The City of Chicago Data Portal (https://data.cityofchicago.org/) is a city-wide open data portal where researchers, residents, and activists can find city data, facts about neighborhoods, map- and graph-based visualization tools, and numerous data downloads to support further analyses. Many of these datasets are updated at least once a day, and many of them are updated several times a day. The open data portal was required under an Executive Order signed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on December 10, 2012. Such a rich source of data (which many Chicagoans don't even know is available) can be intimidating, even to approach...but Chicago Studies' new "Data in Dialogue" series is here to help.
To introduce us (and guide us through) the Portal, we invited Tom Schenk, Jr, former Chief Data Officer of the City of Chicago under Mayor Emanuel and one of the Portal's principal architects. He offered an overview of the Portal's design, structure, and contents; made a case for the value of open data as a key element in city improvement and transparency; and then took questions from participants. We encourage students and faculty who are interested in urban science, urban data, GIS, data visualization, and more to join us for this fascinating introduction to one of the best windows into how the City that Works actually functions.
Session recorded live on Wednesday, 10/14, 12:30-1:30 PM CDT. View the film on YouTube, above or at this URL.
After listening, we hope you'll:
- Visit the Chicago Data Portal
- Learn more about Chi Hack Night
- Watch our event on Data Visualization to learn how maximize your usage of the Chicago Data Portal