What Happened?
Thanks to the advancement of GPS technology and other data collecting resources, interactive maps are becoming more accessible to both officials and residents seeking real-time information on local community activity.
Chicago
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning recently launched an interactive map compiled of regional statistics on the condition of local infrastructure such as roadways. The goal of the open-data platform map is to provide voters with key insight into what public resources are in the most need of maintenance and repairs. If the public has a better understanding of the backlogged infrastructure demands, there could be a stronger push for capital improvement programs in the future.
The interactive map is able to quantify the repair demands of various infrastructure based on a variety of statistics updated in real-time including:
- Transit ridership along various routes
- Access to public transportation
- Transportation delays
- Structurally deficient assets such as bridges
- Walkability and connectivity of neighborhoods
- Frequency of pedestrian and rider routes
- Scaled rankings of roadway quality
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning opted to illustrate key infrastructure information via an interactive map as a way to make the information easier to digest while highlighting trends or patterns throughout the region, CityLab reported.
PlaceILive.com
A new startup is collecting open data from cities and social media information to create an interactive map that measures a community’s livability. PlaceILive.com aims to provide individuals with up-to-date information about a specific neighborhood surrounding an apartment or home they care considering moving into, CityLab reported.
Rather than sort through a variety of open data websites to learn the ins and outs of a specific community, users can browse relevant information on a single platform. The map offers a quality-of-life metric to assist users in finding not only the perfect housing unit but also community to live in based on a variety of factors such as:
- Access to transportation
- Crime rates
- Environmental conditions
- Affordability
- Commercial businesses
- Other amenities
The map is built upon public information from a growing number of sources such as public transportation agencies, police departments and the U.S. Census. Each address has an overall quality-of-life score generated, as well as individual metrics for different aspects of livability such as health, safety and entertainment.
LA
The Getty Conservation Institute and the city of Los Angeles are launching the HistoricPlacesLA.org website featuring an interactive map and digital inventory that contextualizes cultural heritage sites throughout the region. Users can search the website for cultural experiences and historic places by neighborhood or categories, helping connect a growing population with all the artistic amenities the city has to offer, The LA Times reported.
Currently, the map and digital inventory house 25,000 resources including:
- Historic districts
- Historic preservation overlay zones
- Historic cultural monuments
- Places designated by the National Register of Historic Places
Furthermore, developers can use the interactive map to identify potential roadblocks in future projects and alter plans to complete their work while preserving historic assets and neighborhoods. As part of the initial planning process, the information can improve efficiency and accelerate developments across the city, The LA Times reported.
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