After the ball: How to evaluate effects of urban improvement with anthropology

Abstract

Implementation of major urban improvement programmes (one of which was “My Street” programme in Moscow that took place in 2015–2018) requires not only detailed pre-project research but also an evaluation of its results. Assessment of change of users' attitude to the refurbished streets is usually based on mass surveys because the opportunities to study the changes of behavior ethnographically are limited. We suggest using digital footprints of urban practices as an alternative for the latter. In the paper we discuss theoretical grounds of this approach, its possibilities and limitations, and also show the results of its usage as exemplified by the assessment of results of “My Street” urban improvement programme on certain streets.