from GeekUp Leeds, November

1. Hacks and Hackers
A report on the collaboration of
news press and practitioners of computational
science
Authored and presented
by Jonathan Powell

2. Reporters of the press
They are gifted with a keen desire to inform the
populace of
●
Political wrangling
●
Scandal
●
Conflict both local and international
●
Happenings of note
●
Advice and new avenues of thought

3. Computational experts
Such experts are often occupied with “vanity
projects”
Perhaps collaboration may put their skills to
better use?

4. The wealth of information
Any significant endeavour produces information
Take, for example:
●
Maintenance of highways
●
Postal services
●
Election and voting procedures

5. Gathering of information
Governments are morally obliged to dispense
all information gathered at public expense.

6. Introducing “Scraperwiki”
A 'scraper' automates the gathering of
information into a usable form.
A 'wiki' (the Hawaiian word for 'fast') is a
platform for collecting and presenting
information.

7. Hacks and Hackers met on
Thursday 28th
October 2010
A report of the collaborations that took place
therein.

8. Example (1): A planning map
for Leeds
Gathering information from the council
departments of Leeds to identify the
whereabouts and statuses of all planning
applications.

9. Example (1): A planning map
for Leeds (cont.)
Knowing the location of planning applications
provide a glimpse of development and
regeneration across the city.

10. Example (2): Find me
A technical application to provide transport and
road work information to a person in unfamiliar
territory.

11. Example (2): Find me (cont.)
Fig. 1:

12. Example (3): Leeds Uncut
Plotting the eight parliamentary constituencies
in Leeds, and identifying their susceptibility to
financial reductions in government spending.

13. Example (3): Leeds Uncut
(cont.)
The outcome told a familiar story; the affluent
regions may weather the recession, yet the
poorest will be hit with increased
unemployment and failing services.

14. Example (4): “Leeds Pulse”
Identifying the emotive reaction of the people of
Leeds to newsworthy events.

15. Example (4): “Leeds Pulse”
(cont.)
Combining editorial oversight with automatic
content is a growing trend; to undertake this at
a local level presented interesting challenges.
(disclaimer: I myself was involved in this
project)

16. Example (5): Brownfield
Regeneration
When industrial complexes fall into disuse,
what happens to the land?
This project sought to answer this question for
sites in and about the city of Leeds.

17. Example (5): Brownfield
Regeneration (cont.)
By amalgamating information from disparate
sources, a story was told of;
●
Housing
●
Ill health
●
Abandonment

18. Similar undertakings elsewhere
in the UK
●
Manchester
●
London
●
Liverpool
●
Lichfield
●
Birmingham
●
Dublin

19. In conclusion
The actions of those who collaborate have
brought to light stories which may have been
left untold.

20. It is my great hope to see similar activities bring
forth deeper understanding of our locality and,
perhaps inevitably, lead to improved
governance.
- Jonathan Powell