If you are participating in a hackathon or just looking to do something amazing with open data, here are some quick ways to get started.
Find the Data
To find the data you need:
- Search the catalog at Data.gov, which includes some local government and universities as well. If you need help searching, here are some tips.
- More local data can be found for cities, counties, and states.
- Having trouble finding the data you need? Tweet @usdatagov or contact us.
- Looking for data beyond the Data.gov catalog? Post a question to the Open Data Stack Exchange.
If you make an app, visualization, map, or activity with open data, post it below. Best of luck!
Answer a Challenge
Challenges from the U.S. government are available at Challenge.gov. Specifically for open data, check out:
- Asteroid Detection (NASA)
- Coastal Inundation (NASA)
- Harmful Algal Bloom (Environmental Protection Agency)
- Highway Performance Monitoring System (Federal Highways, Department of Transportation)
- Innovative Access to Education Data (Department of Education)
- Interactive API Explorer (Federal Emergency Management Administration)
- Location Affordability Portal (Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation)
- Patent Application Publication Notification System (U.S. Patents and Trade Office)
- Safety Data Challenge (White House Safety Data Initiative at Safety.Data.gov)
- TradeMark Notification System (U.S. Patents and Trade Office)
Looking for Inspiration?
Not sure where to get started? Some suggestions for interesting datasets and APIs, may inspire you…
Highlighted Data
- Consumer Complaints about financial products and services (interactive version)
- Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
- Institute of Museum and Library Services administrative grants
- Location affordability index for housing and transportation
- Museum Universe of all museums in the U.S.
- Public library service of all public libraries in the U.S.
- Newly released datasets–be the first to create something!
APIs
- Department of Labor
- Envirofacts for environmental information
- Federal Register for government notices, rules, and Presidential documents
- National broadband map
- National Renewable Energy Lab for energy data
- Pillbox for drug identification and reference
- Recalls for consumer products
- Regulations.gov for public comments and proposed rules
- USA.gov for government information and services
- An additional 450 APIs from the U.S. Government
Participate in an Event
There are 123 events around the country. The following are specifically organized around Federal activities:
- Transparency Camp – May 30-31, Arlington, VA
- Northern Virginia and National Science Foundation Hackathon – May 31, Arlington, VA
- We the People, By the People – May 29, White House, Washington DC
- Transportation Datapalooza – June 2-4, Arlington, VA
- Health Datapalooza – June 1-3, Washington DC
- Lean Data Project Development Census Event – May 27, Washington DC
Learn more about how the Federal government supports the National Civic Day of Hacking.