Working Principles
Make the Work
Easier to Understand.
Groundtruth 911's products and public work share a set of principles: follow the evidence, respect the people involved, and make the result useful to someone else.
Follow the Problem
Begin with a specific problem. See how the system works in practice, read its documentation, and listen to the people who use or depend on it.
Follow the data, decisions, and responsibilities. Check whether the formal explanation matches what the evidence shows, and make any difference easier to understand.
Build what will help: a software tool, a map, a clear explanation, or a better way to do the work. Keep a record of the decisions and return to see whether the result is useful.
Show the Evidence
Explain the question. Link the evidence that can be shared. Make clear what was observed, what was inferred, and what remains unknown. State important limits and keep a dated record of material corrections.
Some source material should remain private. A useful public record shares what readers need to understand the work while protecting sensitive information.
Accountability Is Part of the Work
Let Evidence Change the Conclusion
Investigations begin with a question. Funding or sponsorship should support the work without buying a particular finding or control over what gets published.
Plan for Maintenance
A useful result needs a maintenance plan: who is responsible, what continued support requires, and when the work should be reviewed, handed off, or retired.
Make Corrections Visible
When the understanding changes, explain what changed and when. Correct the record without hiding the earlier version.
Keep Each Project’s Purpose Clear
A software product, a public investigation, and a community forum have different purposes. Be clear about who each serves and what is public or private.