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Team Name:

Unlockable


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Evidence of Work

Unlockable

Project Info

Unlockable thumbnail

Team Name


Unlockable


Team Members


Cassie , Cynthia , India and 2 other members with unpublished profiles.

Project Description


How can we better activate, enhance and unlock public spaces? To answer this question, the users of public spaces are the best people to ask, just what it is they love so much about their public spaces, and what needs improving. Unlockable is a web application that will do just that by unlocking local spaces and community stories through open-source data and Augmented Reality (AR). Unlockable is designed to be used in a transitory manner and by people currently spending time in a public space. Accessing Unlockable will be done by scanning a QR code in public spaces such as parks, art galleries, and libraries. Features that Unlockable holds includes:

  • Data visualisation of open-source data and community opinions about the relevant public space. This includes statistics about the amount of green space, car occupancy, keywords that the community has used to describe the space, and similar public spaces.
  • An AR feature that allows users to view community stories, as well as, leave their own through audio bites.
  • An AR feature that allows users to design the public space by allowing them to drag on public space fixtures (e.g. streetlights, benches) and place them in the AR environment. The selections made in this feature could inform future decisions on how to better improve the public space.
  • Community Pulse, a quick two minute survey that incorporates questions related to the NSW Public Spaces Charter and also feeds into the data visualisation feature of Unlockable.
  • The Quick Fix function which enables users to provide quick notice of broken things, or issue areas.
  • Safety feature that allows users to see the nearest police station. In AR mode, a white line leading to the nearest police station will serve as directions for users.
  • Give Back provides those with the time and interest an opportunity to engage with the local community and surrounding organisations. Equipping the user with tangible ways they can take action, understand or donate.
  • The Events feature is a calendar of upcoming events in the relevant public space, and in AR mode will direct users to the location of the event in the space as well as a countdown until the event start time.

#augmented reality #ar #public spaces #community storytelling #data collection

Data Story


Having looked into the datasets provided, we wanted data and information to be collected by the government and community. Creating use for both the government and the community. At its core, Unlockable facilitates this two-way data flow: it collects data for governments and communities and presents it back to communities in a way that helps inform decisions.

NSW Dept of Planning, Industry, and Environment provided a series of reports and tools used in the process of evaluating public spaces. We used the tools and reports to guide the creation of our solution. The evaluation options for the feedback form were drawn directly from the 10 principles as laid out in the NSW Public Spaces Charter.

Quantitative data was drawn from the challenges’ highlighted datasets from the NSW Dept of Planning, Industry and Environment, Transport NSW, and the Office of Local Government. We also used the Continence Foundation’s National Public toilet map (funded by the Federal Dept of Health) and Ausgrid’s streetlight map. Due to time constraints, data was not blended. For example, Transport NSW’s Car Park API fed directly into Unlockable to create one metric in Quick Stats. Publicly available mapping data from the toilet map and streetlight map will be linked to Unlockable via Google Maps integrations. A key issue encountered was data access privileges: although the urban vegetation and terrestrial biodiversity open data were available on the data portal, there was not enough time for team members to contact and directly request access to JSON files for Unlockable in the time period.

The datasets mentioned above were selected as they held the data points the team deemed most appropriate for enhancing users’ experiences in public spaces: toilet information, streetlight information, natural environment, and transport facilities.


Evidence of Work

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Team DataSets

Women’s safety charter

Description of Use Referenced to align with NSW Government standards.

Data Set

Greater Sydney Region Urban Vegetation Cover to Modified Mesh Block 2016

Description of Use We used this dataset to populate the "Green Space" stats in the Quick Stats section of Unlockable. Sharing urban vegetation data with users provides a quick snapshot of how green and covered their current public space is. Unlockable pulls from the shape file and geodatabase (found on the NSW ePlanning Data Portal) and links the location of the QR code to geographic data in the dataset to customise the "Green Space" figure. Linking public space data to urban vegetation data will assist governments in better activating and enhancing public spaces: if there is low urban vegetation, governments can pinpoint specific areas to target local gardening initiatives. If there is high urban vegetation, governments may identify vegetation to prune to enhance the safety of a space. Users can use this information to help select comfortable and welcoming public spaces to visit, particularly on hot, sunny days, or if they are exercising with pets.

