FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Montgomery Civic Hub.

General

What is the Montgomery Civic Hub?

A free, AI-powered platform that makes Montgomery’s public city data accessible through four audience-specific portals. Ask questions in plain English and get answers backed by real data from 40+ city datasets.

Do I need an account to use it?

No. The platform is free and open to everyone. No login or account required.

Is this an official City of Montgomery service?

The Civic Hub uses official public data from Montgomery’s ArcGIS systems, but AI-generated responses should not be considered official government decisions or legal advice.

Which portal should I use?

• Resident — General questions about your neighborhood, services, and safety
• Business — Permits, licenses, zoning, and economic data
• City Staff — Infrastructure, operations, and executive briefings
• Researcher — Academic analysis, demographics, and longitudinal trends

Not sure? Start with the Resident Portal — it’s the most general-purpose.

AI Chat

How does the AI work?

The AI is powered by Anthropic’s Claude model. When you ask a question, it queries Montgomery’s ArcGIS datasets for structured data and searches the web for additional context, then synthesizes a clear response.

Can the AI access my personal information?

No. The AI only accesses publicly available city datasets and web search results. It cannot access private records, accounts, or personal information.

Why did the AI give me wrong information?

AI responses are generated based on available data and may occasionally be inaccurate. Always verify critical information through official city channels. If you notice an error, the data may have been recently updated or the AI may have misinterpreted your question — try rephrasing.

Is my chat saved?

Chat messages are stored for operational purposes during your session. See the Privacy Policy for details on data retention.

Can the AI control the dashboard?

Yes. The AI can switch between Map/Table/Chart views, adjust year filters, toggle map layers, and show/hide council districts — all in response to your questions.

Data

Where does the data come from?

All structured data comes from Montgomery, Alabama’s public ArcGIS FeatureServer. This is the same data system used by city staff and published for public access. Web search results come from Bright Data.

How current is the data?

Operational datasets (311 requests, permits, violations) are updated in real-time as the city records new entries. Facility data and boundaries are updated periodically. Census data is from the 2020 Census.

Can I download the data?

The Table view displays dataset records that you can browse. For bulk data downloads, access Montgomery’s ArcGIS FeatureServer directly.

Why don't I see data for certain years?

Some datasets only go back to 2018. Use the Year Filter to adjust the date range. If a dataset has no records for a given period, the view will appear empty.

Features

How do I switch between Map, Table, and Chart?

Click the Map, Table, or Chart tabs at the top of the data panel. You can also ask the AI to switch for you.

How do I see council districts on the map?

Click the “Show Districts” button on any portal’s map view. Click on a district to see council member details. See Council Districts for more.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The layout adapts to mobile screens with a bottom sheet chat panel and full-width data views.

How do I switch to dark mode?

Use the theme toggle in the top navigation bar. The platform also respects your system’s dark mode preference.

Privacy

What data do you collect?

Chat messages, basic usage data, and technical information (browser type, IP). We do not use advertising cookies. See the full Privacy Policy.

Can I delete my data?

Yes. Contact [e-mail] to request deletion of your chat history and data.