Data-Driven Urban Transformation in Northern Ireland: Insights from the QCAP Approach

Description

Contemporary urban environments are increasingly shaped by the datafication of social phenomena, where urban life becomes knowable and manageable through vast streams of data. While these data-driven urban imaginaries promise greater efficiency and capacity to address complex social challenges, a significant deficit remains in opportunities for meaningful data engagement among lesser-heard citizens and underserved communities. Critics argue that this disconnect limits the democratic potential of data ecosystems, as communities are often excluded from decisions that affect their own environments. This keynote session explored the civic mission of Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP) as an engaged research unit in Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, focusing on its role in supporting local community partners to engage with, mobilise, and influence data regimes. Through two related inputs, we examined the academic dimensions and methods underpinning the QCAP approach, highlighting how it integrates community-based research with data ecosystems to build local knowledge assets and capabilities.

Period	15 Nov 2024
Event title	Belmont Data Collaborative: Research Xpo
Event type	Other
Location	Nashville, United States, TennesseeShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International