Athens to collect fresh data through new civic app

Residents and visitors to the Greek capital can now for the first time communicate with the municipality and report issues through an app.

Developed in partnership with technology company Novoville, the platform allows people to send requests via mobile phone to report real-time problems like abandoned cars, potholes, crumbling pavements, or “extraordinary incidents” that require municipal assistance.

“We now have data on the most important issues faced by residents in their everyday lives and data on the response of the municipality's services,” said George Kaminis, Mayor of Athens. “Now, the city's administration knows in a measurable way where the city hurts most and what interests ...