Geospacial Open Data in KY - Louisville v Lexington (Part 2)

Following up on my last post about the state of open data in Kentucky, I want to now do a detailed comparison of every city in Kentucky that has open data online, and give them some sort of ranking.

Right now, only Louisville and Lexington, KY's two largest cities, have any open data as far as I know.  Please leave a comment if you know of another city or have heard another one might be opening their data soon.

There are two types of geospacial open data I'm going to look at, CSV/OMG formatted bulk address-level data, and GIS layer/shape data.  The CSV data is good to pull into a standard database and create javascript based online maps of point visualizations, like we do at Your Mapper.  The GIS data is great for doing offline (though some online) visualizations and creating map-based reports and analysis, like Map Grapher does.

I prefer the bulk CSV data format, because if you want to you can import this into a GIS system, but it's harder to break GIS data in a CSV format for generic database loading.  Having said that, some data is best output in GIS formats, like polygon area outlines (instead of point data).

I'd also like to point out what open data is.  It's not just that it's data on a website in an interactive form, or a PDF to download.  And it doesn't count if it costs money for a complete download.  See the 8 principles of open data for a list, and I'd like to add that historic data is a ninth principle.

Louisville v. Lexington

Right now, the only two cities in KY with an open data portal are Louisville and Lexington.  So it's a UK v. UofL, or Red vs. Blue, matchup for now.  The data are things like crime reports, 311 calls, business licenses, restaurant health ratings, building permits, bike racks, parking meters, property values, recent home sales, vacant properties, and foreclosures, and also GIS layer data.

So let's compare the two in the hopes of fostering some friendly competition and pushing each other to open more data.

Open Data in Kentucky: An Overview (Part 1)

As the national and international movement for open data and government transparency progresses, I'd like to take a moment and discuss the state of things here in Kentucky.

Open Data Definition

First let's define "open data." To me this means that the raw data is available in a bulk download format, like CSV, as opposed to online web databases or PDFs.  These later types of data are more part of government 'transparency' initiatives, rather than open data.  Open data should also be as complete as possible, including historic data, to the extent that privacy laws allow.  

Financial Data

This is the highest priority for government transparency pushes, and with good reason.  There is a great amount of open data regarding government financial records at Kentucky's Transparency Portal, KY Citizen Auditor Initiative,  Louisville's LouieStat,  Louisville Salary and Expenditure data, and other similar data in KY's larger cities.

Public Transit Data

Covington KY was the first to open its public transit feed to the public, with Lexington, then Louisville following.  This allows Google and other companies to absorb public transit schedules and routes to allow the building of direction and travel time applications.  Almost every county in KY has public transit, but most have not made this data available.

Property Data

Property open data is in need of a big overhaul in KY.  Kentucky is unique in the USA because it has county Property Valuation Administrators (PVAs) that asses the taxable values of all property in their county.  Interestingly, these are state-run organizations, with state-level rules and recommendations for opening data and data pricing requests.  Not one of the 120 counties have open property value data. Instead, each charge for bulk downloads and extended property data info.  Some have online text searches, and a few have map visualizations usually run by local or out-of-state vendors, of varying quality and usefulness.

Other Data

Kentucky has an excellent car accident database, and you can grab very detailed open data from it.  Actually, I'd say this is the most complete non-GIS open data set in KY, though the web interface is a bit cumbersome.

The KY Sex Offender database has data available online, but there is no way to download the raw data.  I suspect part of this is because of the State Police's use of a closed third-party tool, which is unfortunate for us all.

GIS Open Data

GIS data is what helps make city government more efficient - it maps everything a city government needs to know about: snow routes, power lines, water lines, property boundaries, street names, and so much more.  But, it's really only useful internally, and so far most KY city govs haven't pushed that data out to visualizations on websites, except Louisville, though Lexington has clunky version.  And no one has opened their GIS data for free download, until Lexington did last week.  Another bright spot is at the state level, where KY has not only visualizations of their GIS data online, but also allows open data downloads.

Geospacial Open Data

Now we get to the kind of data I am interested in and aggregate on Your Mapper.  CSV or OMG Standard formatted raw hyperlocal data that is specific to the street address level.  Things like crime reports, 311 calls, business licenses, restaurant health ratings, building permits, bike racks, parking meters, property values, recent home sales, vacant properties, and foreclosures.  This is where I'd like to draw up some friendly city comparisons in the spirit of cooperative competition.  I'll throw in GIS too since Lexington has done such a good job with it.

In my next blog post, I'll get into a detailed comparison, so stay tuned.

Any other open data I've missed across the state?  Let me know in the comments and I'll update the post.

Lexington KY Publishes Open Data

Lexington KY is the newest city in the world to create an open data portal for its citizens.  Their mission is to promote the openness, transparency and accountability of local government by providing high-value government data in standards compliant, machine readable format. This will serve as the basis for the creation of useful civic applications by third party developers.

From their website:

"For the initial launch, Lexington is providing free access to its geographic information. Over 80 geographic data layers from the city’s enterprise GIS are available and will be updated on a quarterly basis. Links to existing applications promoting the transparency of the legislative process as well as crime data are accessible from the “applications menu”. 

In the coming months we will continue to expand our data catalog and offerings to build on the foundation we have established."

There are 85 datasets in either GIS Shapefile or KML format, great for overlaying on maps on and using offline for analysis.  I talked to Chad Cottle, Director of Enterprise IT Solutions and the chair of Open Data Lexington, via email to get some history.

About a year ago, the local grassroots community (Open Lexington) approached the city asking them to open up their data, etc....the Council passed a resolution placing the city (for the first time) in a position to actually open up data without going the FOIA route.  

