We’re excited to announce an upcoming hackathon centered around Equitable Mapping, where participants will collaborate to create innovative prototypes for maps that enhance the accessibility and usability of New York City’s Open Data.

The Goal

How might we enable data-driven storytelling to drive change in a community, through equitable mapping?

The goal of this project is to empower developers, designers, data scientists, and community members to propose topics and important issues that tells a story based on data and research.

By leveraging publicly available datasets, we aim to develop a platform that help New Yorkers engage with data, make informed decisions, and provide supporting evidence to highlight existing issues that affect their communities.

Product Idea

A map visualizer platform where researchers designers or anyone in the community can submit a proposal to visualize maps they would like to contribute.

Hackathon Day Schedule: Great Dane

Onboarding Doc

Open Tasks: Dev Team

Office Hours

What’s the goal of the hackathon?

The goal of this hackathon is to improve the experience of our existing **prototype.** Ideally the map will incorporate key indicators from NYC’s Open Data portal, allowing users to understand and interact with information in new, meaningful ways.

Why Participate?

Participating in this hackathon offers more than just a chance to innovate in the civic tech space—it’s an opportunity to make a real difference in how New Yorkers interact with their city. As a participant, you will:

• Have the opportunity to showcase your project and have it used by the city’s residents and organizations to solve real-world challenges.
• Contribute to making NYC’s data more accessible and usable for everyone.
• Lend your expertise as researchers and designers to democratize access to NYC’s data

Who should participate?

We welcome participants from all backgrounds— developer, designer, data scientist, community organizer, or just someone passionate about making data more accessible are welcome. We’re particularly interested in solutions that take an equitable approach to presenting and engaging with data. Teams can be composed of a minimum of at least 2-4 members.

Proposing an Equitable Mapping project

1. Data Understanding & Problem Solving:

   • Does the prototype improve a user’s ability to understand a specific NYC Open Data dataset? Think about how your map design could clarify complex datasets or make them more accessible to a broader audience.
   • Does your project help New Yorkers answer pressing questions or solve community-based problems using the data? This could include helping residents make decisions related to health, safety, housing, education, and more.

2. Present an initial design proposal

   • It’s not just about the map; it’s about refining the data story and why you are curious to dive into specific themes.
   • By the end of the hackathon, you will have pitched your idea and the topic you’ve chosen. Provide a clear instructional overview of your project, including a breakdown of the datasets used, the analytics process, and design decisions.

3. Stretch goal: Visualize your chosen data using Tableau.

   • The map and data presentation should feature compelling, intuitive, and easy-to-understand visuals. Consider a variety of design elements like color schemes, navigation, and layout that would best serve the target users.
   • Keep accessibility in mind—ensure the map is designed in a way that can be easily understood by all users, including those with disabilities.

   Themes and Focus Areas

   Participants can choose from a variety of NYC Open Data themes to base their projects on. Some potential focus areas could include:

   • Affordable Housing & Gentrification: Create a map that helps residents understand neighborhood changes over time, access to affordable housing, and potential areas at risk of displacement.
   • Environmental Justice: Build a map that highlights air quality, green spaces, and environmental hazards to help communities track environmental health risks.
   • Public Health & Safety: Create visualizations that track health disparities, vaccination rates, or crime data across different neighborhoods to give residents insights into local health and safety issues.

How to Get Involved

To participate, simply sign up through the event website and start brainstorming ideas for your project. Whether you're working individually or as part of a team, we encourage you to dive into NYC Open Data’s resources and explore the datasets available for mapping.

👉 Get your tickets here: https://opensprints-civictech.eventbrite.com/ Application Instructions

Stay tuned for more event details, including the exact date, registration process, and additional resources to help you get started!