Data Set

Environmental Planning Instrument - Terrestrial Biodiversity

Description of Use We used this dataset to populate the "Biodiversity" stats in the Quick Stats section of Unlockable. Sharing the terrestrial biodiversity of a location with users fosters a greater sense of appreciation for their local public spaces and local biodiversity. Unlockable pulls from the JSON file (as requested using the contact details found on the NSW ePlanning Data Portal) and links the location of the QR code to geographic data in the dataset to customise the "Biodiversity" figure. Linking specific public spaces to the terrestrial biodiversity present 1. provides governments with more information when trying to identify MORE public spaces, 2. provides governments with ideas on how to ACTIVATE existing public spaces (e.g. urban wildlife guided trails) and 3. whether the terrestrial biodiversity in a space is compromising or facilitating safe experiences in the space.

Data Set

Public spaces streets as shared spaces engagement report

Description of Use Referenced to align with NSW Government standards.

Data Set

Public space and public life evaluation tool

Description of Use Referenced to align with NSW Government standards.

Data Set

Great public spaces guide

Description of Use Referenced to align with NSW Government standards.

Data Set

Streetlight Map

Description of Use Our app helps users to understand where street lights are located in the app in AR mode, and users can be guided to this using the floating icons for the different facility and amenity types. Users can read about the number of street lights in the public space under about and quick stats. Understanding this data then helps users make informed decisions in the AR discover and design section, where they can choose to add in more street lights when redesigning the space, with this data then being fed back to the government to help inform future planning and ensure we create safer public spaces that are better lit. Similarly, users are then more informed when completing the survey about the space under community pulse and can then provide feedback on the current implementation of street lights.

Data Set

National Public Toilet Map

Description of Use Our app helps users to understand where public toilets are located in the app in AR mode, and users can be guided to this using the floating icons for the different facility and amenity types. Users can read about the number of toilets in the public space under about and quick stats. Toilet data is used as part of our safety feature which is fixed on the screen at all times, as clicking the button helps users know where the nearest toilet is to hide in while they call the police if they fear they are in danger. Understanding this data then helps users make informed decisions in the AR discover and design section, where they can choose to add in more toilets when redesigning the space, with this data then being fed back to the government to help inform future planning. Similarly, users are then more informed when completing the survey about the space under community pulse and can then provide feedback on the current implementation of toilets.

Data Set

2019 Local Councils Data

Description of Use Our app shows users nearby facilities and quick stats in real time to help them better understand the public spaces they are in and then provide informed feedback in return about the use of public spaces through the community pusle survey. We have specifically usen the metrics for the number of pets, swimming pools, halls, libraries and hectates of public space. This has been shown under the about section where quick stats show this information in an accessible list view, or users can choose to see this in front of them in AR and also navigate to these sections using the AR functionality. Understanding this data then helps users make informed decisions in the AR discover and design section, where they can choose to add in more of these facilities and features when redesigning the space, with this data then being fed back to the government to help inform future planning. Similarly, users are then more informed when completing the survey about the space under community pulse and can then provide feedback on the current implementation of facilities and features.

Data Set

Car Park API

Description of Use We used this API to show users the occupancy of car parks near by using AR, with the mobile application showing the occupancy in real-time in floating pop ups in front of them and also providing a line to the nearest car parks. Car park stats are also shown to the user under the about section and quick stats, which informs users of car parks near this space. Understanding this data then helps users make informed decisions in the AR discover and design section, where they can choose to add in more car parks when redesigning the space, with this data then being fed back to the government to help inform future planning of car parks or public transport in this area. Similarly, users are then more informed when completing the survey about the space under community pulse and can then provide feedback on the current implementation of car parks.

Data Set

Challenge Entries

ACTIVATED Public Spaces

What makes a public space vibrant, walkable, and encourages people to dwell longer at different times of the day or night, and throughout the year?

Go to Challenge | 17 teams have entered this challenge.

BETTER Public Spaces

How do we help ensure everyone feels welcome and safe in public spaces (day and night) regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or identity?

Go to Challenge | 14 teams have entered this challenge.

MORE Public Spaces

How do we unlock underutilised government owned land and property to create new, high quality public space?

Go to Challenge | 9 teams have entered this challenge.