SimCity, for Real: Measuring an Untidy Metropolis

        The amount and quality of analysis of data often is the defining quality that succeeding groups in society possess.  New York has been a leader in "The Smart City movement" which focuses on improving urban life through the use of data to see and measure activities.  Thermal sensors, advanced software algorithms, and communication have all advanced at such a rate that finding potential implementations and setting up government processes for analyzing data has taken some time. The goals of the movement also include cutting the use of water and electricity by 30-50%. Steven E. Koonin, director of New York University's Center for Urban Science and Progress which was founded last year has responded to claims of privacy intrusion by stating that data gathered would not contain any personal information. Data predictions have greatly increased the odds that health and safety inspectors would find problems. Mayor Bloomberg and the city government is set on giving the N.Y.U center access to all of its public data. This asset is meant not only for research but potentially to change government policy to react to what the center finds.  The question now is how will the city encourage people to change their behavior to improve living standards and resource efficiency now that day to day actions of the populace will be far more transparent to them.  

source : http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/technology/nyu-center-develops-a-science-of-cities.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=scienceandtechnology&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1362067319-cuJUGLyva8RhsJmchenOQw