Collective intelligence

Every day, decisions are made that shape people's daily lives. Zoning plans are adopted, transport solutions chosen, health services designed. Often without the people affected being part of the process.

It's rarely about a lack of will. Most planners, managers, consultants and politicians want the best possible basis for their decisions, but gathering knowledge from many people is often time-consuming.

When the map doesn't match the terrain, we get processes that create resistance instead of ownership, services that solve the wrong problem, plans that end up in a drawer.

The good news is that the knowledge is out there. Residents know their neighbourhood better than the planners. Commuters know the route better than the models. Employees know their working day better than the management reports.

The philosopher Pierre Lévy called this knowledge collective intelligence. What if it were available to those who make the decisions? That is the motivation behind Aula: to build a platform for collective intelligence.