DATA ACTION: Using Data for a Public Good | Sarah Williams | TEDxMIT Salon

Summary

The speaker addresses the paradox of the Big Data era, highlighting the significant gaps in essential data in many countries, particularly affecting vulnerable communities. They discuss 'Data Action,' their approach to harnessing data creatively to influence policy and improve public benefit. Using Nairobi's transportation system as a case study, they detail how they leveraged local technology and community engagement to collect data on informal transit systems, leading to policy changes and global replication. The talk also covers the creation of interactive data visualizations to advocate for migrants, influencing U.S. policy on legal visas for Central American agricultural workers.

Takeaways

• 🌍 We are living in an era of Big Data, but also an era of missing data, particularly in vulnerable regions lacking basic infrastructure and census data.
• 📊 Missing Maps project reveals significant gaps in infrastructure data, especially in the Global South, which marginalizes communities further.
• 🚌 In Nairobi, Kenya, informal transit systems, particularly matatus, which account for 80% of road traffic, lacked any formal data or maps.
• 📱 Cell phone use was leveraged to collect transit data in Nairobi by creating an app in collaboration with local communities and the University of Nairobi.
• 🌐 GTFS (Google Transit Feed Specification) was used to organize and collect transit data, allowing integration with platforms like Google Maps.
• 👨‍💻 A local hackathon resulted in five new apps and the inclusion of Nairobi’s informal transit system in Google Maps for the first time.
• 🗺️ A subway-style map was created for the matatu system in collaboration with bus drivers and stakeholders, making it the official map for Nairobi’s transit system.
• 🚍 The Nairobi project has inspired over 40 cities globally to develop similar data solutions for informal transit systems.
• 🌱 Data-driven visualizations have been used in migration studies, helping policymakers understand the motivations and financial challenges of migrants.
• 🤝 The data collected has led to significant policy changes, such as the expansion of legal visas for Central American migrants, backed by visualizations presented to Congress.

Q & A

What era are we living in according to the speaker?

We are living in an era of Big Data, but also an era of missing data, where many countries lack basic census data or infrastructure data essential for resource allocation.

What is the Missing Maps project mentioned in the script?

The Missing Maps project produces maps that highlight the lack of infrastructure in many areas, particularly in the global South, to help fill the data gap and support vulnerable communities.

What is 'data action' as described by the speaker?

'Data action' refers to the process of using data to create public benefit and influence policy. It involves collecting data in unique ways, synthesizing it into useful tools, and communicating it effectively to inspire change.

Why was the transportation system in Nairobi, Kenya, a focus of the speaker's work?

The transportation system in Nairobi was a focus because the city developed faster than its transportation infrastructure could keep up, leading to congested streets, and the speaker aimed to model and improve this system.

What is a 'matatu' and why are they significant in Nairobi's transportation?

Matatus are the main mode of transportation in Nairobi, representing close to 80% of the vehicles on the roadway, making them crucial for understanding and modeling the city's transportation system.

How did the speaker and her team collect data on Nairobi's matatus?

They leveraged the ubiquitous use of cell phones in Nairobi to collect data by building an app in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, which collected data in the GTFS format used by Google Maps.

What was the outcome of the hackathon in Nairobi regarding matatu data?

The hackathon resulted in five different apps developed by the local tech community and the inclusion of Nairobi's informal transit system in Google Maps for the first time.

How did the creation of a traditional subway map-style visualization benefit the understanding of matatu systems?

The subway map-style visualization made the complex matatu system more understandable to everyone, including those without smartphones, and helped stakeholders see the organized nature of the system run by a union.

What was the impact of the matatu system map on policy and public perception?

The map went viral, was made official by the city, and showed that the matatus were an organized system. This led to multilaterals and the government considering ways to make these systems safer.

How did the speaker's work on migration data visualize the experiences of migrants between Colombia and Panama?

