Application Ideas for Open Data
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David Eaves
Jul 13, 2009, 8:09:49 PM7/13/09
to Vancouver Data
Hi everyone - I'm starting this thread to get people to post
application ideas that they'd like to see coded up. For example a few
weeks ago I blogged about <a href=http://eaves.ca/2009/06/29/how-open-
data-even-makes-garbage-collection-sexier-easier-and-cheaper/comment-
page-1/#comment-419196>a garbage collection app</a> that Luke & Kevin
have already begun to code up.
If you want exclusive ownership over your idea - this is probably not
the place to share. But if you want someone to talk your idea and run
with it -share it here. I suppose it would it would be nice is if the
person who eventually codes it up shares where they originally got the
idea from. Consider your idea here shared as Creative Commons
(attribution) licence.
Two things:
1) We may try to set up a hackathon to program some of these apps in
the fall
2) Please let me know if you end up/are hacking on some apps driven by
local data
So to kick it off - the application I'd like to see coded up is
actually an application that David Asher requested.
The Vancouver Public Library has said that it will share access to its
database. (I'm sure I can get the contact info for the right person if
someone nudges me). There is already a greasemonkey script that allows
a user who's looking at an Amazon webpage to see if the book they are
looking at is available in their local library (scripts exist for Palo
Alto and Seattle), I'd love it if someone tweaked the script so it
worked with the VPL.
Some sites where the script can be found:
http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#others
http://userscripts.org/scripts/review/1396
Plus someone has done it for Ottawa: http://userscripts.org/topics/21582
Cheers,
Dave
application ideas that they'd like to see coded up. For example a few
weeks ago I blogged about <a href=http://eaves.ca/2009/06/29/how-open-
data-even-makes-garbage-collection-sexier-easier-and-cheaper/comment-
page-1/#comment-419196>a garbage collection app</a> that Luke & Kevin
have already begun to code up.
If you want exclusive ownership over your idea - this is probably not
the place to share. But if you want someone to talk your idea and run
with it -share it here. I suppose it would it would be nice is if the
person who eventually codes it up shares where they originally got the
idea from. Consider your idea here shared as Creative Commons
(attribution) licence.
Two things:
1) We may try to set up a hackathon to program some of these apps in
the fall
2) Please let me know if you end up/are hacking on some apps driven by
local data
So to kick it off - the application I'd like to see coded up is
actually an application that David Asher requested.
The Vancouver Public Library has said that it will share access to its
database. (I'm sure I can get the contact info for the right person if
someone nudges me). There is already a greasemonkey script that allows
a user who's looking at an Amazon webpage to see if the book they are
looking at is available in their local library (scripts exist for Palo
Alto and Seattle), I'd love it if someone tweaked the script so it
worked with the VPL.
Some sites where the script can be found:
http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#others
http://userscripts.org/scripts/review/1396
Plus someone has done it for Ottawa: http://userscripts.org/topics/21582
Cheers,
Dave
Jennifer Bell
Jul 14, 2009, 10:58:15 AM7/14/09
to Vancouver Data
Here's one idea: Compared to other regions, Vancouver has terrific
access to drinking water quality information at a neighborhood level.
For instance, here:
http://vancouver.ca/engwaterquality_wa/index.cfm?fuseaction=WQ.ResultsForm&RegionID=24
However... there's still some way to go. It would be nice to see the
data made available in a feed, and contaminent levels graphed in ways
that allow people to see historical trends and/or easily compare
neighborhoods against each other. Also, if there are safety incident
summaries, like Ontario has here (see the water quality report pdf,
table 1 near the end):
http://www.ontario.ca/ONT/portal51/drinkingwater/DWPPlant?DWPQualityAction=displayPlant&plant=260001458&lang=en
Those could be shown on a map as part of a neighborhood quality
mashup.
Jennifer Bell
http://visiblegovernment.ca
> Some sites where the script can be found:http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#othershttp://userscripts.org/scripts/review/1396
access to drinking water quality information at a neighborhood level.
For instance, here:
http://vancouver.ca/engwaterquality_wa/index.cfm?fuseaction=WQ.ResultsForm&RegionID=24
However... there's still some way to go. It would be nice to see the
data made available in a feed, and contaminent levels graphed in ways
that allow people to see historical trends and/or easily compare
neighborhoods against each other. Also, if there are safety incident
summaries, like Ontario has here (see the water quality report pdf,
table 1 near the end):
http://www.ontario.ca/ONT/portal51/drinkingwater/DWPPlant?DWPQualityAction=displayPlant&plant=260001458&lang=en
Those could be shown on a map as part of a neighborhood quality
mashup.
Jennifer Bell
http://visiblegovernment.ca
Jennifer Bell
Jul 14, 2009, 11:07:57 AM7/14/09
to Vancouver Data
Also, you guys probably know that everyblock.com went open source
about 2 weeks ago:
http://www.everyblock.com/code/
That seems like a great place to start collecting neighborhood data
feeds.
