Supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the University of Glasgow, the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC) stands as a dynamic research hub and national data service, advocating for the use of smart data to shape policymaking and elevate the quality of urban life.

In close collaboration with partners from government, industry, and the third sector, UBDC produces world-leading research with tangible impacts on public policy, industry practices, and overall quality of life. Attracting students globally, the centre offers master's degrees in Urban Analytics and Urban Transport, alongside a diverse calendar of capacity-building and knowledge exchange events.

Since its establishment in 2014, UBDC's data service has provided free access to data and related services for over 2,000 researchers at more than 800 institutions in the UK and worldwide. The Centre's strategic data partnerships include collaborations with property and employment search engines Zoopla and Adzuna, as well as mobile phone location data platform Huq. Notable open data collections encompass public transport accessibility indices for the entirety of Great Britain.

Professor Nick Bailey, Director of UBDC, expressed delight in marking the Centre's 10th anniversary, acknowledging the opportunity to celebrate past achievements, refocus on future goals, and renew relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Joe Cuddeford, Director of Smart Data Research UK at UKRI, commended UBDC's decade-long commitment to safe access to smart data and its pivotal role in forging partnerships across government, academia, and the private sector. Cuddeford emphasized UBDC's expertise and dedication to capacity building, highlighting its contribution to pioneering research on urban life and the groundwork it has laid for future UKRI investments in this field.

UBDC's impact extends locally, nationally, and internationally. Notable collaborations include a successful partnership with Glasgow City Council, where the Centre contributes to developing a unique system utilising public safety CCTV to produce counts of pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic movement. This data informs the Council's economic development strategies and public realm investments.

In the summer of 2023, UBDC collaborated with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism to address the issue of overheating in homes due to climate change, utilizing novel sensor technology. Additionally, a partnership with location research company Huq resulted in the development of innovative measures of population mobility across the UK's towns and cities, informing local transport strategies.

The 'Waterproofing Data' project, led by UBDC’s Deputy Director, Professor João Porto de Albuquerque, received the prestigious ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize in November 2023. This project combines citizen-generated data with official sources to enhance community resilience in flood-prone areas of Brazil’s cities. 

Read the full announcement on the Urban Big Data Centre webpage.

First published: 30 January 2024

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