Cambridge Launches Online Open Data Training Guide: New Tool Aims to Empower the Public

The City of Cambridge has released a new interactive Open Data User Guide aimed at teaching residents and other public stakeholders how to effectively leverage Cambridge’s Open Data Portal, CambridgeMA.gov/OpenData. The user guide was built by the City using an innovative and easy-to-use software that will help create interactive, online trainings for internal and external stakeholders.

“Over the past few years, we have made substantial progress in using data to be more transparent, efficient, and innovative.” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Our Open Data Portal has become an essential tool for employees and the public to understand the City and has also enabled us to better support the well-being of Cambridge residents and stakeholders. This new training module will allow even more residents to engage with the City data.”

“Public engagement is an important part of Cambridge’s open data efforts. By providing residents with easy-to-access, interactive instructions for using our Open Data Portal, we increase the number of data users helping us to be more innovative and efficient,” said Josh Wolff, Data Analytics & Open Data Program Manager.

The guide teaches users how to find, explore, filter, analyze, and visualize Cambridge’s municipal open datasets. After completing the training, users will be able to use the Open Data Portal to create line graphs, pie charts, and bar charts to analyze 311 service requests and other important municipal information. The user guide also links residents with other sources of municipal data and with more advanced instructions for creating open data applications.

“Cambridge’s Information Technology Department invests in training resources like this Open Data User Guide because we are dedicated to ensuring that our residents and our employees have the knowledge and skills necessary to make use of Cambridge’s online applications and other technology offerings,” said Eric Belford, Assistant Director of Information Technology.

Cambridge Open Data is free public data published by City of Cambridge departments. Open data creates transparency into City operations, enables residents to contribute to civic innovation, and provides local businesses with important data on the local economy. The datasets on the Cambridge Open Data Portal can be explored, downloaded, analyzed or visualized with graphs, charts, and maps.

The interactive training is available on the Cambridge Open Data User Guide webpage, CambridgeMA.gov/OpenDataGuide.

For more information, contact Josh Wolff, Data Analytics & Open Data Program Manager at jwolff@cambridgema.gov.