The speaker created a visualization from data collected from migrants, showing that 42 countries were represented in the dataset. This helped to understand the motivations and costs associated with migration.

What was the significance of the interactive tool presented during the congressional hearing in 2021?

The interactive tool allowed congressmen to explore data and insights themselves, leading to recommendations for more legal visas for Central American migrants, which were later adopted by the Biden Administration.

How did the 'tapestry of motivations' visualization impact the World Food Program's fundraising efforts?

The tapestry, created with physical dollar bills representing the reasons migrants leave, allowed the World Food Program to interact with the data and hear migrant stories, which had a significant impact on their fundraising efforts during a time when funding was being diverted to the war in Ukraine.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Data Action for Infrastructure and Transportation

The speaker introduces the concept of 'Data Action,' emphasizing the importance of data in addressing the lack of infrastructure and transportation systems in many parts of the world. They highlight the work done in Nairobi, Kenya, where the rapid urban development has outpaced the transportation infrastructure. The absence of data on 'matatus,' which are the primary mode of transportation, led to a collaborative effort with the University of Nairobi to collect data using an app. This data was formatted in GTFS, a standard used by Google Maps, which facilitated the creation of routing and mapping tools. The project resulted in the first informal transit system being added to Google Maps and inspired similar initiatives globally. The speaker also discusses creating a physical map to help people understand the matatu system, which was a significant step in recognizing and improving the transportation system's organization and safety.

05:02

🌐 Impactful Data Visualization in Global Policy

The speaker discusses the power of data visualization in influencing global policy, using the example of migration between Colombia and Panama. They present a visualization created from data collected at migration hotspots, which revealed the diverse origins of migrants. To understand the motivations behind migration, the speaker collaborated with various organizations to interview thousands of migrants. The data was used to create an interactive tool for a Congressional hearing, allowing policymakers to explore and understand the migrants' experiences and costs. This approach led to policy recommendations, such as increasing legal visas for Central American migrants, which were later adopted by the Biden Administration. The speaker also describes creating a physical tapestry representing the reasons for migration, which was used to engage with the World Food Program and raise awareness about the migrants' stories.

10:04

🌱 Data-Driven Advocacy for Migrant Rights

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the impact of their data-driven advocacy, particularly in the context of migrant rights. They recount how their interactive data visualizations were used to influence policy during a Congressional hearing, leading to an increase in legal visas for Central American agricultural workers. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trust in data and the ability for individuals to interact with it to form their own insights. They also discuss the creation of a physical tapestry made of money to symbolize the economic motivations behind migration. This tapestry was interactive, allowing viewers to tap on dollar bills and hear migrant stories, which had a profound impact on the World Food Program and their fundraising efforts. The speaker concludes by encouraging others to use data to create change and influence policy.

Keywords

💡Big Data

Big Data refers to the vast amounts of structured and unstructured data that are too large and complex to be processed by traditional data management tools. In the video, the speaker mentions that we are living in an era of Big Data, highlighting the importance of data in today's world. However, the speaker also points out the irony of missing data in many parts of the world, which is crucial for resource allocation and policy-making.

💡Missing Data

Missing Data refers to the absence of essential information that is needed for decision-making, planning, and development. The speaker emphasizes the issue of missing data in many countries, which lack basic census or infrastructure data, leading to further marginalization of vulnerable communities. This concept is central to the video's theme, as it sets the stage for the speaker's work in filling these data gaps.

💡Data Action

Data Action is a term coined by the speaker to describe the process of using data to create actionable insights and drive policy change. The speaker discusses how data can be used not just for analysis but also for storytelling and creating tools that have a public benefit. This concept is exemplified in the video through the speaker's work in Nairobi, where data was collected and synthesized to improve transportation systems.

💡Matatus

Matatus are minibuses that serve as the primary mode of public transportation in Nairobi, Kenya, and represent nearly 80% of the vehicles on the roadway. The speaker discusses the lack of data on matatus and how this hindered the development of a transportation model. The collection of data on matatus and the creation of a map to visualize their routes is a key example of data action in the video.

