Building a platform for central government communication about mining
How can the design of a communication platform accommodate a sector where trust is low in creating an open and clear way of multi-stakeholder communication?
Mining is the systematic extraction of substances, such as oil, gas, salt, and geothermal energy, from the soil for special use or processing, with a specially equipped facility or infrastructure. There are still a lot of active mining sites in the Netherlands and many citizens living or working in the vicinity. Hundreds of residents and other interested parties ask Staatstoezicht op de Mijnen (translation: State Supervision of Mines or SodM as an acronym) very detailed questions about mining-related activities. Which costs them time when these can be better answered by the mining company themselves in many cases.
Approach
Ignite Innovation tackles complex problems with many different stakeholders (e.g. mining sector) with an open innovation mindset. We do not assume that we have all the wisdom ourselves. Through in-depth research with all stakeholders, we aim to discover the root causes of the problems this sector is facing.
Main research conclusion
Communication in the mining sector is fragmented, indirect, and complex. There is a lot of information available on all kinds of platforms, but little structure and overview. It is very difficult to find relevant and accurate information for a resident and their situation. In addition, mining companies and the government regularly communicate on a different level or wavelength than residents. This makes residents not feel heard in their concerns which increases mistrust.
Result
Mijnbouwactiviteiten.nl (mining activities). A new communication platform where all relevant information per mining location is bundled. Where residents can be kept informed by signing up for updates with just one click. And where government and mining companies can inform a large group of people with a single post.