In a major step to creating a more open and transparent city government, Mayor Faulconer announced the launch of a new open data portal that will give the public and software developers easy access to frequently requested information, such as solar panel permits issued and water quality or parking meter statistics.

Data from the portal could be used to develop apps or visualize thousands of pieces of spreadsheet information in an easy to understand format, providing new insight about how the City functions. The 44 datasets available are the first to be released after the City asked the public to vote on which of the City’s datasets should be prioritized. More datasets will be made available in the coming months, and users can sign up to receive updates when new data become available at data.sandiego.gov. Developers are encouraged to share their apps or visualizations so the City can highlight their work.