Maps, Masala & Missed Buses: Bengaluru’s Story Through Open Data

What stories can a city tell if we learn how to listen to its data?

In this lightning talk, we’ll explore how publicly available datasets and free, open-source tools can help us uncover hidden patterns and overlooked problems in Bengaluru’s urban fabric.

Through compelling, data-driven visualizations, we'll journey through interactive maps that capture:

• The complex interplay between traffic congestion and air quality

• Gaps in public transport accessibility by analyzing bus stop coverage

• Waste management inefficiencies revealed by contrasting civic records with citizen-reported grievances

• The state of streetlight infrastructure, visualized through outage mapping

• And yep! A lighter, delicious detour through data on popular eateries across the city
  
  Expect a lot of meaningful visualisation and insightful discussions around them!

• An understanding of how to extract granular geospatial data using OpenStreetMap’s Overpass API

• Techniques for working with civic datasets using free and open-source GIS tools like QGIS

• Real-world examples of how open data can shed light on both challenges and opportunities in urban planning

• Insights into the value of citizen-contributed data through platforms like BBMP’s Fix My Street