Data Governance and Data for Governance – a circular and regulatory perspective on data

The Smart Urban Traffic Zones Project aims to create smart solutions in cities that contribute to increased flexibility in the use of urban space, more efficient transportation, and improved traffic safety. This report is a partial deliverable within the project, where we have explored how a municipality can collect and work with data to achieve better and more efficient solutions, based on policies and regulations.

During this work, we have identified four possible approaches to data sharing. In the first approach, the city handles all data-related tasks itself, from start to finish. In the second approach, the city allows private actors to collect data in the city infrastructure. These companies then aggregate and analyse the data, and the municipality procures the results through a public procurement process. The third approach is based on voluntary data sharing. The municipality procures a data-sharing platform, which both public and private entities can use to exchange data. In the fourth and final approach, the municipality makes its data publicly available, for example, via the National Access Point. The expectation is that the market will identify possible use cases for the municipal data, combine it with their own data, and develop services for citizens.

We have conducted literature reviews, interviews, and workshops where we discussed the different approaches. After analysing the results, we have concluded that there is no single best solution for data sharing that works for all municipalities in all situations. Instead, the approaches may work differently depending on the context, and they can also be combined.

The approach where the city handles everything itself has several advantages, such as maintaining full control and oversight, but it is also highly resource intensive. It is unlikely that any municipality has the capacity to manage such a large-scale effort, meaning that this approach is best suited for a limited scope. The approach where the municipality procures analysed data from private entities appears relatively straightforward from a municipal perspective, but the question remains whether the market is ready to provide such a service at a scale that meets municipal needs. The third approach—the platform model—is well-tested and currently works well in cases such as data sharing between municipalities and e-scooter operators. In this case, there is a clear use case. If a municipality wishes to adopt this approach, we recommend starting with a clearly defined target group, such as businesses engaged in public procurement. Over time, the municipality could extend the platform to include additional stakeholders. We do not believe the last approach, where the municipality makes its data publicly available, is suitable for smart urban traffic zones, as the municipality would not have control or oversight over the outcomes.

Key Takeaways from the Interviews: -A clear understanding of the needs is crucial when procuring data-sharing services, as it guides requirements and ensures fit-for-purpose solutions. -Data quality is crucial for successful innovation and requires clear specifications, well-defined requirements, quality controls, and incentives.-Public procurement processes should include dialogue with suppliers, emphasize quality, and enable innovation.-Well-balanced incentives are important to promote data sharing.-Municipalities play a key role as coordinators, data consumers, and guarantors of public value.-Small municipalities can often benefit from regional collaboration.