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Citizen Data Academy
Introduction
The City-Parish Citizen Data Academy is a free, citizen-focused education and training series Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome launched in 2020. The series connects City-Parish technology and innovation subject-matter experts with Baton Rouge residents, helping participants understand and unlock the full power of City-Parish data — how to find it, what it includes, and how to use it to understand trends and improve quality of life in our community.
The inaugural Citizen Data Academy was held October–November 2020 and featured three sessions focused on beginner, intermediate, and expert topics.
In 2021, Mayor Broome announced an on-demand series of instructional, self-paced videos to help residents understand how to navigate and use the City-Parish’s vast data and GIS resources. These videos, which can be found below, are organized into categories, or modules, to help direct users to the topics that interest them the most — an Introduction to Open Data module that guides users through the structure and City-Parish's various data-related responses; a Community Planning module that features maps, tools, and dashboards involving land development and local community conditions; a Living in Baton Rouge module featuring tools and maps that help residents understand and engage with data that impacts daily quality of life; and a City-Parish Government module, which includes resources designed to enhance transparency into daily City-Parish operations, spending, and major capital programs. These videos can also be found on the City-Parish's YouTube channel.
Citizen Data Academy: On-Demand Series
Introduction to Open Data Module
Transparency Overview
This video provides an overview of the City-Parish's transparency initiative and introduces users to the City-Parish's various Open Data platforms and websites. It also introduces the four modules of the Citizen Data Academy.
How to Navigate Open Data BR
This video provides users with guidance and step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the City-Parish's first Open Data platform, Open Data BR.
How to Navigate EBRGIS
While Open Data BR primarily stores tabular data, our EBRGIS portal is specifically designed for displaying and analyzing location-based data. This video provides users with guidance and step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the City-Parish's second Open Data platform, EBRGIS.
How to Filter, Sort, and Export Data
Some of the most fundamental skills for users to master in our Open Data portals involve the ability to filter, sort, and export data. This video demonstrates the step-by-step process of how to do this in both Open Data BR and EBRGIS.
How to Make a Visualization
In addition to storing tabular data, our Open Data BR portal also gives users the ability to create their own visualizations from the data. These include bar charts, timelines, pie charts, and many more options. This video demonstrates how to use these capabilities.
How to Make a Map Using the EBRGIS Portal
In addition to displaying location-based data, our EBRGIS portal also gives users the ability to create their own maps. This video offers guidance on how to make new maps from existing data, and also introduces how to create new map layers from scratch.
How to Perform Basic Analysis in EBRGIS
By upgrading their ArcGIS Developer accounts, users can access a wide variety of useful analytic tools in ArcGIS Online that are not available in a free account. This video introduces some of the most common tools and demonstrates the process of how to use them.
How to Connect to Our APIs
APIs offer uses the ability to connect software directly to our datasets in Open Data BR. This video introduces what they are and the process of using them with your own software. The example here shows how to connect to OData in Excel 2013.
Community Planning Module
Planning and Land Development Map
One of our most popular web apps, this application combines planning applications into one integrated experience. This video walks users through the maps' tools and functions.
Land Development Application Search Tool
The Land Development Application Search Tool (LDAST) is an online interactive mapping application designed to make it easier for the public to find detailed information about planning and zoning cases. This video takes users through a step-by-step demonstration of how to use this tool.
Blighted Property Dashboard
The Blighted Property Dashboard displays the seven types of blighted property 311 citizen service requests, and is a helpful tool to track blight in your area. This video demonstrates how to use this resource.
311 Dashboard
The 311 Citizen Requests for Service Dashboard displays information about all 311 requests submitted to the City-Parish within the last 365 days. It is a helpful tool to track the progress of service requests in your area. This video shows users how to navigate this resource.
Flood Hazards
This tool can provide useful information about local flood zones and drainage basins, whether you're a citizen concerned about your property or a land developer. Users can view flood hazard area boundaries and other flood- or drainage-related layers to overlay with property data in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Living in Baton Rouge Module
My Government Services
The new Governmental Functions web experience consolidates many of our existing web maps into one convenient application. It provides a variety of local, state, and federal government-related information for East Baton Rouge Parish. This video shows how to use this resource in detail.
Lookup Tools
Our EBRGIS portal features seven Lookup Tools designed to help answer common questions from citizens in a quick and convenient way, from census information to road closures, and more. This video demonstrates how to use these resources.
Story Maps
Story Maps are interactive web applications that tell a narrative about our city and parish by combining text, images, and other multimedia content with maps. This video showcases some of our Story Maps in detail. You can explore them all in the gallery of the EBRGIS map portal.
Emergency Information Map
The City-Parish offers many emergency information resources, compatible with your computer and mobile device. Among these is our Emergency Information Map, which is an application used for displaying sandbag and shelter locations, as well as points of distribution (POD) during inclement weather events. This video demonstrates how to use the application in detail.
Open Neighborhood BR
This application allows you to quickly understand what’s happening around your home or business at any given time with its user-friendly map interface, and it lets you stay up-to-date with email alerts you can easily customize through this platform. This video takes users through a step-by-step demonstration of how to use this resource.
BRPD Crime Trends Analysis Dashboard
The BRPD Crime Trends Analysis Dashboard displays summary statistics and recent trends by crime category in the city of Baton Rouge. This video shows how to use this tool in detail.
City-Parish Government Module
Open Budget BR
This web application is designed to help foster a clear understanding of the annual budget for the City-Parish and encourage the transparency of government. Open Budget BR assists users in learning more about how revenues are used and resources are prioritized to help fund the critical services, programs, and initiatives City-Parish residents rely upon daily. This video takes users through a step-by-step demonstration of how to use this resource.
Open Checkbook BR
This web application records City-Parish spending across all departments, down to the level of each individual check. This transparency allows citizens to monitor government spending and ensure it is being managed responsibly. This video demonstrates how to use the application in detail.
Drainage and Stormwater Map
The Drainage and Stormwater app helps users visualize and understand how stormwater moves throughout our parish, and it provides real-time insights on water levels in our major streams. This app helps all residents know where our community is most at risk for flooding, and helps support effective data-driven decisions to protect our homes and families during severe weather events.
MOVEBR Story Map
The MOVEBR Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Program is the most significant transportation infrastructure investment in the history of East Baton Rouge Parish. The Open Data team has created the MOVEBR Story Map as a convenient and interactive way to explore this information on your computer or mobile device. This video shows how to use this resource in detail.
American Rescue Plan Drainage Projects Dashboard
In March 2021, Congress passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which provides one-time funding for many programs and services nationwide, including assistance to state and local governments. The City-Parish plans to spend approximately one third of its ARPA funding towards improving issues with our existing infrastructure for collecting and conveying stormwater. The ARP Drainage Projects Dashboard was created to allow citizens to easily monitor the progress of this work. This video shows how to use this tool in detail.
Governmental Functions
The new Governmental Functions web experience consolidates many of our existing web maps into one convenient application. It provides a variety of local, state, and federal government-related information for East Baton Rouge Parish. This video shows how to use this resource in detail.