About

Mission

At OpenCommons, our mission is to foster collaboration among community, industry, academic, and government stakeholders in the pursuit of developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies for smart rural and urban commonities. Committed to the principles of openness, innovation, and shared learning, OpenCommons aims to create a vibrant and inclusive platform where diverse stakeholders can unite to co-create solutions that address the complex challenges of today.

We aspire to be a catalyst for positive change by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices, enabling communities to harness the power of emerging technologies effectively. OpenCommons is dedicated to establishing an environment that encourages cross-sectoral partnerships, driving the development of replicable, scalable, and interoperable solutions that enhance the resilience, sustainability, and overall quality of life in communities around the world.

Our collaborative approach seeks to empower communities to learn from one another, amplify successes, and collectively build consensus on standards that promote the widespread adoption of transformative technologies. By providing a dynamic space for co-innovation, OpenCommons strives to usher in an era of heightened efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and shared prosperity, ultimately contributing to the advancement of smart communities for the benefit of all.

Organization

OpenCommons is a dynamic 501(c)(6) non-profit organization based in the United States, founded in 2014 to facilitate collaborative initiatives stemming from a DARPA-funded collaboration. This collaboration involved multiple Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Academic Institutions, and Industrial Organizations. OpenCommons emerged as a vital support entity for these organizations, providing essential networking opportunities in the development of open research and open-source activities. The organization's inception was rooted in the goal of fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse entities involved in cutting-edge research and development. OpenCommons played a pivotal role in connecting stakeholders from the public, private, and academic sectors associated with the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC) in 2016. By establishing a collaborative knowledge base, OpenCommons facilitated the sharing of best practices in smart cities and communities, contributing to the advancement of transformative initiatives. In its current state, OpenCommons has evolved to support a range of programs spanning High-Performance Computing, Smart Cities and Communities, as well as Open Source and Open Data. These programs underscore OpenCommons' commitment to advancing technological innovation, collaboration, and the dissemination of knowledge in critical domains. OpenCommons stands as a hub for networking and collaboration, providing a platform for entities involved in high-performance computing, smart city initiatives, and the development of open-source solutions. Its non-profit status reflects a commitment to serving the greater good and fostering cooperative efforts that transcend organizational boundaries. Through its various programs, OpenCommons continues to play a significant role in shaping the landscape of open research, technology, and smart community development.

Vision

OpenCommons promotes data-driven communities that prioritizes informed decision-making across various aspects by leveraging data analytics and fostering civic engagement. In this model, community members actively participate in shaping decisions related to zoning, public transportation, services, shelter, food, and well-being. Data-driven insights, derived from analyzing factors such as population density, commuting patterns, and community preferences, form the basis for policies that align with the community's vision and development plans. Civic engagement initiatives, both digital and in-person, provide residents with a platform to voice opinions, share concerns, and contribute to decision-making processes.

This dynamic approach extends to optimizing public transportation routes, allocating resources for community services based on demographic data, and addressing housing needs through data-driven analyses. Additionally, initiatives related to food security and overall well-being benefit from community input and data analytics. The symbiotic relationship between data-driven insights and civic engagement creates a responsive and inclusive community that actively addresses challenges and adapts to the evolving needs of its residents. By combining data-driven decision-making with active civic participation, the community ensures that policies and initiatives are not only grounded in robust data but also reflect the diverse perspectives and aspirations of its members.

In addition to fostering informed decision-making, a data-driven community places a focus on addressing issues of social, financial, racial, and gender equity through the integration of data analytics and robust civic engagement. By harnessing the power of data-driven insights, the community actively identifies and rectifies disparities across various domains. Whether it's social dynamics, economic patterns, racial disparities, or gender-based inequities, the community employs data analytics to inform targeted interventions and policies that promote inclusivity and address systemic challenges.

The tension between municipal organizations having sufficient information to offer personalized services and the imperative to safeguard sensitive personal information represents a delicate balancing act in the realm of data management. The more information collected centrally, the greater the risk of potential privacy breaches and unauthorized access.

