atNight project has been acknowledged by BBVA and Civio Foundation in the first edition of International Data Journalism Prize Innovadata in the category of Best Visualization. InnovaData is a new international data journalism and visualization prize that promotes the value of data journalism in the context of the information society and technological innovation.
The jury, composed of leading professionals in the field of journalism, has awarded the project atNight in the category for best visualization. This pioneering project illustrates the possibilities offered by new information technologies and Big Data to design both more efficient and collaborative of our cities. Over the next years we should redesign, reconfigure and rebuild our cities. Cities must be adapted to the society arising from the economic crisis. Our ability to transform our cities according to this new context will be the key to prepare a prosperous future in terms of human, social and economic development.
Historically, cartography has empowered citizenship. It allows societies to use their territory consciously, controlling the space in their favour. However, urban planners are still using topographic maps or other generic statistics to address the planning of our urban environments. We should develop new tools to capture the ephemeral and to understand what happens beyond the shape of the streets. We’re talking about achieving greater efficiency in urban activities and a better manage of energy consumption during the night time by means of representing the real interactions between citizens and their city.