Digital Trust for Places & Routines (DTPR) protocol

Rodger Lea

Trust: The Cornerstone of Urban Technology Deployment

The digital transformation of cities is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. From smart grids to autonomous vehicles, new technologies promise to revolutionise urban living. However, as UTA members attempt to exploit new technologies they have seen that the successful implementation of these innovations hinges on a critical factor: trust. 

The Erosion of Trust

Trust is a complex issue and no more so than in the delicate balance between city residents and cities and their staff. In fact, in conversations with UTA members, trust is cited as one of the most critical, and precious elements of the relationship. However, in recent years, there has been a growing public scepticism towards technology and the organisations that deploy it. Data breaches, privacy concerns, and a perceived lack of transparency have eroded trust in institutions in general, and fairly or not, this has spilled over to trust in public administration and cities. This erosion of trust poses a significant challenge for cities seeking to leverage technology to improve the lives of their citizens.

The Impact of Distrust

When citizens don’t trust the technology or the organisations behind it, there are several negative consequences:

  • Reduced Adoption: Citizens may be reluctant to use new services, leading to lower utilisation rates and reduced benefits.
  • Increased Costs: Resistance to new technologies can lead to higher implementation costs due to delays, public opposition, and the need to address trust issues after deployments of new technologies and services.
  • Reputational Damage: A lack of trust can damage a city’s reputation as an innovative and citizen-centric place.
  • Social Inequality: If certain groups of citizens are disproportionately affected by the deployment of new technologies, trust can be further eroded, leading to social inequality.

Building and Maintaining Trust

To foster trust in new technologies, cities must adopt a proactive and transparent approach:

  • Open Communication: Be transparent about the goals, benefits, and potential risks of new technologies.
  • Data Privacy and Security: Implement robust data protection measures and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding citizen information.
  • Community Engagement: Involve citizens in the decision-making process and actively seek their input.
  • Ethical Considerations: Ensure that technology is used ethically and responsibly.
  • Demonstrating Value: Clearly communicate the benefits of new technologies to citizens and demonstrate their impact on improving quality of life.
  • Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess public sentiment and make adjustments as needed.

At SCEWC23 in Barcelona, we met one company, Helpful Places, that is attempting to address this issue. They were a finalist for the SCEWC23 innovation award. Helpful places is centred around the Digital Trust for Places & Routines (DTPR) protocol, which is an open-source communication standard designed to enhance transparency, legibility, and accountability of digital technologies within the built environment. It aims to make the often invisible digital layers of public spaces visible and understandable to the people who use them.

What is DTPR and how does it work?

The Digital Trust for Places & Routines (DTPR) protocol provides a taxonomy of concepts related to digital technology and data practices, coupled with a set of icons to communicate these concepts quickly and clearly. This standard can be implemented through various means, such as physical signage and digital channels, to help people visualize and comprehend how digital systems operate in their environment.

DTPR works by:

  • Creating a Standard Dictionary: It includes a standardised dictionary of concepts around digital technology and data practices.
  • Using Icons: A set of icons is used to visually communicate these concepts.
  • Providing Transparency: Information about sensors, systems, and data practices is made accessible to the public through signage and digital interfaces.
  • Enabling Accountability: It fosters accountability by making it clear who is responsible for the data and how it is used.
  • Encouraging Civic Dialogue: By making digital practices transparent, it encourages public engagement and dialogue about the use of technology in public spaces

How Cities Are Using DTPR

There have been a number of deployments of DTPR. Boston was one of the initial pilots followed by a more comprehensive rollout in the City of Charlotte where the city focused on improving transparency, accountability, and community engagement regarding the city’s digital infrastructure. A recent article in the LA Times discusses the goals of the city and links back to the Digital Rights Platform that Helpful Places helped develop for the City.

A more recent case study was the work at the Sydney Olympic Park where the DTPR protocol has been deployed extensively in the park as the city engages with citizens to help build trust.

Sydney Olympic Park Case Study

The Sydney Olympic Park Authority has implemented DTPR to foster digital trust in smarter places. This initiative aims to make the park’s digital infrastructure transparent and understandable to visitors. By using DTPR, the park provides clear information about the digital technologies in use, such as sensors and data collection systems, and explains their purposes, benefits, and the entities responsible for them. This approach helps build trust and ensures that visitors are informed about the digital environment they are interacting with.

There is a comprehensive report written to describe the Sydney uses case which is well worth the read. It gives great background on the plans to introduce dynamic crowd management software that combines facial recognition technology with advanced data analytics. How it became clear that there was significant trust issues around this deployment, and how the city used the DTPR protocol to design an information program to help visitors better understand the technology and its uses. As part of the implementation:

  • 9 individual technologies and data sources using DTPR across the DCM and SIMPaCT systems.
  • Over 35 physical DTPR signs deployed, as well as digital signage across 10 kiosks.
  • Over 140 people engaged in person through intercept surveys and a guided ‘Tech Walk’.

Some of the key lessons identified in the use case report include:

  • Understanding the public’s concerns and level of trust
    • Generally the public were supportive of the initiative, and were assured by the ability to find out more. Approx 50% supported its deployment if the balance between safety and privacy was managed
    • Concerns remained about the data gathered and its retention – and in particular about data breaches
  • Getting insight into the public’s communication preferences
    • Public signage was considered helpful and critical to understanding
    • People wanted to understand better the business case that drives the need to gather the information

Overall, the Sydney Olympic park considered the use of DPTR and the engagement exercise critical in getting public buy-in to the new crowd management technologies and plans to further embed DTPR into its future activities.

Conclusion: Embracing Trust as a Catalyst for Urban Innovation 

As cities continue to evolve and deploy new technologies, trust remains the bedrock upon which successful technological deployments are built. The DTPR protocol and initiatives like those implemented in Sydney Olympic Park demonstrate that transparency, accountability, and active engagement are not just ideals, but practical tools for fostering public trust. By prioritising clear communication, addressing privacy concerns, and involving citizens in the process, cities can create an environment where innovative technologies are not only accepted but embraced. 

The future of smart cities lies not just in the sophistication of their technologies, but in the strength of the trust relationship between urban administrators and the communities they serve. As we move forward, let us remember that building trust is an ongoing process—one that requires continuous effort, adaptation, and a genuine commitment to the public good. In doing so, we can unlock the full potential of urban technologies to create more livable, efficient, and inclusive cities for all.

(This article was written with help from Gemini GenAI)