Google’s Waze announced government data exchange program

Waze, a public mapping application recently acquired by Google is launching a government partnership initiative aimed at providing more government data through its platform. The “Connected Citizens” program is aimed at creating a near real-time traffic information exchange between residents and the governing in order to improve public safety outcomes.

Waze today announced “Connected Citizens,” a new government partnership program that will see both parties exchange data in order to improve traffic conditions. For the program, Waze will provide real-time anonymized crowdsourced traffic data to government departments in exchange for information on public projects like construction, road sensors, and pre-planned road closures. Waze has also signed on five other government partners and has received applications from more than 80 municipal groups. The company ran an initial pilot program in Rio de Janeiro where it partnered with the city’s traffic control center to supplement the department’s sensor data with reports from Waze users.