Neighborhood Indicators
Data Driven Detroit has been actively pursuing and supporting a Detroit focused indicator project that encourages the public use of data and maps for neighborhood decision-making. We are now in the testing phase of the web tool.
NEW BETA! Community Data Profiles and Interactive Mapping Tool
Southeast Michigan Community Profiles by Neighborhoods, Planning Areas, Cities and Towns, and 9 Counties. Data & Maps include lots of demographics, economics, education, housing, land use, and more.
Background
Advanced indicator or information-sharing systems that focus on neighborhood conditions empower community research, understanding, planning, and coherent local action. We wish to maximize that potential empowerment by collaborating with others pursuing or supporting the NNIP concept, sometimes called “democratizing information” (to find out more Click Here), in Detroit. If you are also working towards these goals for Detroit we would like to hear from you, please contact us.
D3 would like to highlight the past work on this subject, that has guided our approach to the subject, which is in the report/action plan “A Neighborhood Indicator System for Detroit: Empowering Communities Through Information” (April, 2004). To see the report Click Here. It is a strong plan and includes a comparative case study of other cities’ indicator systems. Its goals are the following:
- Maximize the potential of data to positively affect Detroit’s neighborhoods.
- Use neighborhood indicators to inform resource allocation decisions across the city, especially decisions about the distribution of federal funds to community groups, to ensure that those resources strengthen neighborhoods and combat blight.
- Provide decision-makers with accurate, balanced information that represents as many interests as possible to ensure thoughtful and fair planning outcomes.
- Empower organizations and individuals that work for Detroit’s neighborhoods by providing a means to demonstrate the results of their efforts, their need for resources, and their own ability to strengthen neighborhoods.
The report explores the answers to the why, what, and how of obtaining the above goals through a neighborhood indicator system that has two facets, a CES and an EDS.
The Community Empowerment System (CES)
The Community Empowerment System (CES) would be a data warehouse and a public web interface that allows access to the warehouse. Many datasets, both public and survey data, will be contained in the CES. The system will serve as a place where many organizations, residents and researchers can collaborate to get and share information.
The Early Detection System (EDS)
The Early Detection System (EDS) would provide advanced analytical capacity to identify trends in small geographic areas using a small amount of carefully selected data. The EDS would be a radar for warning signs of potential areas of concern or opportunity, such as quality of life changes or neighborhood decline. It aspires to be predictive and would allow policymakers to make decisions on its predictions.
The two systems would work in tandem to provide both the city and its residents a more accurate picture of Detroit’s neighborhoods and the ability to promote community change.
For more research & best practices on the subject of Neighborhood Indicators Click Here.