💡GTFS

GTFS stands for General Transit Feed Specification, which is a data format used for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. In the video, the speaker mentions building an app with GTFS data to collect information on Nairobi's matatus. This data standard is crucial as it allows for the integration of the collected data into tools like Google Maps, making it instantly usable and accessible.

💡Hackathon

A Hackathon is an event where people, often programmers, collaborate intensively on a project in a short period. The speaker mentions a hackathon in Nairobi where the local tech community was invited to learn about the GTFS data format and develop apps. This event resulted in the creation of five different apps and was a part of the data collection and action process.

💡Informal Transit Systems

Informal Transit Systems refer to transportation networks that operate outside of formal regulatory frameworks. The speaker discusses how most cities in the world have informal transit systems like matatus in Nairobi. The work done in Nairobi to collect data and create maps for these systems has inspired similar initiatives in over 40 cities globally.

💡Migration

Migration in the context of the video refers to the movement of people from one region to another, often due to factors like climate change, violence, and economic conditions. The speaker discusses a project where data was collected from migrants on their journey between Colombia and Panama, highlighting the global nature of migration and its impact on policy and resource allocation.

💡Interactive Data Visualization

Interactive Data Visualization involves creating visual representations of data that users can interact with to explore and gain insights. The speaker describes creating an interactive tool for a Congressional hearing, allowing participants to explore migration data and understand the motivations and costs associated with migration. This approach helped influence policy decisions and demonstrates the power of visualizing data for action.

💡Legal Visas

Legal Visas are official documents allowing individuals to enter, reside, or work in a foreign country legally. The speaker discusses the recommendation for Congress to provide more legal visas for Central American migrants based on the data collected and analyzed. This recommendation was influenced by the visualizations and insights gained from the data, leading to policy changes by the Biden Administration.

Highlights

We're living in an era of Big Data, but also an era of missing data, with many countries lacking basic census or infrastructure data.

Missing data marginalizes vulnerable communities, and the Missing Maps project highlights the lack of infrastructure in many areas.

The speaker aims to change the power dynamic by building data in unique ways to fill gaps and create public-benefit tools.

Data Action is defined as the process of telling stories with data to drive policy changes.

In Nairobi, Kenya, transportation issues are exacerbated by rapid urban development outpacing transit systems.

Matatus, which make up 80% of vehicles on Nairobi's roads, lacked data on their routes until a new model was created.

Leveraging the ubiquity of cell phone use in Nairobi, an app was built to collect data on bus routes in the GTFS format used by Google Maps.

A local hackathon led to the development of five apps and the first informal transit system on Google Maps.

A traditional subway map format was used to make the complex matatu system understandable to everyone.

Stakeholders, including bus drivers, were involved in editing the map, which was released in newspapers and went viral.

The map's release led to policy changes, as it showed the matatus were an organized system, prompting multilaterals to consider safety improvements.

The work in Nairobi inspired a global network of over 40 cities to develop similar data and resources.

Data visualizations can have a significant impact on policy, as seen with a report on migration between Colombia and Panama.

Migrants' data was collected through hotspots and interviews, revealing the high costs and motivations for migration.

An interactive tool was created for a Congressional hearing, allowing participants to explore migration data and find insights.

The visualization led to policy recommendations, including increasing legal visas for Central American migrants.

The Biden Administration responded by opening up more legal visas for agricultural workers, citing the report's findings.

A tapestry made of money visualized the reasons migrants leave, with each dollar representing a story that could be heard through interaction.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of building teams, collecting unique data, quantifying results, and iterating through visualizations to take data to action.

