The Benefits of Open Data by Local Government

Although the United States currently has a federally based open data portal, many individual cities across the nation have also begun launching their own open data portals. As part of an open data movement encouraged by mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco launched its official portal in 2009. While the portal is still in the beta phase, datasf.org has already begun to generate unexpected benefits. Community groups and other causes have used the data to develop applications that are not only helpful to the city specifically, but show great promise as potential applications for processes around the globe. The money that governments invest to launch open data portals has the potential to generate revenue in the form of broad based civic applications.

One could argue that open data websites should remain in a beta phase indefinitely, primarily because this phase encourages such a rich flood of innovation. With invitations for visitors to contribute applications and suggest the addition of other useful data sets, San Francisco’s website provides a platform for interested parties to develop truly beneficial and potentially wide-reaching software and applications for mobile devices. Perhaps one of the most notable developments of the website is the EcoFinder, a tool which quickly finds nearby recycling centers based on the user’s location. This application has broad based potential, as cities across the planet could use this same tool to make it easier for their citizens to find suitable recycling centers.

One of the most city specific and popular sets of data on datasf.org is the city’s listing of publicly accessible parking spaces, a feature that is helpful primarily to locals, although savvy visitors can also benefit. However, this particular application does not have the same potential scope as the EcoFinder, primarily because other cities do not have the same kind of infamously difficult parking situation that San Francisco does. However, by making this data public, city planners and public transportation activists can coordinate their efforts to try and reduce the pressure on parking, leading to a more enjoyable and environmentally friendly civic experience.

Intriguingly, the city also offers statistics on all of the fire incidents in the city to which the Fire Department responded, with details on the type of incident, how many people were involved, and the specific actions that took place. This set of data invites people to seek patterns and spot infrastructural weaknesses, if there are any. Do certain neighborhoods have more fires than others? Why? By making this information public, unusual but brilliant solutions may emerge.

Although San Francisco’s open data portal will require additional time in which to grow and refine its operations, one result is clear: local governments will benefit from making their public data easily accessible.