Human computation based platform for citizen services in smart cities

Abstract

We describe a platform that utilizes the power of human computation to provide improved services to citizens in a smart city context. The platform enables users to report problems to authorities and facilitates communication be-tween parties to work on solutions to encountered problems. An important aim is to involve citizens in the city decision-making process. System users can be registered who provide necessary information directly or through their social net-working accounts. Alternatively, users can proceed as guests and use the system anonymously, without registration. For registered users the profile information and use history can be used to strengthen the validity/trust of their contributions. Users can perform several actions on the platform including: reporting a problem using username or anonymously, voting on reports submitted by others, reviewing the status of their reports and responding to requests to perform specific tasks on their travel route. We describe the system and focus on human computation aspects, including: user privacy issues, data collection methods, data reliability and data quality assessment, user engagement incentives and reward system, models of interaction between the user and the system (Push/Pull) and mention frameworks used for system implementation and testing. Although focused on citizen services, the platform is flexible and extensible to tasks in other areas.