Transforming the Observatory: From Archive to Engine

Abstract

Transforming the Observatory is the third report from Neighbouring Data.

The first report, Opening the Observatory, outlines interim findings about the generation, connection and use of qualitative data in place-based decision-making. It focuses on the challenge of storing and analysing qualitative data, specifically through existing models of data observatories (Owen et al., 2023).

The second report, Understanding the Observatory, analyses the content and architecture of observatory portals. It purposively samples twenty data observatories with a review of the critical literature, focusing on three main subject areas: environment, technology, and place (Owen, Marsh, and Ashton, 2025).

This third report connects the findings from our previous reports with findings from a three-part research collaboration that included:

Part One: commissioning creative responses and hosting a workshop with 5 creative practitioners (June–October 2023).

Part Two: consulting with 25 professional data users on their use and aspirations for qualitative data (December 2023).

Part Three: developing prototypes for the Neighbourhood Insight Engine in line with our workshop and research findings (January–December 2024).

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Identifiers

ORCID for Daniel Ashton: orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-1783

ORCID for Richard Gomer: orcid.org/0000-0001-8866-3738

ORCID for Joey Jones: orcid.org/0000-0002-1146-1668

ORCID for Joseph Owen: orcid.org/0000-0002-2483-6502

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