Mayor cements London as new centre for “data economy and innovation”

The newly appointed Data for London Advisory Board met for their inaugural meeting at City Hall yesterday.

This “diverse” group, made up of data and technology experts from the public and private sector, corporate leaders and civic society will support the Mayor and chief digital officer for London Theo Blackwell MBE, in using data to help to tackle the transport, crime and environment issues facing the capital.

The new Board will help deliver Sadiq Khan’s manifesto commitment to “harness data and emerging technologies for the city” by developing London’s first Data Strategy and a new Data for London platform. London is already said to be a “world leader” in the collection, use and sharing of data to enhance the lives of Londoners.

Joined up data sharing is said to have made a difference in London through:

• Air quality monitoring: London has one of the most advanced networks in the world. Air quality data is easily accessible, such as through Breathe London, empowering Londoners with evidence to improve their neighbourhood.
• Sharing and mapping data on planned infrastructure from utilities, local authorities and transport providers fosters collaboration and minimises disruption to London’s streets from roadworks.

Open data published on the London datastore, which is the home of public data in London, gives everyone access to data showing:

• Environmental conditions such as tree canopy cover for Greater London.
• Cultural infrastructure maps including outdoor spaces for cultural use, pubs, creative workspaces, heritage at risk and more.
• Digital connectivity with the most comprehensive publicly available coverage of broadband services across London.
• Transport for London’s open data enabled over 600 apps including TfL Go as well as private apps like City Mapper to help Londoners travel around the city.

Theo Blackwell, chief digital officer for London, commented: “Joining up data can help City Hall and other key London organisations gain insights into some of our most pressing challenges and take action to resolve them.

“This can be through informing better decisions or by supporting innovators to create new products and services. London is the centre of data economy and innovation, and we must continue to evolve and update our data ecosystem to remain at the cutting edge.

“The Data for London Advisory Board will improve the responsible and effective use and sharing of data to support every one of the Mayor’s manifesto commitments and to help build a better, smarter, London for everyone.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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