Former Atlanta CTO targets data governance with new launch

N-Ovate Solutions, the consultancy founded by Atlanta’s former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Tye Hayes, has launched a new suite of data management tools for government and education organisations.

Hayes worked for the City of Atlanta from December 2018 to July 2021 as CTO and then interim Chief Information Officer (CIO). She has also worked as Deputy CIO for Atlanta Public Schools and as Information Security and Privacy Officer for Lockheed Martin.

Given her professional background, cities are among the target market for the SmartGov Data Tech solutions, which were created as part of the Black Progress Matters Black-Owned Business Incubator.

Cities Today spoke to Hayes about the issues she is aiming to address.

Cities Today (CT): There are many other data platforms and analytics solutions for cities. How is SmartGov Data Tech different?

Tye Hayes (TH): Cities face two significant challenges regarding data: they struggle to manage all the data they’re collecting from various new and innovative sources, and they are struggling to keep up with the ever-growing data collection volume.

SmartGov Data Technologies helps cities connect all of their data to have one repository for all of their information. Our archive solution also allows cities to implement retention policies to keep track of their data and ensure that it is properly stored.

As cities define their smart city strategy with a combination of cameras, wearable devices, and the different types of intelligent innovations available, they need a way to ingest the new data and marry it with their legacy data. The combination of all data is where the smart city becomes powerful. SmartGov Data Tech is an enabler for smart cities, and we work with vendor partners, and we will work with the cities to try to solve that problem.

Cities produce vast amounts of data daily, yet often lack an effective way to store and manage this information. This can lead to duplications, compliance issues and difficulty extracting valuable insights. SmartGov provides a much-needed solution by helping cities to see all of their data, eliminate duplications and make it compliant. Furthermore, by reducing storage costs, we can help fund innovations around data.

SmartGov is unique in that we enable both the city and its vendor partners. We are essentially the glue in the middle that solves the problems from both ends.

CT: In your view, what are some of the challenges cities could be solving more effectively with data? 

TH: Cities are complex places and managing them effectively is a constant challenge. From traffic congestion and crime to housing affordability and infrastructure maintenance, there are always a host of issues to be addressed. And the prioritisation of these issues can change at any moment, depending on the needs of the city’s residents. This is where data comes in.

Good data can be a game-changer for city leaders, law enforcement and health providers, helping them to quickly identify and respond to problems. And with the ever-growing availability of data, there is potential for cities to become even more responsive and efficient in their management. In other words, data is key to making cities work better for everyone involved.

CT: What are some of the main challenges cities face when trying to do more with data?

TH: As cities become increasingly digitised, they are collecting vast amounts of data on everything from traffic patterns to energy usage. This data has the potential to transform city management, but it also raises a number of challenges related to governance.

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that data is accessible to those who need it. This includes not only city officials, but also residents and businesses.

Another challenge is maintaining data security. With so much data being collected, there is a heightened risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.

Finally, cities must also grapple with the ethical implications of collecting and using data. For example, how should they use data that has been collected through surveillance cameras? These are just some of the challenges that cities face as they work to develop their smart city initiatives.

CT: Advanced uses of data and technology can raise concerns about privacy – how can cities manage this well with residents?

TH: As our lives move ever online, concerns regarding privacy are becoming more prominent. In recent years, high-profile data breaches have made headlines around the world, and the issue of data privacy is now at the forefront of public discussion. For cities, which are increasingly reliant on digital technologies, managing these concerns is essential.

One way to do this is to ensure that all data collected by city agencies is properly secured. This means implementing strong encryption protocols and investing in secure storage solutions.

Additionally, cities can provide residents with clear information about how their data is being used. When it comes to data privacy, transparency is key.

By taking these steps, cities can help to build trust with their residents and show that they are serious about protecting their privacy.

CT: What key things that you learned during your time with the City of Atlanta are driving what you do now?

TH: Atlanta, like most cities, faced challenges ranging from infrastructure, transparency and data privacy to coordination between the public and private sectors. During my tenure, we also had the additional challenges of a Super Bowl, a major riot and a pandemic. It was a stressful time, but we did some incredible things under incredible pressure.

I enjoyed the work and it inspired me to create N-Ovate Business Solutions. We aim to provide innovation strategy solutions and support cities with innovation goals.