Waze for Cities Data Now Available via Google Cloud

Navigational app Waze recently announced that its Cities Data is now made available on the Google Cloud Platform for ready analysis.

Via Google Cloud, Waze for Cities allows more than more than 1,000 global partners to review and analyze transportation patterns, and create visualizations using Google Cloud tools for the first time.

Previously known as Connected Citizens Program, Waze for Cities Data was first launched in October 2014 with 10 city partners and has grown to more than 1,000 partners globally.

This free, collaborative program leverages mobile technology and crowdsourced traffic data to empower municipalities and first responders to improve their existing city infrastructure.

Dani Simons, Head of Public Sector Partnerships at Waze, noted that their company has been a "pioneer in sharing data with cities and working with them to improve infrastructure and fight traffic."

"But over the past five years, the landscape has changed. Cities have more data than ever, but they want better tools to analyze it and be able to put it to use to improve their streets. We are thrilled to provide this integration with Google Cloud that will make it even easier for our Waze for Cities partners to more seamlessly organize, store, interpret and share transportation data and insights," Simons said.

Meanwhile, Sudhir Hasbe, Director, Product Management at Google Cloud, clarified that "Waze for Cities Data partners will no longer need to build their own tools or have different systems for different data sources."

"The integration with Google Cloud will make it easy to view Waze for Cities Data and layer in other transportation-related data sources to see the full picture of mobility trends in one place," Hasbe explained.

With the availability of Waze's Cities Data, Waze for Cities partners will have access to best-in-class data warehouse tool BigQuery and data visualization tool Data Studio.

Such tools will make the data even easier to interpret and communicate to non-technical audiences. Partners can analyze up to 1TB of data and store up to 10 GB of data for free each month. With this program, partners can also securely and privately store and analyze their own data and perform their own analytics buttressed by Waze's Cities Data. As with all Google Cloud partners and customers, Waze for Cities partners will remain in complete control of their data.

"With the integration to Google Cloud, it's now simpler than ever for cities to access Waze data on traffic conditions. As a Waze research partner, our team is excited to work with even more local governments, transport agencies, and development banks to leverage Waze data for developing smarter and more effective transport policies," said Stephanie Sy, CEO, Thinking Machines Data Science.

Any public agency is eligible to apply for the program by clicking “Apply Now” on the Waze for Cities homepage. Current Waze for Cities partners will receive more information on how to integrate their existing account.