Big Data will not change the world unless it is collected and synthesized into to tools that generate policy change! The Civic Data Design Lab develops tools, visualizations, and analyses which help to facilitate policy change. This talk calls everyone to act on the lab's motto of 'Build It, Hack It, Share it' by demonstrating projects that build data sets collected from web sites and social media, evaluate that data using machine learning and geoprocessing, and present the results through open-source mapping interfaces. The works shows how visualizing data can be a powerful policy tool. Among other ongoing projects, the talk will specifically highlight the lab's research project developing the first map of Nairobi's transit system using data builds through cell phones, and the development of a tool (CityDigits) that helps youth learn to be data literate.

Join us for before the talk for happy hour drinks + snacks at 5:30pm; the lecture will begin promptly at 6pm. Event attendees are eligible for one hour of AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) credit. Thanks to the American Planning Association's Cleveland Chapter for their support in designating this event as a CM opportunity.