Digital Twin profiles for community well-being

Much of New Zealand’s public data covering housing, living conditions, environment, air quality, and crime is technically “open”, but hard for communities to find, combine, or understand. The datasets across agencies are in different formats and are not often show in a way that helps people understand what is happening in their local area.In this presentation, Anju will show how her project, Digital Twin Community Well-Being Profile System, was designed to make these datasets easier to access and use. Inspired by similar work in England, this project brings different types of data together to show a simple picture of each community.Anju will explain how the system brings together Census data, environmental measures, air quality, and police records, and turns them into easy-to-read maps, charts, and summaries for every Territorial Authority in Aotearoa. A flexible, configuration-based design keeps this system easier to update, and the dashboard allows users explore and download profiles.The goal of the project is to democratise access to data giving councils, organisations, and communities a straightforward way to see patterns that are normally hidden behind complex official datasets. Combining the data in one place gives people a clearer view of their area and helps guide better decisions.ABOUT THE AUTHORAnju Sambasivan is completing her Master of Applied Data Science at the University of Canterbury and currently interns with PHF Science. She develops accessible digital tools that bring together Census, environmental, air quality, and police data to help communities better understand local conditions. Her work focuses on geospatial analysis, data integration, and clear visual storytelling to support practical decision-making. -----For more information about the eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa conference, visit: https://eresearchnz.co.nz/