One innovative approach to address this inherent conflict involves empowering individuals with control over their personal data through decentralized systems. Providing individuals with access to and ownership of their own personal data, stored securely in decentralized repositories like Solid Pods, introduces a paradigm shift. This not only makes identity theft substantially less appealing compared to targeting large centralized data stores but also establishes a framework where individuals have agency over their personal information.

In this decentralized model, personal private AI advisers can operate directly on the individual's data within the Solid Pod. These advisers can offer personalized advice, recommendations, and insights without compromising the privacy of the underlying data. By running AI processes locally on individual-owned resources, the need for centralized data storage diminishes, reducing the risk of mass data breaches. This approach aligns with the principles of privacy by design, ensuring that individuals retain control over their data while still benefiting from personalized services and advice. Ultimately, this innovative and privacy-centric model transforms the narrative, demonstrating that personalized services and individual privacy can coexist through decentralized and secure data management practices.

The decentralized digital economy

OpenCommons plays a pivotal role in the decentralized digital economy by actively engaging with stakeholders to facilitate the exchange of ideas, expertise, and best practices. Through collaborative efforts, OpenCommons supports open research and innovation activities, contributing significantly to the advancement of decentralized technologies. This support extends to research projects, initiatives, and consortia that delve into the exploration and development of decentralized solutions, protocols, and applications. By fostering an environment of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, OpenCommons serves as a catalyst for the evolution and growth of the decentralized landscape.

In addition to facilitating collaboration, OpenCommons functions as a valuable repository of knowledge in the decentralized technology space. The organization curates best practices, standards, and pertinent information related to decentralized technologies. This curated wealth of information positions OpenCommons as a key resource for individuals and entities seeking to navigate and actively contribute to the dynamic and evolving decentralized landscape. The organization's commitment to supporting and disseminating knowledge underscores its dedication to building a community that thrives on shared expertise and collective innovation.

Furthermore, OpenCommons actively encourages collaboration across different sectors involved in the decentralized digital economy. This inclusive approach spans partnerships between academia, industry, and government entities working on various aspects of decentralization, including notable protocols such as the Solid Specification, the Beckn Protocol, and others. By fostering these cross-sectoral partnerships, OpenCommons plays a crucial role in creating a collaborative ecosystem that drives advancements in decentralized technologies. The organization's involvement in initiatives like the NIST Global Community Technology Challenge further demonstrates its commitment to supporting decentralized technologies integral to the concept of smart communities, where decentralized systems contribute to efficiency, security, and transparency in community solutions.

AI Citizen Advisor

OpenCommons collaborates closely with partners in the decentralized digital economy, employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) to leverage private and personal information stored in Solid Pods. The objective is to deliver personalized advice and guidance to community members on civic engagement, available social and municipal services, and accessible resources. The distinction lies in the approach: machine learning algorithms and LLMs run privately on individual-owned resources, ensuring complete privacy of personal information without any data leakage. This strategy provides individuals with analysis tools that serve their specific objectives. The semantic data within Solid Pods enhances the delivery of context-aware and confidential advice, guaranteeing privacy for the individuals involved.

AI algorithms employed by OpenCommons sift through information stored in Solid Pods to identify social and municipal services for which community members may qualify based on their profiles and needs. This includes assessing eligibility for healthcare services, educational programs, and social assistance. Additionally, the analysis of data within Solid Pods helps identify the resources needed by community members, allowing AI-driven systems to provide personalized guidance on local amenities, community programs, and support networks.

OpenCommons, in collaboration with partners, also focuses on developing conversational AI interfaces that leverage LLMs. These interfaces aim to understand user queries and offer context-aware information about civic engagement opportunities and available services. The organization's commitment to privacy, through the execution of machine learning algorithms and LLMs privately on individual-owned resources, aligns with its mission of creating an inclusive platform that addresses the complex challenges faced by smart communities. By fostering collaboration, OpenCommons seeks to lead initiatives that harness the power of AI and LLMs for the benefit of individuals while respecting privacy and promoting responsible data practices, ensuring no data leakage occurs.