# Smart Maps Town Watch: Concept

### Objective
To create a structured town-watching program where trained Community Observers collect and manage geospatial data using geoBingAn, ensuring high-quality open data for community development, safety, and promotion of positive urban features.

### General Definition of Town-Watching

A town-watching, also known as a neighborhood watch, is a community-based program where residents collaborate to monitor and report activities in their area. Traditionally focused on crime prevention and safety, town watch programs can also highlight positive aspects of a neighborhood, such as walkability, green spaces, cultural landmarks, and community amenities. These initiatives aim to increase safety, deter crime, and foster community spirit while promoting the strengths of the area.

### Key Components of Smart Maps Town Watch:

1. Training by JSD
- The JICA Smart Maps Dojo (JSD) will train Community Observers.
- Training covers data collection methods, use of geoBingAn tools, and best practices for maintaining data quality and accuracy, including identifying positive urban features.

2. Town Watching by Trusted Teams
- Only trained Community Observers are authorized to perform town-watching activities using geoBingAn.
- This ensures that data collection is consistent, reliable, and meets established standards.

3. Open Data Release
- Data collected through town-watching activities will be released as open data in ([O-UDA-1.0](https://spdx.org/licenses/O-UDA-1.0.html) or [ODbL-1.0](https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/))
- This promotes transparency, allows for public access, and encourages community participation in data-driven decision-making.

4. Formation of Teams
- Trained Community Observers will form small groups known as "Observation Teams."
- Each Team will be responsible for specific geographic areas or types of data.

5. Leadership and Accountability
- Each Team will have a leader known as "Team Leader."
- The Team Leader will oversee the group's activities, ensure data quality, and be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the profiles maintained by their Team.

### Focus Areas for Smart Maps Town Watch

1. Disaster Prevention and Safety
- Monitoring and reporting potential disaster risks and safety hazards.
- Identifying areas prone to natural disasters, such as flood zones, earthquake-prone regions, and areas with inadequate infrastructure.

2. Positive Urban Features
- Highlighting and promoting walkable environments, green spaces, and cultural landmarks.
- Conducting walkability audits, mapping green spaces, and organizing cultural tours.

3. Community Assets
- Supporting local businesses and community amenities.
- Promoting public art, community events, and volunteer efforts.

### Implementation Plan

1. Community Observer Training by JSD
- Develop a comprehensive training program for Community Observers, including theoretical and practical components.
- Conduct regular training sessions and workshops to certify new Community Observers.

2. Town-Watching Activities
- Community Observers use geoBingAn to collect geospatial data in their designated areas.
- Data collection activities include mapping infrastructure, identifying safety hazards, and documenting positive community features.

3. Data Management and Release
- Collected data is reviewed and validated by the Team Leader.
- Once verified, the data is uploaded to an open-access platform, ensuring it is available for public use and analysis.

4. Group Formation and Responsibilities
- Community Observers are organized into Teams based on geographic areas or specific projects.
- Each Team operates under the guidance of a Team Leader who ensures the quality and consistency of the data.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement
- Regular evaluations and feedback sessions to assess the performance of each Team.
- Ongoing training and support to address any issues and improve data collection methods.

### Example of Positive Patterns Watching:

1. Walkability Audits
- Conduct assessments of the walkability of neighborhoods, focusing on areas with good pedestrian infrastructure and pleasant walking routes.
- Engage the community in identifying favorite walking paths and scenic spots.

2. Green Space Mapping
- Map and promote local parks, gardens, and other green spaces.
- Encourage residents to use these spaces for recreation, relaxation, and community events.

3. Cultural and Historical Tours
- Organize tours that focus on the cultural and historical landmarks of the neighborhood.
- Use geospatial tools to create interactive maps and guides for self-guided tours.

4. Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment
- With the activity called "Town-Watching", community members can perform the assessment to their environment with local wisdom and knowledge. The advantage or the weakness spot can be captured for the reference according to experience.
- Capacity means the location or place that is an advantage or is resilient to emergency or disaster for community. For example, to capture the location and snapshot of shelter, gathering point, fire hydrant, drainage, drinking fountain, or basement are healpful not only to the community members, but also to the immigrants or the visitors.
- Vulerability is the disadvantage to community in response to emergency or disaster. Such as high slope (bad for evacuation), pothole, damaged house, tilted street light/tree, narrow alley (no good for ambulance), and so on.
- Vocabulary and sematics are critical so the survey results can be openly reused for various of purposes in any other regions or languages.

5. Evacuation Route Evaluation
- FIXME

6. Previous Hazard Survey
- FIXME

### Benefits:

- **Quality Assurance:** Training and organized group structure ensure high-quality data collection.
- **Accountability:** Clearly defined roles and responsibilities enhance data reliability and trust.
- **Community Engagement:** Open data release fosters community involvement and transparency.
- **Scalability:** The structured approach allows for easy expansion and replication in other areas.
- **Positive Community Impact:** Highlighting and promoting positive aspects of the community fosters pride and encourages local engagement.

### Potential Challenges and Solutions:

- **Training Consistency:** Regular updates and refresher courses to ensure all Community Observers stay informed about best practices.
- **Data Accuracy:** Implementing a robust review process and leveraging community feedback to validate data.
- **Resource Management:** Ensuring sufficient resources and support for the training and operation of the Teams.

### Example Scenario:

1. **Training:** JSD conducts a training session for a new batch of Community Observers, including modules on identifying and promoting positive aspects of the community.
2. **Group Formation:** The trained Community Observers form Observation Teams based on their neighborhoods.
3. **Data Collection:** Observers use geoBingAn to document issues such as disaster risks, safety hazards, and community facilities, as well as walkable routes, parks, and cultural landmarks.
4. **Data Review:** The Team Leader reviews the collected data for accuracy and completeness.
5. **Open Data Release:** Verified data is published on an open platform accessible to local authorities, residents, and other stakeholders. [UN HDX](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/community-townwatching-tamsui-district) could be one of the target platform to host open data.

### Potential Participating Initiatives (not confirmed)

- [UN Smart Maps Group](https://un-ggim-ap.org/doc/un-smart-maps)
- [HOT (Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team)](https://hotosm.org)
- [GeoThings](https://geothings.tw)
- [ADRC (Asian Disaster Reduction Center)](https://www.adrc.asia/)
- (feel free to add!)

### Summary
**Smart Maps Town Watch** ensures a structured, inclusive, and efficient way to engage communities in town-watching activities, enhancing local development and safety through high-quality, open geospatial data while also highlighting the positive aspects of urban environments.

## TODO: key words to explore and integrate
- **Open Townwatching Profile** - structured data with the convetion on vocaburary and semantics.
- **Trusted Crowdsourcing**

## See Also
- [Town-Watching for Disaster Reduction](https://www.adrc.asia/publications/TW/TownWatching.pdf)
- [Benefit on using ICT, pro and con comparison](https://youtu.be/o5g7BCBLZSE)
- [ICCM 2013: Slayer Chuang, GeoThings: 2-tier Crowdsourcing for Disasters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfx9dZZ7lxg)
- [ICCM 2014: Slayer Chuang, Trusted Disaster Coordination among the Govt, NGOs & the Public](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp9BvyqjkrA)
- [Lesson 3. Town Watching](https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/lesson-3-town-watching/79875261)

## Notes for further brainstorming
- **Community-based (CB)** would be a key term.
- [自然災害伝承碑](https://www.gsi.go.jp/bousaichiri/denshouhi.html)　would be one of a official way of town watching.