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Urban Mediator

Method(s) Used


Name of person who posted the project:

Joanna Saad-Sulonen


Location of project:

Finland


Date when the project started:

2006


Date when the project ended/project ongoing:

2008


Background to project:

Urban Mediator started as a concept for an open framework and a set of tools for creating and sharing location-based information, involving both citizens and cities. Urban Mediator development has been possible within the framework of the EU funded ICING project (http://www.fp6-project-icing.eu/).

Purpose of project:

Urban Mediator offers citizens the possibility to create and share location-based information, using online tools. Citizens can themselves set up their own topics of interest and process the available information through various tools. Cities can also use Urban Mediator to access citizen-produced information and also to share location-based information produced through its own systems. Urban Mediator makes it possible for any users (citizens and cities alike) to set up topics of interests and start collections of location-based information around these topics.

Project activities:

Urban Mediator has been developed following a co-design process, involving various stakeholders in the area of Arabianranta in Helsinki (active citizens, local actors, city employees, school pupils, students etc.)

Urban Mediator demo versions have also been used in public trials for example:

  • a call for citizens by the Helsinki City Public Works Department to report bunny rabbits in Helsinki (a big problem currenty because of their proliferation and the damage they cause to vegetation)
  • a call for citizens by Helsinki Nature Protection Program project to indicate spots in the city or natural elements that would need to be protected

For more information, check: http://mlab.taik.fi/urbanmediator/


Project results:

Urban Mediator is still being developed. A beta level software package should be available as Open SOurce at the end of December 2007.

A DEMO version of Urban Mediator for Helsinki is available here: http://um.uiah.fi/helsinki/ (note, this DEMO version is in use by the general public)

A DEMO version of Urban Mediator for Dublin is available here: http://um.uiah.fi/dublin

A DEMO version of Urban Mediator for Barcelona is available here: http://um.uiah.fi/barcelona


Contact details:

Joanna Saad-Sulonen, researcher and designer, joanna.saad-sulonen(at)taik.fi
Andrea Botero, researcher and project manager, andrea.botero(at)taik.fi

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