PublicStuff

Product Description

PublicStuff offers a community-driven web portal and Android and iOS mobile applications that citizens can use to submit service requests, get community information, access neighborhood mapping tools, and network with their neighbors and leaders on a permanent basis.

The purpose of PublicStuff platform is to simplify communication between citizens and their local government with the goals of increasing civic participation, accountability, and efficiency in municipalities.

PublicStuff also provides a paid constituent relationship management system (CRM) that local governments, large and small, can use to manage requests submitted through the platform and for communications with their residents.

Target SDGs

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Public Sector Agencies

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

More than 200 cities within the U.S. are currently using PublicStuff’s platform, including Palo Alto, Elk Grove, Fairfield, Philadelphia and Berkley. The service covers 60 percent of the U.S. population.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include SeeClickFix and FixMyStreet.

Manufacturing/Building Method

This is a software product developed for web, Android and iOS access.

Intellectural Property Type

User Provision Model

Users configure their work environment by themselves within the PublicStuff platform. The application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple Store. There is a comprehensive installation and configuration guide available at the PublicStuff Client Resource Center. For inquiries, users and system administrators can contact Publicstuff.

Distributions to Date Status

More than 200 cities within the U.S. are currently using PublicStuff’s platform. Number of users is unknown but PublicStuff's Android app download page states that app ranges from 10,000 to 50,000 installs.

Design Specifications

Publicstuff is a cloud-based software developed mainly over Ruby but includes other languages as JavaScript, Python and PHP. Users can visit the PublicStuff Client Resource Center, FAQ section and contact section on the PublicStuff web page for support.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

N/A

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Unknown

Vetted Performance Status

Palo Alto developed an open source database that contains all types of city information including raw data on development center permits, library checkout statistics, and residential water and electricity usage compared to to commercial usages. The database even provides geospatial data mapping the local of trees around the city. Residents can download the PaloAlto311 app, made by PublicStuff, to report potholes, bent traffic signs and graffiti and alert a need for service. Plano, Texas has been able to do a 150 percent more effective job in reducing unnecessary water usage than its peer cities by using its PublicStuff app to make citizens more aware of the problem. In turn residents feel more comfortable reporting water conservation concerns, such as neighbors washing their cars on days with restrictions.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

N/A

Academic Research and References

A. Bousios, D. Gavalas and L. Lambrinos, “CityCare: Crowdsourcing daily life issue reports in smart cities,” 2017 IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications (ISCC), Heraklion, 2017, pp. 266-271. doi: 10.1109/ISCC.2017.8024540
Le Dantec C.A., Watkins K.E., Clark R., Mynatt E. (2015) Cycle Atlanta and OneBusAway: Driving Innovation Through the Data Ecosystems of Civic Computing. In: Kurosu M. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction: Users and Contexts. HCI 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 9171. Springer, Cham
Bacher, J. and Williams B. (2014) “A Local Government’s Strategic Approach to Distressed Property Remediation“. 46 Urb. Law. 877

Compliance with regulations

Understanding local and national regulations is required due to privacy and security policies.

Evaluation methods

Partner testing and field trials

Other Information

It is possible to check the McAllen 311 launch video, as the official civic engagement tool to allow residents to stay in touch with the City.

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Implemented by

Hempitecture Inc.

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