On April 4, the Vidzeme Planning Region organized a thematic working group, bringing together local government development and planning specialists, geographical information system specialists, representatives of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and industry experts to jointly discuss ways to improve the development monitoring approach in the region. During the event, the conclusions of the study on the development monitoring system were presented, and the experiences of C\u0113sis and Riga municipalities were shared. Discussions with the municipalities focused on both the monitoring process and the improvements needed to make it more systematic and effective.<\/p>\n
Ieva Kalni\u0146a, Head of the Territorial Planning Department of the Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR), emphasized that improving the monitoring system is a complex but essential task that must be based on close cooperation with local governments and other stakeholders. She explained that a robust monitoring system would not only enable the evaluation of progress toward the objectives defined in planning documents but would also support evidence-based decision-making, thereby strengthening the region\u2019s competitiveness and public trust.<\/p>\n
Kalni\u0146a acknowledged that the current monitoring process is fragmented \u2014 both municipalities and the region face challenges in obtaining high-quality and comparable data. \u201cIt is therefore necessary to address this issue at a broader level\u2014national and regional\u2014so that local governments are supported in implementing a systematic monitoring process,\u201d she stressed. She also emphasized the importance of building on existing practices and sharing success stories that can inspire other professionals. \u201cWe want to establish a tradition of meeting regularly with municipal planning specialists to share experiences, discuss current issues, and inspire one another,\u201d Kalni\u0146a said.<\/p>\n
This event took place within the framework of the European Union-funded project “PoliRuralPlus.” The aim of the project is to develop a concept for a development monitoring system for the Vidzeme region that supports data-driven decision-making. The study on local government experiences and the proposed monitoring system was presented by L\u012bga Brasli\u0146a from the research and innovation agency \u201cInnoMatrix\u201d. She noted, \u201cThe field of data acquisition, compilation, and analysis is currently at the epicentre of tectonic change. This shift is driven by the growing volume of data and the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies. We can\u2019t continue working the old way, but we haven\u2019t yet learned how to work in the new way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brasli\u0146a highlighted existing challenges with fragmented, outdated, and low-quality data. In Latvia, much of the relevant data is not available at the regional level, and manual collection creates a high risk of human error. She emphasized the need for an automated and centralized approach to data processing. As an example, she mentioned the RAIM system, which could serve as the foundation for development monitoring, though it still requires significant upgrades. \u201cData collection, storage, and preservation as we know them are a thing of the past\u2014now everything must happen in real time using artificial intelligence tools,\u201d Brasli\u0146a added.<\/p>\n
The study also reviewed examples from other EU countries. In Germany, companies collaborate in clusters \u2014 agreeing on what to collect and how \u2014 which improves comparability and decision-making. In Finland and Sweden, data is publicly accessible, regularly updated, and presented in a clear and understandable way. These examples demonstrate how local governments and communities benefit from better access to actionable insights.<\/p>\n
Aleksandrs \u013bubinskis, Deputy Head of the C\u0113sis Digital Centre, presented the experience of C\u0113sis Municipality in developing and implementing its open data strategy. The strategy focuses on improving internal data management, defining responsibilities, and simplifying data collection and storage processes. \u201cWe need to understand what data we are already collecting, why we\u2019re doing it, and how to use it for decision-making,\u201d \u013bubinskis said. He pointed out that one of the biggest challenges is ensuring timely data updates and stressed the importance of common data standards and regular practices across municipalities. The C\u0113sis experience, he noted, could serve as a model for others.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Riga State City Municipality\u2014Ren\u0101te Strautmane, Head of the Strategic Supervision Department, and Andris Lo\u010dmanis, Chief Spatial Data Expert\u2014shared the capital\u2019s best practices in monitoring development. They highlighted the need for data to be regularly collected and visualized in a way that is understandable for decision-makers and citizens alike. Riga\u2019s system integrates satellite data and information from mobile operators to track urban development trends. One key challenge, they noted, is achieving comparability of indicators across regions. \u201cA national agreement on a unified data structure is essential\u2014only then can we compare outcomes and make informed decisions,\u201d Lo\u010dmanis emphasized.<\/p>\n
Two digital tools developed as part of the \u201cPoliRuralPlus\u201d project were also introduced to support work with monitoring data. The tool \u201cVulture\u201d enables the extraction and structuring of data from an organization\u2019s internal document flows, making it easier to analyze existing information and identify trends, such as how frequently certain topics arise or which sectors are most active. The second tool, \u201cJackdaw,\u201d is an AI-powered solution that connects spatial data with statistical and open datasets. It creates an integrated view of spatial development trends, supporting better data analysis and planning.<\/p>\n
Local government participants agreed on the importance of aligning data collection practices and including consistent questions in public surveys to ensure comparability. Riga’s experience was frequently cited as a potential blueprint for Vidzeme.<\/p>\n
Participants also emphasized the need for regular data updates and high-quality standards to ensure meaningful analysis. Since data collection is often a manual and time-consuming process, it was proposed that the newly established Artificial Intelligence Centre could help automate data entry, extraction, and analysis in systems maintained by state institutions.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the event, there was broad consensus that improving regional development monitoring is a necessary and collaborative process\u2014built on reliable data, shared indicators, and strong partnerships between municipalities and regional bodies.<\/p>\n
An organized monitoring system would allow municipalities to respond more effectively to citizens\u2019 needs and plan services using real, up-to-date data. The ideas shared during the discussion will form the basis for next steps toward building a system that enables smarter, more transparent decision-making across all Vidzeme municipalities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On April 4, the Vidzeme Planning Region organized a thematic working group, bringing together local government development and planning specialists, geographical information system specialists, representatives of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and industry experts to jointly discuss ways to improve the development monitoring approach in the region. During the event, the conclusions of the study on the development monitoring system were presented, and the experiences of C\u0113sis and Riga municipalities were shared. Discussions with the municipalities focused on both the monitoring process and the improvements needed to make it more systematic and effective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":68984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-governance-and-planning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n