Management of data from the city

Dialogic, in collaboration with VNG Realisatie and commissioned by Stichting Stedenlink, has conducted exploratory research on the use of "urban data". Municipalities are not only users but also producers of data, stemming from further digitalisation across various sectors and domains. This includes sustainable energy, smart mobility, healthy urban living, safe living environment, etc. With the advent of 5G networks and various sensors, municipalities will receive a multitude of data and information sources in the coming years. Particularly at the cross-roads of different sectors (electric mobility, smart grids, climate control, smart lighting, and sustainable energy generation), ICT and the associated data will form a connecting link to optimally operate municipal systems. As a result, (real-time) data will have an even greater steering function for policy and implementation within municipal organisations. Municipalities need a strategy to organise their ICT and data management in such a way that they can purposefully, efficiently, and securely share and use data for their objectives. Essentially, the question is how municipalities can exercise more control over a municipal data ecosystem in connection with overarching societal challenges and tasks. Integrality is an important guiding principle in this regard. In addition, the internal organisation should be able to accommodate such an integral (cross-departmental/directorate) approach and align with the urban smart city ecosystem. This research examined four municipalities with data platforms: Eersel, Helmond, Utrecht, and Zwolle. Additionally, it includes practical examples from The Hague, Enschede, Hilversum, Copenhagen, and Rotterdam. Municipalities can also use the report as a guidance on how to organise and share this data in a smart way. The exploration "Regie op data uit de stad" is a continuation of our research on the impact of digitalisation for the municipality of Utrecht.