San Francisco 'opens' city data to app developers

The city of San Francisco today announced the launch of DataSF.org, an effort to build a publicly accessible database of machine-readable, API-accessible government data that could be used by developers to create new applications. So-called mashup apps are becoming increasingly popular as developers mix and match Web sites like Google Maps and platforms like the iPhone to build information-rich applications. For instance, developers could use the DataSF.org database to combine city crime data and apartment listings to help renters find a safe location or integrate restaurant inspection data into a review site to rate restaurants by their health code ratings.

At least one app is already available. EcoFinder is an iPhone application that helps residents recycle based on their location. It was built using recycling data released by the city's Department of Energy.

The DataSF.org site, now live, includes datasets in a variety of categories, including elections, environment, geography, health, housing, public safety, public works and transportation. Users can search for datasets as well as add tags, ratings and comments to the available data. There's also an option to request new or additional sets of data. The initial version of DataSF.org includes more than 100 datasets, from a range of city departments, including the San Francisco Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the Municipal Transportation Agency.

"The idea behind the site is to open up San Francisco government and tap into the creative expertise of our greatest resource -- our residents," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom wrote in a blog post announcing the site. "We hope DataSF.org will create a torrent of innovation similar to when the developer community was given access to the platforms behind popular technologies and devices like Facebook and Apple's iPhone."

DataSF.org is part of a larger Open Gov Initiative for the city and county of San Francisco, which focuses on open data, open participation and open source. The City´s effort to improve access to government data has already led to the creation of new software applications.

San Francisco hasn't given up on building municipal networks either. Its latest vision: a proposal for 360 solar-powered, WiMax-enabled bus stops that would provide public wireless broadband services throughout the city, slated for sometime in 2013.