Environmental pollution is causing a wide range of diseases and premature deaths. Yet, public understanding of these important issues are lacking. The Smart Citizens Lab helps citizens to use open source hard- and software to complement existing environmental sensor networks and gain a better understanding of the current state of pollution, and make this insight actionable. This presentation was delivered first at the Montréal Smart City Expo, March 26 2015.

1. Smart Citizens Lab
Frank Kresin
Research Director
@kresin / frank@waag.org

2. • For self expression
and communication
• Linking people,
groups, communities
• Sharing thoughts,
blueprints, algorithms
• Reflecting &
understanding
And discovering it’s
underlying meaning.
Technology

3. • Making is crucial to
understand and act in
our world
• Best producer is the
user
• (S)he can learn to
make (almost)
anything
• Sharing knowledge is
the key to innovation
Maker Ethics

4. Smart Citizens
• Will take responsibility for the place they live, work and love;
• Value access over ownership, contribution over power;
• Will ask forgiveness, not permission;
• Know where they can get the tools, knowledge and support;
• Value empathy, dialogue and trust;
• Appropriate technology, rather than accept it as is;
• Will help the people that struggle with smart stuff;
• Ask questions, before they come up with answers;
• Take part in design efforts to come up with better solutions;
• Work agile, prototype early, test quickly, start all over;
• Will not stop in the face of huge barriers;
• Continuously share their knowledge and their learning.
http://waag.org/nl/blog/manifesto-smart-citizens

5. ?

6. • Ambient (outdoor air
pollution) in both cities and
rural areas was estimated to
cause 3.7 million premature
deaths worldwide in 2012.
• By reducing air pollution
levels, countries can reduce
the burden of disease from
stroke, heart disease, lung
cancer, and both chronic and
acute respiratory diseases,
including asthma.
• The lower the levels of air
pollution, the better the
cardiovascular and respiratory
health of the population will
be, both long- & short-term.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/
WHO

7. http://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/air-pollution-still-causing-harm

8. Amsterdam Measuring Stations
http://www.luchtmetingen.amsterdam.nl/

9. Empower people to:
• Make visible and
tangible the invisible
• Understand their
environment
• Turn data and insight
into action
• Using public networks
of low cost, open
source sensors

10. Smart Citizen Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R90fsItpzT4

11. https://smartcitizen.me
Smart Citizen Kit

12. From Sensors to
Sensing
• Broad implementation
of Smart Citizen Kits
• Support and guidance
• Enhancing data literacy
• Visualisation and
interpretation
• Discussion and action

19. Visualisations
http://waag.org/en/project/smart-citizen-kit

20. Lessons Learned
• Sensors need
improvement
• However, this is not
about accuracy
• Thorough issue
mapping is needed
• From sensing to action
is challenging
• Citizens love it

21. Smart Citizens Lab

22. Urban Environmental Challenges

23. • Better informed, more
engaged citizens
• Impactful dialogues
between citizens and
governments
• More data, more
insight, better policies
• More enjoyable,
healthy, livable cities
Resulting in
Issue Mapping:
Topical Barcamp
Sensors:
Open Hardware
Bootcamp
Sensing:
Data Collection
Understanding:
Visualisation &
Interpretation
Action:
Community Meetup
HvA
RIVM
AMS / Alterra
SenseMakers
AmEcBoard
Amsterdam CTO
FabLab Amsterdam
Open Wetlab
Waag Society
Amsterdam Smart Citizens Lab
Activities Phase 1 Partners
http://waag.org/en/project/smart-citizens-lab

24. ILLUMINATED CITIES
BASED ON EMPOWERMENT
EMBRACING BOTTOM UP INITIATIVES
MAXIMISING POSSIBILITIES
WELCOMING FRICTION
ENABLING CREATIVITY
https://tinyurl.com/illuminated-cities

25. Pointers
• Amsterdam Smart Citizens Lab
http://waag.org/nl/project/smart-citizens-lab
• Design Rules for Smarter Cities
http://waag.org/nl/blog/design-rules-smarter-cities
• Smart Citizens Publication
http://futureeverything.org/publications/smart-citizens/
• Digital Social Innovation
http://digitalsocial.eu/
• Illuminated Cities
https://www.waag.org/nl/blog/smart-cities-make-dumb-citizens
• Users as Designers
http://waag.org/en/project/users-designers

26. Sint Antoniesbreestraat 69
1011 HB Amsterdam
waag.org / info@waag.org
Frank Kresin
Research Director
@kresin / frank@waag.org