OpenDataSoft, a global software platform that specializes in making data open, transparent and actionable, has formed a new data-sharing partnership with Waze, the crowdsourced traffic and navigation app, to make it easier for cities and local governments to launch smart transportation initiatives.
Local governments already using the OpenDataSoft platform can now quickly and seamlessly collect, harmonize and share data through the Waze Connected Citizens Program, a free, two-way data share of publicly available traffic information. The Waze program gives local governments a new look at road activity, and provides the opportunity to harness real-time driver insights to improve congestion and make better informed urban planning decisions.
Waze already partners with over 250 local governments worldwide to provide real-time, anonymous, app-generated incident and traffic congestion information directly from drivers. In exchange, local governments provide their real-time construction, crash and road closure data to Waze via the OpenDataSoft platform. Together, these data sets will offer one of the most succinct, thorough overviews of current road conditions available.
The OpenDataSoft platform provides a one-stop hub to facilitate the two-way data share and for the first time, opens these resources to citizens to create civic insights. By combining Waze traffic data with existing open data in transportation services – such as bike sharing, buses, parking and subway – local governments will have an unprecedented view of how their transportation systems interact.
The two-way data exchange between OpenDataSoft and Waze provides a powerful tool to help improve data accuracy and generate insights on how citizens navigate their roadways, where problems arise, and how to fix them. The partnership allows for greater government transparency and collaboration among citizens to reduce congestion. The European Metropolis of Lille in France will be the first local government to take advantage of this unprecedented data sharing initiative for the benefit of its 1.2 million inhabitants via the OpenDataSoft platform.
“We are delighted to partner with Waze and to offer clients access to their real-time traffic data directly on our platform. This service will help our local government clients improve the reliability of their traffic information without the need for a huge investment in traffic sensing equipment,” said Jean-Marc Lazard, CEO at OpenDataSoft.
“Our platform will now include cities’ existing open data in transportation services with Waze driver-generated traffic data, offering cities a powerful set of tools to understand how citizens move around their city, and to identify transportation innovations like never before.”
