Small Cities Get Smart

We've seen a lot of reporting recently about the ways in which Big Data is transforming how big cities across the world manage their systems, improve their operations, and interact with their constituents. But what about all those smaller municipalities that "could benefit just as much from data tools that let them track and measure performance"?

According to Schwartz, "[a] new startup called Revelstone,
which offers web-based analytics software that allows both cities and
towns to track their operating performance and benchmark with other
local governments, hopes to help."

"Revelstone's software, Compass, lets municipalities track key metrics in
a variety of areas, including sanitation, police, fire, and road
issues," in order to help officials track three key questions: "how am I doing today, what could I be doing better, and what
can I learn from my peers?"

"That last point is important," says Schwartz. "In addition to
providing municipalities with data analyses of their own performance,
Compass also spits out the statistics of similar municipalities
everywhere."