Transcripts

if you haven't heard um we're living in

an era of Big Data um I heard that many

many times today but um I would also say

that we're living in an era of missing

data many countries in the world don't

even have basic census data or

infrastructure data essential to

allocate desperately needed

resources this lack of data further

marginalizes what are already vulnerable

communities in this map produced by the

missing maps project um we see the lack

of infrastructure in many areas uh in

the global

South I seek to change that power

Dynamic by building data in unique ways

to help fill the

Gap and synthesize that data into tools

that have a public benefit that can

change change

policy it's a process that I talk about

in my book data action so what is data

action I love telling stories with data

so let's tell a

story um and I'm taking you to Nairobi

Kenya I do a lot of work in Nairobi and

I've been working on issues around

Transportation um and if you look at

this map you can see or not map this

video you can see that Nairobi streets

are always very clogged um the city of

Nairobi is developed way faster than the

transportation systems could catch up

with it and this is something that's

happening in cities ac across uh the

world as people are moving in at a rapid

Pace um but one of the things that when

I came to Nairobi to kind build their

transformation model I didn't have have

data on these buses these are uh the

main way people get around and they're

called matatus um and they represent

close to 80% of the vehicles on the

roadway so you can understand if I had a

model I need the data about where the

buses go so I can really accurately

model that um and it was shocking not

only that there wasn't data about where

these buses went but the citizens didn't

even have a map so I thought how could I

create raw data for my model that

everyone could use um and build upon we

took if you've ever been to Nairobi

Kenya people use their cell phones for

everything they have something called

Mesa which they use it to actually buy

bus fairs buy coffee use it for your

taxi ride and we thought we could

Leverage The ubiquitous nature of cell

phone use in Nairobi uh to collect this

data we built an app with the our

partners at the community at the

University of Nairobi and we collected

data in something called

gtfs you probably don't know what gtfs

is but you guys have all used it gtfs is

the data standard in Google maps that

allows you to Route yourself in transit

I sto and take note in this because

collecting data and an existing standard

helps to make it instantly more

usable uh because there's so much open-

Source software developed for it and

that's what we did in Nairobi we had a

haathon we invited the local Tech

Community to teach them about the ggsf

data format and from that hacka five

different apps developed by the local

Tech Community uh were produced um and

also it was the first informal transit

system in Google Maps now there are many

and we help many cities across the world

do that but by collecting the data in

the system we were able to uh negotiate

iate with Google to get them online here

you can see the data streaming uh in our

application creating the roadway stops

and routes um but you can see that

understanding the complexity of the

system is is as hard as routes are

overlapping so we needed a way for

everyone with or without a smartphone to

understand the matatu system um so we

started to think of a format of a

traditional Subway

map uh we teamed up with stakeholders in

the community including bus drivers who

helped us edit the map as you can see

here um in this video um making these

matatu systems more physical had a huge

benefit to n for the first time it

showed that the matatus were an

organized system run by a union who

decided and set routes and stops this

meant that that NOS multilaterals could

help and think about ways to make these

systems

safer we worked with the government uh

to edit the maps as well as focus groups

of writers um and ultimately the map was

released um in the

newspapers um and went viral on the the

internet um the city in fact made it the

official

map semi-formal Transit provides

Mobility around the world it's not just

Nairobi that has this kind of system in

fact most city in the worlds have these

kind of informal transit systems and our

work has inspired cities from Aman to

Managua and we now have a Global Network

of over 40 cities that we've helped

develop this data and we have a resource

center based in Africa and Latin America

so creating data can just start with one

small

app um as you can see my work isn't just

about building data it's about also

creating unique ways to communicate that

data so that policy makers can update

that results we saw that in Nairobi with

the map had a huge impact on the way uh

policy makers

interacted in the last few years I

started to work on another issue with

Global Effect

migration here we're looking at a

visualization I created from data

collected from migrants on their passage

between Colombia and Panama showing that

42 countries as far as away as China and

Africa were represented in the the data

set and we got this data uh through um

