Big Data Toolkit for Transport Sector Engagements Across the Project Cycle

Overview & Synopsis

Data underpins every aspect of the investment project lifecycle and is essential for policy dialogue. Analyses of congestion patterns or the identification of infrastructure gaps are the kindling that can ignite discussions for business development. Criticality and accessibility analyses are necessary inputs into the design of impactful investment projects and for measuring their outcomes. With the World Bank’s renewed focus on impact, data has never been more important for identifying how our projects have improved travel times, provided better access to jobs, or enhanced rural access, results that are critical for development. Plans identified using data provide an objective way for prioritizing investments, which are likely to yield greater and more impactful results than politically driven priorities. Beyond the project lifecycle, such insights can help shape high-level policy priorities, such as outlining the case for congestion charging or encouraging private participation in infrastructure. The Guide is structured as follows. In the next section, we briefly discuss the key differences between the data and methodology presented in this guide and those found in traditional data sources. Next, the document outlines a menu of what is available under the big data methodology. The remaining sections are organized around the project lifecycle. We begin by providing a survey of use cases for the big data methodology in analytical work and business development. Next, we discuss case studies where these methodologies have aided in project preparation and the development of indicators. Finally, we discuss how big data can contribute to impact evaluations.