Organizations sharing data in a way that is very accessible

A few weeks ago, I posted about how you can share data in such a terrible way that one is not breaking the law, but the data is completely unusable.

This makes me think of all the times I am irked when someone states a problem but doesn't offer a solution to the problem. Instead, they just talk about what is wrong and not how it could be.

So, as a counter piece, let's cheer on organizations that ARE sharing data in a way that is readily accessible. You could use this in class as a palate cleanser if you teach your students about data obfuscation. You could also use it as a way of helping your students understand how data really is everywhere. Or even challenge them to brainstorm an app that uses readily accessible data in a new way to help folks. 

Pro-Publica

This website lets you check how often salmonella is found at different chicken processing plants.

All you need to do is enter the p-number, company, or location listed on your package of chicken:

https://projects.propublica.org/chicken/establishments/P2882/?poultryType=chickenparts

Entering a code will generate a data visualization AND plain-English explanation of how much salmonella is typically found in a plant. Also, the data provides a median and a percentile score for every plant, making this an excellent way to review those concepts.

ProPublica also created a heat map showing the air pollution level for your area in the US.

https://projects.propublica.org/toxmap/

You can view the heat map for every location, but the area's cancer risk is explained in relative and absolute risk.

The Gas Buddy App

Less dramatically, The Gas Buddy website/app created a group-sourced website for tracking gas prices in your area. 

https://www.gasbuddy.com/

Flight Radar 24

Several different websites sort out publically available flight tracking data.

For instance, at FlightRadar24, you can track any flight you want. Shout out to my dad, who often follows my flights. Because he was in the Air Force for 20 years, and that is his love language. 

NOTE: Many, many websites provide this kind of data. FlightRadar24 is just one of them.

Google Maps

Google Maps also uses user data to tell you how crowded a place is. Which is great for me; I hate crowds and lines. This was initially aimed at helping people time their trips to avoid exposure to COVID, but it is also great for misanthropes. 

The Washington Post

Finally, The Washington Post sued to gain access to piles and piles of data about the manufacturing and selling of painkillers during the height of the opioid epidemic. After they got the data, they made a significant, searchable database. Unfortunately, it is behind a pay wall, but you can read my previous post about that database here: The Washington Post's search page for all of the information you could ever want about who got rich during the Opioid Crisis.