This document summarizes a presentation on crowdsourcing public participation. It introduces crowdsourcing and its potential benefits over traditional public meetings. A case study is described where crowdsourcing was used to generate ideas for improving an area near a new train station in Somerville, MA. Crowdsourced participation generated more unique ideas from more diverse participants than traditional meetings. Interview data found crowdsourcing opened participation to those who do not typically engage. The document concludes with contact information for pursuing further discussion.

1. Crowdsourcing Public Participation:
Potential and Pitfalls
Justin Hollander, PhD, AICP, Tufts University
Michael Messina, M.A., Tufts University
Meridith Levy, Somerville Community Corporation.

2. Introductions and Agenda
• “Crowdsourcing” Context – Justin Hollander
• Case Study – Michael Messina
• Community Perspective – Meridith Levy
• Small Groups Exercise

3. Public Meeting Monday 30th April 8pm at Stewkley Village Hall, <wingbypass.info/reports/Meeting300407.html> Accessed March 23, 2010.

4. Top Ten Challenges of Public Participation*
• One-way communication flow
• Citizens’ lack of real power
• Face-to-face politics of difference and unequal power relations
• Involving individuals that typically do not participate
• Planners’ outreach and coordination of participatory activities
• Generating creative solutions
• Administrative structure too stringent
• Face-to-face interactions favor extroverted personalities
• Measurement of the effectiveness
• Planners’ facilitation style
*Compiled from themes that reoccur throughout public participation literature. The bolded
challenges are directly related the inTeractive Somerville case study.

5. What is crowdsourcing?
A web-based, distributed problem
solving model which includes an
open call to a generally large
network of people.

6. Peer-Vetted Creative Crowdsourcing
• Open creative process open to public online to
generate distinct, superior ideas
• Peer vetting process identifies the highest
rated ideas by peers
• An award system is created to recognize one
or multiple winners

7. Uniqueness of Crowdsourcing
Top-down
management
Bottom up,
open, creative
process

8. www.open-neighborhood.org

9. Photo by Ann Sussman, 2010

10. inTeractive Somerville Case Study
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
To what extent can crowdsourcing facilitate
public participation for transit-oriented planning
projects?
– To what extent can crowdsourcing public
participation generate distinct ideas?
– To what extent can crowdsourcing public
participation engage individuals that typically do
not get involved in the planning process?

11. Research Setting: Somerville, MA

12. Research Setting: Green Line Extension Project
Gilman Square is one
of 7 proposed train
stations for the
Green Line
Extension Project

13. Research Setting: Gilman Square
Gilman Square Area and Somerville’s “Civic Hotspot” (Bing Maps)

14. Defining the Crowdsourcing Challenge
Train Station is slated to
be constructed next to
Homans Building.
The challenge was to
come up with the best
idea to improve the area
where the Homans
Building is currently
located.

15. Assessing Resources, Goals and
Designing the Challenge
community organizations
academic / research partners crowdsourcing-enabled website
• Will the winning idea actually be implemented?
• Are comments and ideas “public comment”?
• What is the project budget? Is there funding?
• How will ideas be submitted and rated?
• What reward will be offered to the winner?
government and planning partners • How will the challenge be branded/promoted?
• Which platform? Can it pull data for analysis?

16. Technology, Community Organizing and Media
• Learn about crowdsourcing. Document examples.
• Select a crowdsourcing platform:
out-of-the-box, or
custom-built?
• Build your Challenge page
use as your landing page
ensure all details and tools are on the page
• Integrate organizing and communication goals:
events
branding
talking points
• Launch social media channels:
consistent branding across channels
build relationships, find influencers
create clear objectives
• Media outreach:
pitch journalists of local and regional outlets

17. Results: Crowdsourced v. Traditional Participation
Crowdsourced Traditional Totals
Crowdsourced participants
14 30 People
generated ~ 3.5 times as
14 13 Broad Concepts
many distinct ideas as
41 25 Distinct Ideas
traditional participants
2.93 0.83 Ideas Per Participant
Crowdsourcing Website Data
Ideas submitted: 11 Winning Idea: New Public Gardens
Registered Users: 81
Users that rated ideas: 31
Ensure quality control for ratings.
Create a customized rating with votes
being only part of the total rating.

18. Results: Interview Data
Half of the people that participated in the Green Line
Challenge had never participated in a traditional public
or planning meeting.
It opens the door for people that might not be
able to make it to the regular town meetings
It feels easier for me to participate online
compared to a public meeting where only
dedicated people show up, this really makes it
easier for people to participate

19. Group Breakout: Case Study Analysis
• Break into small groups
• Assign a group writer and presenter
• Review case study
• As a “professional planning firm,” what are
your recommendations to the City of Malden?

20. Contact Information
Open Neighborhood Project
Urban + Environmental Policy + Planning
Tufts University
97 Talbot Avenue
Medford, Massachusetts 02155 USA
tel: (617) 627-3394
fax: (617) 627-3377
Twitter: @JustinHollander
email: justin.hollander@tufts.edu
http://www.tufts.edu/~jholla03
http://www.open-neighborhood.org
Michael Messina
email: thenewcitizen@gmail.com
Twitter: @michael_messina
Meridith Levy
email: mlevy@somervillecdc.org
http://somervillecdc.org
http://interactivesomerville.org