Re: Digest for hackforwesternma@googlegroups.com - 2 Messages in 1 Topic

[Glen Ayers]

Hi Hackers,

I would like to lobby for continuing work on the Massachusetts Private Well data project that we worked on at the Hackathon in June. I am particularly interested in using the Google Fusion Tables approach that was somewhat successful, but initiated late on Sunday and not fully developed. Unfortunately our team spent most of our time setting up a very complicated, though robust, database server on Heroku that I have no idea how to use or access. But the Google option was much more simple, elegant, and could be something that might more easily be transferable to other towns across the state.

I have had several inquiries from other towns interested in the Private Well database, but at this point I really can't easily explain how someone would set up a similar system. It needs more refinement and maybe some simple instructions for use. Another thing I would like to add is the ability to capture water quality test report parameters and be able to map the water quality that is reported. Water Testing Labs can provide the info in standard formats that can be imported in to a database. Eventually, I would like the MA DEP or DPH to track water quality, but I think we need to show them that it can be done with private wells.

I think that a more developed project would be able to attract project grant funding from the state or Fed Gov (EPA,FDA, or CDC) that would allow a project like this to really make some significant impact on regional planning and public health.

If you would like to discuss this concept with me, please reply or call my cell phone number.

Thanks,

Glen

GLEN A. AYERS, R.S., C.H.O., Regional Health Agent

Massachusetts Registered Sanitarian # 1318

Serving Buckland, Charlemont, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, and Monroe

Franklin County Cooperative Public Health Service

c/o Franklin Regional  Council of Governments

12 Olive Street, Greenfield, MA 01301

Phone 413-774-3167 x106, Fax 413-774-3169

Cell 413-834-5729  glen...@frcog.org

On Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 12:31 PM, <hackforw...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/hackforwesternma/topics

• Open Data Day 2014 [2 Updates]

 Open Data Day 2014

Neal Bastek <neal....@okfn.org> Dec 17 11:45AM -0800  

Hello all,
 
Wondering if anyone is interested in organizing an event for Open Data Day
2014? http://opendataday.org/
 
I'm employed by the Open Knowledge Foundation and we're doing some work to
support the international organizing for the effort, but I'd really love a
chance to connect and make something happen locally.
 
I regrettably missed the National Day of Civic Hacking this summer, perhaps
there's a project from then that could use some more love and attention?
 
If anyone would like more information about the event or has an idea for
something we could chew on that day please get in touch.
 
All the best,
Neal
 
Neal Bastek
Digital Engagement Director | skype: nealbastek | @nbastek<https://twitter.com/nbastek>
The Open Knowledge Foundation <http://okfn.org>
*Empowering through Open Knowledge*
<http://okfn.org/>


 

Becky Sweger <bsw...@gmail.com> Dec 18 09:34AM -0500  

Hi Neal,
 
Thanks for getting in touch with the group--so great that someone from OKFN
works here in Western Mass.
 
I love the idea of local participation in Open Data Day. Because there's
the Polar Hack <http://www3.amherst.edu/~aanderson/polarhack/> in January
and, I think, an upcoming NERDs <http://nerdsummit.org/> event, maybe it
would be ideal to keep things simple in February? If we go the simple
route, I can help organize.
 
An unfinished project from June that comes immediately to mind is Community
Action Maps <http://hackforwesternmass.org/mapping-safety-net-needs>, which
some of us have committed to helping along, though we haven't really
organized. (Prototype
here<http://hackforwesternmass.github.io/community-action-maps/#>,
code here <https://github.com/hackforwesternmass/community-action-maps>).
 
Anyone else have a suggestion?
 
Best,
Becky
 
 
 
 
--
I like the internet:
http://about.me/beckysweger


 

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[Becky Sweger]

Glen, Neal, and everyone...

Since there won't be a hackathon during MLK weekend (and I haven't publicly said this, but a big thanks to Andy and team for putting in the time and energy needed to explore the possibility)....

Is there interest in working on Glen's private well mapping project during International Open Data day (Sat. 2/22)? I had a great conversation with Neal, from Open Knowledge Foundation, and we talked about keeping it simple--a small team coming together for a day to see what we can get done. 

I'm game, but for this to be successful, I think we'd need Glen and/or someone who was involved with the Fusion Table approach to the well mapping challenge.

-Becky

[Molly McLeod]

Code for America is also organizing Code Across, a weekend of hackathon events, that same weekend. Sort of seems like a mini-NDoCH. Not to make it more complicated than it needs to be, just another opportunity for using their resources, etc!

http://www.codeforamerica.org/codeacross-2014/

M

Molly McLeod

www.mollymcleod.com

[Lou Franco]

Can you remind me of the project?

[Becky Sweger]

It was the well mapping project: http://hackforwesternmass.org/map-wells-track-water-quality.

Essentially, the problem is that many private wells in Franklin County aren't mapped, which causes a multitude of problems, some of which are pretty expensive and time consuming for towns to fix.

IIRC, by the end of June's hackathon, the team had come up with a workable solution for Glen using Fusion Tables and Google Maps--just didn't have time to flesh it out.

-Becky

On Wed, Jan 15, 2014 at 1:28 PM, Lou Franco <loumf...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can you remind me of the project?

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