Case Summary

The District of Columbia provides an online Citywide Data Warehouse allowing for real-time Real Simple Syndication, extensible markup language and ATOM Web publishing standard feeds that dramatically increase the data's potential to highlight relationships, trends and other areas in time to affect service delivery. The feeds are compiled from more than 150 datasets, ranging from crime reports to pothole complaints. Surveillance mashups can monitor the status of road repairs while datasets on adult and juvenile crime, home sales, and alcohol permits provide other useful insight. To date, Washington's Citywide Data Warehouse site lacks an easy-to-understand user guide or a central site where citizen mashups could be displayed, categorized, discussed and compared, but these improvements are certainly possible.

Business Challenge

The District of Columbia was searching for a way to improve service delivery, drive efficiencies, enhance public safety, and reduce costs.

Approach Taken

The District of Columbia established the Citywide Data Warehouse (CityDW), which aims to provide real-time data as incidents occur and events unfold, allowing city decision makers to act quickly and make tactical decisions. City DW has three components: infrastructure, tools, and analysts. With regard to Infrastructure, CityDW uses technology to build bridges across business systems thoughout the district, allowing different data applications to be shared within individual agencies and also agency-to-agency. The site also offers user friendly tools to allow information to be gathered and delivered to DC employees and the public. Finally, CityDW relies on a staff of analysts that identify important events and information; analyze data; assemble trends; and provide potential action steps to city managers.

Results Achieved

CityDW has compiled more than 150 datasets, ranging from crime reports to home sales to pothole complaints. Surveillance mashups have successfully monitored the status of road repairs as well as other on-going projects.

Lessons Learned

Washington's CityDW still lacks an easy-to-understand user guide or a central site where citizen mashups are displayed, categorized, discussed and compared. All of these additions, however, could be easily developed.