Jennifer
http://visiblegovernment.ca
On Jul 14, 10:58 am, Jennifer Bell <jenni...@visiblegovernment.ca>
wrote:
> > Some sites where the script can be found:http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#others...
about 2 weeks ago:
http://www.everyblock.com/code/
That seems like a great place to start collecting neighborhood data
feeds.
Jennifer
http://visiblegovernment.ca
On Jul 14, 10:58 am, Jennifer Bell <jenni...@visiblegovernment.ca>
wrote:
> Here's one idea: Compared to other regions, Vancouver has terrific
> access to drinking water quality information at a neighborhood level.
> For instance, here:
>
> http://vancouver.ca/engwaterquality_wa/index.cfm?fuseaction=WQ.Result...
> access to drinking water quality information at a neighborhood level.
> For instance, here:
>
>
> However... there's still some way to go. It would be nice to see the
> data made available in a feed, and contaminent levels graphed in ways
> that allow people to see historical trends and/or easily compare
> neighborhoods against each other. Also, if there are safety incident
> summaries, like Ontario has here (see the water quality report pdf,
> table 1 near the end):
>
> http://www.ontario.ca/ONT/portal51/drinkingwater/DWPPlant?DWPQualityA...
> However... there's still some way to go. It would be nice to see the
> data made available in a feed, and contaminent levels graphed in ways
> that allow people to see historical trends and/or easily compare
> neighborhoods against each other. Also, if there are safety incident
> summaries, like Ontario has here (see the water quality report pdf,
> table 1 near the end):
>
>
> Those could be shown on a map as part of a neighborhood quality
> mashup.
>
> Jennifer Bellhttp://visiblegovernment.ca
> Those could be shown on a map as part of a neighborhood quality
> mashup.
>
Sue
Jul 14, 2009, 12:11:55 PM7/14/09
to Vancouver Data
This would also be useful with the Beach Water Quality data from
Vancouver Coastal Health, currently updated as a pdf. As I strolled by
Trout Lake last night, I wondered how close to "unsafe" the coliform
levels were.
Vancouver Coastal Health, currently updated as a pdf. As I strolled by
Trout Lake last night, I wondered how close to "unsafe" the coliform
levels were.
Archer
Jul 16, 2009, 10:40:58 PM7/16/09
to Vancouver Data
Hello,
I rattled off a list of data mapping ideas at the VanChangeCamp, I'm
not sure what happened to the list...
1) a
For those who have continence issues, a mobile application that shows
the user's proximity to the nearest public washroom would be a
blessing. I am certainly willing to start in on an iPhone app, if the
data is available, and look forward to anyone willing to collaborate.
1) b
The above app could be a good place to then introduce locations and
proximity of other municipal services. medical clinics, hospitals,
police & fire, community policing, shelters, on and on...
2)
I'm not sure this idea fits here, it's maybe the flip side to
fixmystreet.ca (great site!), I believe there would be value in
disclosing what projects (e.g. municipal) are receiving priority,
their cost, and reasons why they are ranked. Then it would be great to
allow the community to vote on the project list as a way of moving
popular projects up or down the list.
3)
It might be useful to see where (road) construction is impacting
traffic flow and allow users to plan their trips accordingly?
4)
In terms of knowing when news is breaking, would it be possible to
make calendar data of city councellors public? Of course other
officials' whereabouts would be of interest too.
One might raise security concerns, but there are often public meetings
that are well planned for the safety of attendees. It would do no harm
to allow this data into the public stream.
Plenty for now.
Thanks,
Dave
> Some sites where the script can be found:http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#othershttp://userscripts.org/scripts/review/1396
I rattled off a list of data mapping ideas at the VanChangeCamp, I'm
not sure what happened to the list...
1) a
For those who have continence issues, a mobile application that shows
the user's proximity to the nearest public washroom would be a
blessing. I am certainly willing to start in on an iPhone app, if the
data is available, and look forward to anyone willing to collaborate.
1) b
The above app could be a good place to then introduce locations and
proximity of other municipal services. medical clinics, hospitals,
police & fire, community policing, shelters, on and on...
2)
I'm not sure this idea fits here, it's maybe the flip side to
fixmystreet.ca (great site!), I believe there would be value in
disclosing what projects (e.g. municipal) are receiving priority,
their cost, and reasons why they are ranked. Then it would be great to
allow the community to vote on the project list as a way of moving
popular projects up or down the list.
3)
It might be useful to see where (road) construction is impacting
traffic flow and allow users to plan their trips accordingly?
4)
In terms of knowing when news is breaking, would it be possible to
make calendar data of city councellors public? Of course other
officials' whereabouts would be of interest too.
One might raise security concerns, but there are often public meetings
that are well planned for the safety of attendees. It would do no harm
to allow this data into the public stream.
Plenty for now.
Thanks,
Dave
Keith Grennan
Jul 17, 2009, 10:52:41 AM7/17/09
to Vancouver Data
Has someone taken on the greasemonkey VPL thing yet? I'd be happy to
help with that.
Keith
> Some sites where the script can be found:http://snarfed.org/space/palo+alto+library+amazon+greasemonkey#othershttp://userscripts.org/scripts/review/1396
help with that.
Keith
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