FBI crime statistics: open data, open source, eye-opener

mozfest-bot commented 7 years ago

[ UUID ] b31e2705-ef06-419a-b28a-d0f900d699f2

[ Session Name ] FBI crime statistics: open data, open source, eye-opener [ Primary Space ] Open Innovation [ Secondary Space ] Digital Inclusion

[ Submitter's Name ] Brendan Sudol [ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] 18F [ Submitter's Github ] @brendansudol

What will happen in your session?

First, we'll introduce how we (18F) worked with the FBI to make their crime statistics data more open/accessible to the public via 1) an API for developers/advanced users and 2) a web tool built on that API to allow anyone to explore high-level trends -- all the while building this system entirely in the open for everyone to see, contribute to, and reuse.

Then, we'll have a discussion about ways to maximize the benefit and reach of open data. Putting an Excel file on a website isn't enough. We'll brainstorm how to drive better outcomes and decision making, and how to show that doing all of this work open source is a Really Good Idea™.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

The goal of the session is threefold:

to collate strategies, lessons learned, and a toolkit for impactful open data projects via the experiences of people working in technology, government, design, and other fields.
to create a deeper understanding and appreciation for why making everything open (data and code) and applying human-centered design can lead to more trust, accessibility, and understanding of the information you want to share with the world.
to brainstorm the proper metrics one should optimize for when engaging in an open data project (i.e., how to maximize reach, how to accommodate different types of users, how to minimize data misinterpretations, etc.)