hotspots provided to the migrants along

their migration

pathway but we wanted to know what

motivated migrants to

leave and so we together with the world

food program the migration policy

Institute the interamerican development

bank and the organization of American

states interviewed 5,000 migrants about

what uh motivated them to leave how much

it cost them how were they traveling

what were the means that they were

migrating the data sample was taken from

a region in which in these countries

which were experiencing high levels of

migration to due to climate change

violence and

economics and together our team created

a report the kind of report you might

typically see uh we were very excited

about our findings but I really was

thinking this is not going to get the

message across I looked at the stacks of

reports in my colleagues office and I

thought how can we really make a

difference with some of the really

important findings that came out and so

I asked the world food program could we

make a tool tool that we would present

and use and allow people to interact

with the data uh to find their own

insights and they took that leap of

faith and for a congressional Hearing in

2021 we presented an interactive

experience and uh mind you in 2021

Congressional hearings were having

happening on Zoom so we put the link in

the zoom and allowed people to walk

through our website uh we contextualize

the work with larger issues and

historical framework of

migration um but one of the biggest

findings in our report can you believe

it is that migrants in just one year

spent

2.2 billion doar to

migrate can you believe that we spend

$2.9 billion do to keep those same

migrants out um and so one of the things

we wanted to show is that also migrants

are spending collectively as much as

their countries are spending on primary

education uh in the hope of a new

life the cost of migration to them was

really significant migrants take on

Extreme debt we allow the congressmen to

explore the data numbers and ultimately

we recommended that Congress provide

more legal visas for Central American

migrants um and just to give not you

know when we think about legal visas

right now in our agricultural Workforce

um 73% of our agricultural Workforce of

migrants 93% of those are Mexican um so

what we're saying is let's open up legal

Pathways for this really critical U

population of Central American

migrants and that's exactly what 33

Senators did after our Congressional

hearing citing our findings and our

report to the Biden

Administration just two months later the

Biden Administration opened up more

legal visas for um migrants working in

the agricultural Workforce specifically

thinking about Central American

migrants we were so excited about the

impact of this visualization but we

wanted to know really did we have an

impact did the visualization actually do

something so we W interviewed people who

were at the congal hearing after and we

asked them what effect did these

visualizations have on the result and

almost all of them said I felt like I

could trust the information that I could

find my own insights could I learn new

things from the way that you allowed us

to explore that data obviously we're

presenting it to them though so that's a

a kind of artifice that we're creating

but that kind of trust in the ability to

interact with data kind of help them

build their own trust in the system

after the Congressional hearing we

wanted migrants to have a way to tell

their story um so not just creating

visualizations for them and so we took

this idea of a tapestry of motivations

which was in our tool and this tapestry

shows the reasons that migrants motivate

motivated to leave um and we use it as

inspiration to create

a tapestry out of money um thinking

about that $2.2 billion dollar that

tapestry was built with migrants from

Central America um in a shelter in

Mexico City the tapestry was put to in

the world head food program headquarters

in Rome um and here you can see um that

the overwhelming reason that migrants

leave are this blue color or economic

reason reasons red is uh security uh

purple is violence uh yellow is quality

of life green is climate change and in

that headquarters they were able to

interact with the data and each dollar

had a chip in it and they could tap that

chip on the screen and actually hear

that migrant

story this visualization had a huge

impact on the world program they were at

their executive board meeting when this

was happening trying to raise funding at

a time when lots of funding was being

diverted to the war in Ukraine and they

wanted to make sure money was still

coming into the cause of migrants this

is David Beasley and the Ambassador

Panama who really took hard in this

topic and in fact David Beasley went

along the migration Trail after he saw

this to help kind of Garner more support

through his Twitter feed and and this is

how we take data to action we build

teams to work together we collect data

uniquely we quantify the results

uniquely we open that data up through

visualizations and we iterate along the

way I hope I inspired all of you to take

data to action and use your superow to

create change and influence policy in

this world thank

you