Analytics

Red tides, caused by the Karenia brevis organism, occur naturally in the Gulf of Mexico each year. However, the blooms can be intensified by human nutrient pollution along the coast, but social media info can help.

The latest Global Traffic Scorecard by INRIX highlights interesting trends in traffic congestion and mobility around the world as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the way people work and travel.

Plus, Illinois Tech team develops environmentally sound digital currency; the National League of Cities unveils a new digital equity playbook; Washington approves $44.6 million of broadband grants; and more.

A Pittsburgh city staffer took it upon himself and his dog, Porter, to map the city’s recreation areas on their daily walks. With a GPS unit in tow, the pair created an open data portal residents can use to find trails.

Last weekend, the Maryland Department of Health took its website offline after cyber criminals attacked the site. The site has been restored since, and officials say no data was stolen.

An analysis by AL.com found that smart use of student data helped 43 Alabama schools improve grades and test scores, for example by grouping students by skill level and informing personalized learning plans.

Federal researchers have connected with utility provider EPB's fiber network that runs both its smart electric grid and a citywide high-speed broadband Internet network to find ways to defend the national power grid.

Using data from an annual report, the Tennessee Department of Education's online dashboard reflects student demographics, standardized test proficiency, teacher salaries, per pupil funding and other metrics.

The nonprofit has created online training courses to teach K-12 educators about data management and literacy, so they can implement industry data standards that will make student performance metrics more useful.

Plus, Rhode Island is investing $1.7 million worth of grants into Internet expansion efforts for that state, and the USDA has started to accept applications for its own grants to overcome rural broadband challenges.

Researchers have long known that communities of color, which tend to be lower income, are more vulnerable to air pollution. A new study using Google Street View cars quantifies the exact size of those disparities.

To support its goals and revitalize neighborhoods, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development uses GIS and location data that keeps records up to date and transparent for all stakeholders.

As use of new technology by government continues to increase, experts and advocates in the space say that public servants should be keenly aware of the potential to exacerbate long-standing biases.

A California Environmental Protection Agency tool gives certain areas an "economically disadvantaged" label for funding. But stakeholders in San Francisco argue the tool is keeping money from communities that need it.

Plus, GAO discusses value of a federal academy for developing a pipeline of new tech talent, and the Federal Communications Commission seeks comments on its new affordable connectivity program.

A report finds that only 71% of residents in Joplin, Mo., have a broadband connection, a number well below the national average of 87%. Joplin knows it can't become a smart city with this kind of gap.

This week, the city of Philadelphia released its Open Data Dashboard, a platform that displays recently published data sets to increase transparency and to serve as a resource for other organizations.

District administrators at Norman Public Schools are unsure what to make of fallen test scores that are still above state average, and up from 2019 at several schools that hit 95 percent participation.