Alexandra Barker Data Dissemination Specialist & Media Relations – Census API & CitySDK: Bridging the Data Gap

AGENDA Census Bureau Programs and Datasets available Census API CitySDK Case Studies

What Does the Census Bureau Do?

Programs Decennial Census Every 10 years, Counts Residents American Community Survey (ACS) Annual Social, Economic and Housing data Other Surveys and Censuses Current Population Survey Crime and Victimization Survey Health Interview Survey Consumer Expenditure Survey Population Estimates Economic Census

Problems we are trying to solve

Census.gov/developers

Census Data Census data is sitting on a server, accessible via the internet The interface is documented in an API Software developer registers for a Census key, and can then make programmatic calls to obtain the data that is needed Step 1 - How the Census API Works Background

1. Make a “Request” (you can do this in a browser): &get=PCT012A015,PCT012A119&for=state:01 2. Receive a “Response” back from server (you can do this in a browser): Step 2 - How the Census API Works Create an API call to retrieve specific datapoint White population of 12 year olds in Alabama

Step 3 - How the Census API Works Putting it all together – lots of power but requires some expertise 1. FIPS lookup 2. Dataweb 1ca50e1a3e22cf2b c ec&get=PCT012A015,PCT012A119&for =state:01 3. Geocoder der/locations/onelineaddress?address= 4600+Silver+Hill+Rd%2C+Suitland%2 C+MD+20746&benchmark=9&format=j son 4. TIGERweb services est/services/Census2010/Tracts_Block s/MapServer/0

Step 4 - How the Census API Works Simplification with CitySDK:

CitySDK and Community Engagement Alexandra Barker Data Dissemination Specialist & Media Relations –

1.Set of javascript tools, guides, and examples on Github to build web applications 2.Enhances usability and access to Census data through public APIs 3.Streamline how open data is used to build apps for cities through open-source tools 4.Support rural communities through USDA integration 5.Foster an ecosystem to improve interoperability across data silos at federal and local level What is the CitySDK

Open-Source Project

Build – Measure - Learn

How it Works: Technical Capabilities

Before: Washington DC Population Example (Census ACS API) After: CitySDK Benefits to user when using CitySDK: ●Abstracts multi-API requests into a single call. ●Allows for the aliasing of common variables. ●Modular architecture supports integrating other APIs 1. Get Washington, D.C.’s FIPS code by co-ordinates using the GeoCoder API 2. Determine the appropriate variable (ex: B06011_001E) from a list of every variable in the ACS 3. Request the data for that specific variable and FIPS combination. 4. Extract the data from the response. 1. Build your request in a JSON object 2. Issue the request to the SDK 3. Handle the response object Improving Access to Census Data

Getting Started with CitySDK

Acquiring Census Data Example of simple request for State of Maryland geography

Interactive Docs and Partner Integrations

Combining Federal and Local Data Uses Census ACS data with Crime data from the City of Chicago

Case Studies

Open Data Solutions National Challenge

Case Study: Purshable

Case Study: “AirBNB for Tech Spaces”

Where to go for more information Census Developer Portal: CitySDK Project Page: Submit a Github issue: s

Appendix

CitySDK Overview American Community Survey CitySDK Modules User’s Application Census USDA DOE HUD ESRI Socrata Farmer’s Market Energy Information Agency Geocoder API TIGERweb Socrata Open Data Portal ArcGIS Open Data HUD APIs JSON Request JSON data, GeoJSON geography

Serves My City Ingredients 1.Publically available data 2.Free Mapping Tools 3.Census API 4.CitySDK Directions 1.Publically available data - Start with data that’s readily available for you city, and if you need inspiration on what to build view the “Help Wanted” section from Code for America. 2.Free Mapping Tools - You don’t need expensive software to build powerful civic tech apps. Use common data formats and open-source tools with developer-friendly terms of service. 3.CitySDK – Use the CitySDK to combine local and federal datasets, and to easily access Census geographic, population, demographic, and economic data for mapping applications. Recipe for Civic Tech Apps