As open government gains favor and reaps benefits for the federal workforce and citizens, Data.gov continues to build a Google-style universe based on the concept and expand its mission globally.
From launching new virtual communities to gather data on pertinent subjects and partnering with city governments to offering a free open source version of its data portal internationally, Data.gov’s reach continues to grow beyond it’s Washington roots. Keep reading →
Federal professionals have uncovered crucial terabytes of data that are now serving as the latest tool for entrepreneurs to create innovative mobile apps aimed at improving safety amid America’s streets, highways, railroads and consumer products.
Safety professionals across government “all want to set our data free,” said Jo Strang, the community leader for safety.data.gov, and the chief safety officer for the Federal Railroad Administration. Keep reading →
Data.gov Evangelist Jeanne Holm is doing something never before tried in the federal government – creating a virtual world via social networking tools rather than face-to-face meetings.
That world is a compilation of issue-oriented web-based communities providing previously unavailable or hard-to-reach government data. Holm’s effort offers the federal government an example of a new way of working, without management silos and the tedium or expense of on- or offsite meetings. Keep reading →
The Census Bureau is planning for the first time next month to conduct the Economic Census of more than four million businesses using its own web-based system instead of relying solely on paper forms – a lesson for every federal agency looking to cut costs.
It will be the largest survey conducted online by the Census Bureau since it developed its web-based Centurion system in 2009. Until now, the Census has used Centurion for 50 smaller surveys from the monthly wholesale trade survey to the quarterly plant capacity survey. Keep reading →
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is ready to debut a high-tech tool to provide quicker disaster relief should it be needed after Hurricane Isaac, expected to hit New Orleans on Wednesday.
Federal officials, working to avoid a repeat of the delayed post-Katrina aid, plan to use a new app to track disaster relief rather than a pen-and-paper process for people applying for help. Keep reading →
The federal government’s vast collection of searchable data has begun to feature information from city databases as part of the effort to increase transparency, promote efficiency and spur innovation.
Now, city officials and developers will work together to help improve the information available to city residents via the new ‘Cities’ Community as part of Data.gov. Databases are currently available for Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle, according to Jeanne Holm, GSA’s data.gov evangelist. Next up: Santa Cruz, Calif., Louisville and Atlanta. Keep reading →
Dr. Stephan Fihn is sitting on the edge of a revolution at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where big data is becoming easily accessible for clinicians and analysts throughout its 160 hospitals.
Fihn (pictured above) is director of Business Intelligence and Analytics for the Veterans Health Administration and a practicing physician at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, where he is helping to develop as well as benefiting from the VA’s big data warehouse. Keep reading →
Like many federal leaders today, Donald Kachman spends a lot of time thinking about security for the growing number of mobile devices in his agency.
And he’s coming up with solutions. Keep reading →
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently committed to a continued partnership with Microsoft Corp. to use emerging tools and technologies to harness the power of big data and drive efficiency, mobility and better service.
Spanning from the desktop to the data center and mobile devices, the renewed agreement will allow the VA to analyze big data the department has been unable to evaluate in the past. It also means continued investment in a groundbreaking data warehousing/big data analytics initiative. Keep reading →
Just five months into the role, it appears Justin Herman is handily leading the government’s march toward a new communications model that includes agencies talking to each other virtually, collaborating on what tools to buy, finding free services and using the Internet to communicate with the public.
I like it when I move faster than the private sector.” – Justin Herman Keep reading →