Project Description

Digital Trust for Places and Routines (DTPR Standard) is an emerging open-source “system-to-people” visual communication standard for transparency and accountability around digital technology in the places where people live and work. It includes a standard dictionary of concepts around digital tech and data practices, and a standard set of icons and design patterns to quickly and clearly communicate those concepts. Helpful Places has launched a cohort of implementation pilots in 2021/2022 to facilitate demonstrations of this DTPR Standard and provide shared learning opportunities between the Cohort members.

DDOT has a current research project testing a range of technologies to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in intersections. The deployment of devices in the first half of calendar year 2022 provides an opportunity to test communications methods for bridging the communication gap between DDOT and the public about the deployment of digital technologies. For more information on that project see Pedestrian and Cyclist Intersection Safety Sandbox.

Project Need

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has a range of digital technologies in the public space, from automated traffic enforcement and traffic cameras to bicycle and pedestrian counting devices and sensors detecting parking activity. There is little to no communication with the public about the purpose of these devices, where they are, and what they do. Some of the outputs from those devices are publicly available, but the public is often unaware of the linkage between the devices in the field and the data online.

Desired Outcome & Expected Benefits

The objective of this project is to obtain support and peer learning opportunities for a pilot implementation of DTPR connected to the Pedestrian and Cyclist Intersection Safety Sandbox research project.

Approach

Task 1. DTPR 101 Workshop

DDOT will participate in a “DTPR 101” workshop for Cohort participants, with activities focused on applying the DTPR Standard to pilot use cases and installation scenarios, covering the use of the prototype proprietary platform developed by Helpful Places (the “DTPR Guide App Prototype”), and discussion of feedback loops through app metrics and introducing the in-situ user research toolkit (“DTPR User Research Toolkit”).

Task 2. Cohort Kickoff Workshop and Monthly Debriefs

The goal of the Kick-off Workshop and Debrief sessions is to facilitate the sharing of experiences and learnings by Cohort participants throughout the pilot implementation of the DTPR Standard and DTPR Guide App Prototype. This component includes two main activities:

• A Kick-off Workshop that will introduce the Cohort participants to each other, introduce the DTPR visual language and taxonomy and its objectives to help Cohort participants prepare for the DTPR Guide App prototype onboarding, and establish success metrics for the overall Cohort as well as for each pilot location.
• Monthly facilitated Debrief sessions where Cohort participants share their experiences and learnings in order to identify best practices for deployment of the DTPR Standard, and inform further development and improvement of the DTPR Standard.

Learnings and experiences from the pilot shall be documented by Helpful Places, and blog posts shall be produced throughout the program documenting the Cohort and DTPR standard’s progress. Feedback from Cohort Participants will be used to further develop and improve the DTPR Guide App prototype.

Task 3. Prototype Platform Deployment

DDOT and Helpful Places will deploy the DTPR Standard, DTPR Guide App Prototype and associated signage at pilot locations for a period of up to four months, to coincide with the technology deployments in the field for the Sandbox project. The DTPR Guide App Prototype shall also gather feedback from end users about the technology use cases through in-app and extended surveys as well as collect non-personal usage data to understand their interactions with the DTPR Standard taxonomy itself.

Task 4. DTPR Standard Feedback Surveys and User Research

Feedback is a core component of the open-source DTPR “system-to-people” communication standard. In-situ intercept surveys and interview-based research is a key component of understanding whether use of the DTPR Standard contributes to increased trust in the technology and its deployment.  Once the DTPR Standard, DTPR Guide App Prototype and associated signage has been deployed, DDOT will organize their staff and/or interns to run on-site intercepts or remote user research sessions using the DTPR User Research Toolkit, in accordance with District public health measures. 

Task 5. Feedback Report

Once the user research sessions have been concluded, Helpful Places will provide a feedback report that includes:

• Analysis and synthesis of in-app and digital feedback surveys, and the end-user’s interaction with the DTPR Guide App Prototype
• One-time review and synthesis of interview and intercept survey information collected by Cohort participants on the deployment of the DTPR Standard, using the DTPR User Research Toolkit.

Project Oversight

DDOT Stakeholders

Communications office (lead TBD)

Smarter DC (Jack Burbridge)

ITS (Kelli Raboy)

Peer Reviewers