GIS Day 2025

Short Talk

From Data Portals to Community Platforms: Evolving Open Data

Keith Swavely & Rachel Weeden, Esri

15 min w/5 min Q, 9:25-9:45 am

Open data used to mean publishing files for download. Today, communities are moving beyond that—turning data into stories, dashboards, and interactive resources that support real initiatives and help residents, journalists, and policymakers make informed decisions. This brief session examines how the next generation of data sharing democratizes access and builds a shared understanding of community priorities, not just for data experts but for everyone.