If only I was given a dollar (or pound) for every time I’ve read on a local government website…
- “We believe in equity of access for all types of residents to an active lifestyle”
- “We will understand and meet the needs of people where they are”
- “We will remove barriers to access and invest in proven solutions”
The question is, how do we move from statement to knowledge and then to action.
Firstly, what do we mean by a Smart Active City… A smart active city is an urban area that integrates digital technologies, data, and intelligent systems to improve the quality of life for its residents while enhancing the efficiency of city operations. In this context, “active” refers to a city that not only uses advanced technologies but also engages citizens, promotes sustainability, and supports dynamic, real-time decision-making (ChatGPT).
This vision requires creating a joined up picture of which residents are active across your network of recreation facilities, parks, pitches and trails. And those who are not active.
We believe there are 4 important steps to building out a comprehensive (and actionable) picture:
Ensure you can export data from your recreation facilities. ActiveXchange works closely with the leading registration systems to securely transfer and process this data so it can form part of a bigger, joined up picture.
Consider the other programs and sports that are running across your network of assets - chances are these will be collating data. And can this be transferred and integrated easily. ActiveXchange works with 160+ sport bodies and millions of membership data points to bring this data together to better connect sport with government.
It’s all about Movement Data! Select any facility, space, event or place and leverage GPS data from millions of devices to understand usage, modes of transport to the location, and also importantly where these people come from (point of origin).
Last but by no means least, layer over steps 1-3 the very latest and most granular demographic, socio-economic and health data available. This enables an understanding of exactly who you’re reaching and who you’re not - the full Equity, Diversity and Inclusion picture. We call this Community Reach.
Which assets are delivering policy outcomes and which aren’t? Are budgets delivering social returns for your own residents? Why are certain facilities and spaces attracting certain communities, and how and where can solutions be deployed next to increase reach and impact?
It’s in this space where AI then has a role to play, drawing down from a national and global network optimal solutions to activate different types of communities.
If it’s time to unlock more budget, collaborate better with funding and delivery partners, and ultimately reach further into every type of community, then have a chat with our team about how we’re joining these ‘data dots’ already in your area.
