In the Netherlands:
Potholes, stray garbage, broken street lamps? Citizens of Eindhoven can now report local issues by iPhone, using the BuitenBeter app that was launched today. After spotting something that needs to be fixed, residents can use the app to take a picture, select an appropriate category and send their complaint directly through to the city council. A combination of GPS and maps lets users pinpoint the exact location of the problem, providing city workers with all the information they need to identify and resolve the problem.
The application covers a wide range of familiar nuisances, from broken sidewalks to loitering youth (who will hopefully respond favourably to having their picture taken by concerned citizens). Compared with lodging a complaint by phone or in writing, BuitenBeter creates a nearly frictionless experience and will no doubt prompt a wider group of people to become active reporters of issues that need the city’s attention.
Besides giving people an easy way to send through detailed reports, city officials also believe the concept will create shorter lines of communication, and will facilitate quicker feedback from local government to citizens. Developed by mobile solutions provider Yucat, the BuitenBeter app will soon be available for Android and Windows Mobile phones, too. Eindhoven has signed on for a twelve-month trial, and Yucat hopes to roll out the system to other cities in the near future.
This is brilliant. More!
More stuff on the (indeed brilliant) idea of the networked city over at worldchanging …
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011113.html
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011114.html
Great to see this actually being put into practice.
[Ed.: Wow. Two links and my spam filter binned you.]
Dani points out that while the idea is open to abuse, those most likely to make use of this service are also those least likely to abuse it; at least in the “somebody should make those kids over there move on” sense.
The real challenge comes with scriptability right? You probably need the whole apparatus of spam filtering for this to keep the griefers out. Better not link to too many sites when you are reporting a graffitied bus shelter 🙂