice), influences planning, integrates citizens and shapes urban spaces in diverse regions. Open data — sourced from governments, private entities, NGOs, and individuals — offers new opportunities for participatory planning, data-driven decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration. However, its impact is shaped by local governance structures, technological capabilities, but also societal, cultural and individual attitudes toward transparency and data sharing. By analyzing comparative cases from Europe and Asia, this volume aims to highlight diverse approaches to open data utilization and governance, fostering mutual learning and innovative applications in the field. The idea for this book project originated from the #HackYourDistrict workshop series, initiated by the Chair for Work Studies, Technology, and Participation at the Technical University of Berlin in 2021. Since then, these workshops have facilitated international discussions on the opportunities and limitations of open data in planning, consistently revealing that data cultures (Rob Kitchin 2014) vary not only between regions but also within cities of the same country. Building on these insights, this volume seeks to advance the discourse on open data, exploring both its potential and its challenges in shaping more inclusive, sustainable and efficient urban and transport systems.
Within the practices of different cultures, it is individuals who use (open) data to create new insights or develop innovations (Cinnamon 2022). The human factor plays a central role in data innovations, as the success and setback of open data initiatives depends heavily on the active participation, control, and understanding of the people who produce and use this data. A Taiwan example is the Roadkill Observation Network (TaiRON), where citizens actively contribute to scientific research by using GPS-enabled devices to crowdsource roadkill data. This integration of citizens into the data collection process not only fosters greater public involvement but also enhances the breadth and depth of conservation research (Hsu & Lin 2021). Similarly, in Germany, the “Gieß den Kiez” (Water the Neighborhood) project in Berlin invites citizens to use open data and GPS technology to monitor and water urban trees, allowing for a collaborative effort in maintaining the city’s green spaces and promoting environmental sustainability. However, despite these positive examples, it is important to recognize that the reliability and usefulness of open data can also be compromised by individuals who, whether through error, lack of understanding, or politically motivated manipulation, may inadvertently undermine the integrity of open data (Mcardle & Kitchin 2016).
Nowhere else is as much data generated as in cities. If we take a closer look, we realize that in no other urban area is as much data generated as in transportation. The sheer volume of movements of people, goods and vehicles and their networking with smartphones, GPS and sensors produce massive amounts. When opened to public use, data can support the development of open-source transport planning tools (e.g. MATSim, co-developed by Prof. Kai Nagel at TU Berlin). These tools facilitate route optimization, demand forecasting and scenario analysis, making transport planning more efficient and transparent. The use of open data (and open tools) in transportation systems allows for the development of new services and applications that improve the user experience and services. For example, real-time data on bus locations and schedules can enable better service design and operational efficiency. Furthermore, in achieving the net-zero city agenda, the application of open data in transportation systems not only supports innovative transportation planning but also accelerates public communication and facilitates social transition in daily life. For these reasons, we would like to explore the transformative power of open data equally in the urban planning and transport planning disciplines alike, which partly merge into each other.
Most academic works on open data and cities tend to approach the topic from a predominantly Western-centric perspective, often rooted in discussions about privatized digital spaces (Kitchin et al. 2015) or about the pervasive influence of large tech corporations in shaping smart city technologies and smart city discourses (Burns 2021, Greenfield 2013). The focus — though not new — overlooks critical perspectives on neoliberal urbanism, which argue that the smart city model, as promoted by tech giants, often prioritizes corporate interests over public good, leading to the commodification of urban data. Derived from this, academics like Kitchin (2014) often argue that open data, when leveraged effectively, can offer a counter-narrative to the privatized smart city model by fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, that it is used in ways that empower rather than exploit urban populations. Our experiences from #HackYourDistrict shows that the production and sharing of digital information through civic technology is forming new communities and co-creation, driving measures such as air pollution regulation, watershed management, biodiversity conservation, health management (for a Taiwanese case study example see Yuan et al. 2020) and many other fields.
It is this effective leveraging of open data that will be addressed in the edited volume in the realm of urban planning and transportation. We want to tackle wider issues related to open data in urban and transport planning, drawing on scientific research results, political analysis, project reflections, case studies or artistic works. The book therefore invites researchers and practitioners who deal with cities, transportation and open data and created innovative approaches, findings, methods or creative ways of open data usage to enhance planning. We invite contributions not only from participants of our workshop series over the past three years but also from external authors whose insights can enhance the quality of our book project.
The book aims to critically engage with debates from the humanities, social sciences and engineering to deliver a comprehensive account of how data intertwine with urban environmental changes. We welcome discussions on both the positive and negative impacts of open data in cities. Despite the potentials that we highlighted and need so much for a counter-narrative of capital-driven smart cities, we are also looking for critical reflections of open data utilization, e.g.: How the privatization of data obstructs urban / transport planning, how open data might compromise citizens’ privacy rights, or how states might withhold open data for political purposes and consequently obstructs urban / transport planning.
We further welcome contributions that explore the role of city administrations and urban planners in developing efficient open data management systems, as well as in leveraging open data for the planning and enhancement of infrastructure. During our workshops, we observed that open data can act as a catalyst, sparking collaboration among groups that previously had no interaction, fostering new opportunities for cooperation and mutual learning. Consequently, we warmly invite articles that examine innovative forms of co-production driven by data and emerging social networks, particularly those that illustrate how the digital sphere revitalizes physical spaces and enhances social interactions.
Contributions should align with one of the following key themes:
- Open Data and Cities – Papers on how open data influences urban environments, governance, civic engagement, decision-making, innovations and urban policies. Challenges / solutions in data accessibility, interoperability, and equity in urban data governance and management.
- Open Data and Urban Planning – The role of open data in shaping spatial planning, land-use decisions, and participatory design. Open data for monitoring housing, environmental sustainability, and socio-spatial inequalities. Digital twins and AI-based analytics in planning through open data sources. Challenges / solutions in data quality, standardization, and long-term availability in urban planning.
- Open Data and Transport Planning – The focus of this chapter is on describing and proving the impact or potential practical value of open data on urban transportation systems. By making data accessible, planners and researchers can enhance services and create more citizen-centered mobility solutions. Opportunities and cases for this shall be discussed as well as challenges like data privacy, governance, interoperability or privatization of data.
- Open Data and Citizens – How individuals and communities engage with and contribute to open data initiatives, including governance, data cultures, and participatory practices, or new methods of data creation and application (e.g. hackathons). Critical reflections on citizen-driven data initiatives and grassroots urbanism.
We are especially interested in contributions that critically assess both the positive potential and the challenges associated with open data, such as privacy concerns, data privatization, and political constraints on data availability.
Jonas Fahlbusch
Chair for Work, Technology and Participation at Technische Universität Berlin
Research Campus Mobility2Grid (Lead Knowledge and Innovation Transfer)
E‑Mail: jonas.fahlbusch@tu-berlin.de