So, we brought together our city IT team, the community hacktivisits, the University of Kentucky and other “community movers and shakers” to start collaborating on what kind of stuff that citizens or “geeks” would want.  Working through some user stories we concluded that there were basically 2 audiences.

The first being mom and dad at home who are interested in data viz, infographics, canned answers (like pre-defined queries), etc.  This is also the more app-focused audience.  For example, to use Louistat as a frame of reference, “how much police and fire overtime was there in 2011”?  We will also develop apps to engage the citizen and inform them (think open311, etc.).  On our site we link to two apps/websites that are more “easy access” focused:  Legistar and RAIDS online. 

Audience two are the geeks, hardcore analysts, etc. who want raw, non-manufactured, non-derivative data.  We decided to start with GIS because most of the apps that could be built were location-based or location-aware.  In essence, this becomes the canvas on which the artist will paint. 

The open data portal if for audience #2, the entrepreneurs and data geeks, who can use this raw data to build great things.  The site was built using the open source CKAN toolkit, and implemented by local Lexington entrepreneur Nick Such.   The city paid for it to implemented and hosted in the cloud, so it was very inexpensive, though I imagine it took a lot of time internally to gather all the data and get full buy in, which is always a challenge.

Chad says this is Phase 1.  The next phase starts right  now and will be things like code violations, building inspection data, and 311 calls for service.  Hopefully data visualizations focused around the flow of money in the city will come next too.

Congratulations to Lexington, which now joins Louisville in the open data realm.  My next post will focus on the similarities and differences on both city's sites, services, formats, and open data, in the hope of fostering some friendly competition.  Viva open data!

Louisville TARC Opens Google Transit Feed and Transportation Camp

Louisville's TARC has published their transit feed to Google, allowing residents and visitors to Louisville to plan their trips on web or mobile Google Maps!

Mayor Greg Fischer, Innovation Director Ted Smith, TARC Director Barry Barker, and I were on hand at a city hall press conference last week to make the announcement.

Even better, TARC has made the wise decision to publish the link to their GTFS feed.  That means the general public can grab the raw data just like Google, and create their own apps, websites, and tools using the data.

TARC's Public Transit Feed Data : http://googletransit.ridetarc.org/feed/

Google grabs TARC's updated transit feed every Thursday.

Louisville Transportation Camp

To help facilitate the use of this data, I am hosting a free Louisville Transportation Camp.  This camp will introduce this data to local developers, and we will brainstorm app ideas, creating a prototype app by the end of the camp.  

We will also explore Louisville PARC's newly opened data, and all the data available on Metro Mapper (using the Your Mapper API).  A TARC technical representative will be on hand. And afterwards we'll ride TARC to a nearby watering hole.

Please sign up and spread the word.  It's a free event, but if you can donate if you'd like to be listed as a Supporter.  If your company wants to sponsor the event, they can do it on the event page or sponsor by providing swag, food, or supplies.  

Thanks!  Open transit data for Louisville's been a long time coming, and I'm glad it's here, so let's make the most of it.  Post in the comments your experiences using the data to get around.

GovMapper is Awarded KSTC's Kentucky Enterprise Fund Grant

GovMapper has been selected by KSTC for the respected Kentucky Enterprise Fund grant this year!

GovMapper helps local governments get their data online for the public. This grant will help us reach more city and state governments across the nation, and show them how to open data for their citizens, promoting transparency and saving them tax-payer money at the same time. More about the grant from the KEF website:

The Kentucky Enterprise Fund (KEF) is a state-funded, venture capital-like fund that invests in Kentucky-based seed and early stage technology companies. Companies seeking funding from KEF go through a rigorous due diligence process and are judged in terms of industry fit, return on investment, and potential for economic development.

Special thanks goes to Louisville's local ICC office and the members of GLI's Enterprise Corp for their guidance and assistance, and of course the members of KSTC who we have worked closely with during the application and interview process over the last few months.

New Map: Franklin County KY Property Values

The Franklin County Kentucky PVA office is using Your Mapper's platform to map its property values county-wide.

Like the Jefferson County KY PVA before them, they see the value in opening up their public information to their citizens, and putting it into an easy-to-understand visual map. It saves their office time and duplication of effort, and Patsy Conway, the current PVA, it providing a great free service for the public good.

As with all of our government open-data clients, they are using the built-in features of the Your Mapper platform. Their data is published on Your Mapper in an interactive map, in a density heatmap by category, and in a mobile version viewable on any mobile phone browser. Our site helps to ensure the data reaches as many people as possible, and all of pages credit the PVA with the data and link back to their site for more information.

With Frankfort being the state's capitol and the county seat of Kentucky, the Franklin County PVA is leading the way for the rest of the state. Thanks to Patsy Conway, Jill Maynard, and the entire Franklin County PVA office.

Kentucky Car Accident Reports Mapped

Our parent site Your Mapper has mapped all the reported car accidents from the KY State Police.

KY Car Accident Map

Each vehicle accident report popup shows you:

• the type of collision
• the number of killed and injured people
• how many vehicles and police units were involved
• if it was a hit-and-run
• the date and time
• cross streets
• the weather and road conditions

You can also filter by 4 categories, which are fatal accidents, injury accidents, multiple vehichles involved, or single vehicle accidents. Right now we have all of 2010 loaded, and if there is enough interest, we will load 2005-2009 as well.

We'll be adding this interactive map to the Louisville Metro Mapper site soon!

Read more: http://blog.yourmapper.com/2010/10/new-map-kentucky-car-accidents

Official Louisville Home Foreclosures

A Louisville, KY home foreclosure map has been added to Metro Mapper. The data comes from an official agreement with the Jefferson County PVA through GovMapper, and is added to the site using Your Mapper's API and map embedding services.