‍Datapoa – The Open data project of the City of Porto Alegre‍

Background Information

The basic idea behind the Datapoa project is to link Porto Alegre with a new approach regarding accountability and the transparency of public data. Datapoa is an online database that allows the general public to access city information and to use it for all sorts of applications.

Goals of the Initiative

One short term goal is to expand Datapoa’s database by developing solutions that optimize information collection, indexing and accessibility. Another short term goal is to expand systems integration and streamline regulatory frameworks to ensure the endurance of the project and its sustainability. The first major transformation in the community took place only six months after the project was first implemented, providing new solutions to local public problems and also optimized the utilization of public data in the technology sector. 

Innovation for the Initiative

Porto Alegre has traditionally promoted direct citizen participation in government decision-making. The Datapoa project is evolutionary. It is an innovative form of citizen participation in public decision-making strongly based on e-technology, aimed to develop urban and social solutions for the city, and to provide public incentives for private entrepreneurship. 

Outcomes and Assessments

Our challenge is to make people realize that Datapoa is a tool to provide citizens with raw material for new ideas and new businesses. On a local scale we can now identify the first results from the project that have brought important information to the daily lives of people.

An example of the project’s success is the application Doctor POA, which is available both in Spanish and Portuguese. The application helps the user to locate the nearest clinics and hospitals utilizing geolocation technologies. It also provides information for emergency cases where specialists in areas such as traumatology, cardiology are needed. It also distinguishes by private and public clinics. DoctorPOA aims to help both citizens and tourists of Porto Alegre. We believe that the results achieved so far will serve as milestones for the project to achieve a regional and global scale.