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New Updates to GIS Info Via E-notify

Posted on by Matt Richardson

This came from our friends at UWM. Thanks UWM GIS listserv and Bill Huxhold for passing this info on.

In an effort to keep our users informed and current about City of Milwaukee GIS information available via the internet, the GIS group has created a new E-Notify category called Map Milwaukee News.

We will be utilizing E-Notify to distribute a Map Milwaukee newsletter, which will contain news and information about City of Milwaukee GIS resources available via the Map Milwaukee Portal.  Resources represented in the newsletter include web map applications, GIS web services, and downloadable GIS data.  We will also use the e-notify service to keep you informed in the case of planned downtime, technical difficulties or other time-pertinent information.

E-Notify is the City of Milwaukee’s e-mail notification system, where users can choose to receive information from a number of different categories.  Map Milwaukee News is listed under the “Information  Updates” category.

To sign up for E-Notify:

  1. Sign in or create an account: http://itmdapps.milwaukee.gov/login/login/signin.jsp
  2. From the Milwaukee.gov E-Services page, select “E-Notify” from the list on the left.
  3. Select the category(s) for which you would like to receive e-mails. (Map Milwaukee News is listed under Information Updates)
  4. Click “Update Notification” at the top or bottom of the page.

Feel free to share this information with anyone you think would like to receive information about Map Milwaukee.

Update from the White House: Data is a Valuable Economic Driver

Posted on by Matt Richardson

Thanks to Greg Meier over at VETransfer for shooting this my way. This is a great first step for any government entity looking to push open data: a statement of how valuable data is to their economic development plan. This could be something Milwaukee could emulate in its own way. Read on:

Earlier today, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing his administration to take historic steps to make government-held data more accessible to the public and to entrepreneurs and others as fuel for innovation and economic growth.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Executive Order declares that information is a valuable resource and strategic asset for the nation.
  • Newly generated government data will be required to be made available in open, machine-readable format by default — enhancing their accessibility and usefulness, and ensuring privacy and security.
  • These executive actions will allow entrepreneurs and companies to take advantage of this information — fueling economic growth in communities across the Nation.

Watch this short video and find out more about today’s announcement:

Watch the video

Thank you again for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing the growing public good that will be created by entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators like you as you use an expanding supply of open data to fuel new products and services, launch new businesses, and fuel job growth across America.

All the best,

Todd

Todd Park
Chief Technology Officer
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The White House

MDI Featured on WUWM Lake Effect

Posted on by Matt Richardson

On May 2nd, WUWM’s Amy Kiley interviewed Matt Richardson about MDI and what open data means for the City and County. It’s pretty short, but we’re excited that we are finally getting some press on this issue!

Link to Original Post

The Audio:

The Synopsis:
Lake Effect | May 2, 2013

The Milwaukee Data Initiative advocates for the standardization and use of public information. For businesses, this data could mean efficiency and growth. For average folks, it could mean finding a parking spot or catching the bus on time.

Yesterday, MDI began helping with a competition through BuildHealth that asks people to create data-based healthcare innovations. The challenge culminates June 1 on the National Day of Civic Hacking. That’s “hacking” as in computer programming, not illegal activity, and even the White House is taking part.

“It’s the simple things that really will enhance every day civic life. Those are the kinds of data sets we really want to encourage people to open up and use,” MDI founder Matt Richardson explains.

“[Open data] makes it easier for people to do things that create economic development, like build an app or a website, or some other sort of innovative tool that can be used to promote the start up of a business, or enhancement of an existing business.”