Daily updates include metrics such as the number of work orders from the Department of Public Works & Parks, building permits issued by the Department of Inspectional Services, fire department incident responses, and dog licenses issued
WORCESTER—The Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) has unveiled a major update to the city’s open data portal, Informing Worcester, officials announced earlier this week. The relaunch, directed by City Manager Eric D. Batista, aims to enhance the accessibility and usability of municipal data for residents.
“Relaunching our open data portal reaffirms my administration’s commitment to transparency, to making decisions and creating policies based on what the data is telling us, and to embracing and preparing for the technology of the future,” Batista stated in the announcement.
The revamped portal now features more than 300 data sets, presented in innovative formats such as StoryMaps, which combine maps, legends, text, photos, and videos to provide comprehensive data context. Daily updates include metrics such as the number of work orders from the Department of Public Works & Parks, building permits issued by the Department of Inspectional Services, fire department incident responses, and dog licenses issued.
Powered by the ArcGIS Hub platform, the site offers interactive tools for engaging with geographic information system (GIS) data, maps, and applications. Available data sets include municipal spending through an open checkbook, Worcester Police Department reports on use of force incidents and daily logs, as well as building permits and business certificates from the Department of Inspectional Services. Historical documents, including executive orders and annual budgets, are also accessible.
“These enhancements to Informing Worcester are part of our ongoing commitment to providing insights and transparency to our residents and represent an important step on our journey to becoming a more data-driven municipality,” said Chief Information Officer Michael Hamel in a press release
The city launched its Open Data Portal, originally named DIG (Data Informing Government) Worcester, in 2019.
In a report to the city council in July 2020, Batista, then the director of the Office of Urban Innovation, outlined the site’s dual goals of achieving functional transparency and showcasing the city’s data-driven strategies to tackle challenges and meet strategic objectives.
Since then, the city has increased the number of data sets from 39 in July 2020 to more than seven times that amount. These data sets are now more frequently updated, with many updating automatically rather than relying on manual updates, according to officials.
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