Developers challenged to build apps that use ACS statistics for economic development or disaster planning

The U.S. Census Bureau has joined other federal agencies and nonprofit organizations to issue a challenge to participants in the National Day of Civic Hacking. To assist developers planning to participate in the event, the Census Bureau will hold a webinar with information on how to access the Census Bureau's open application programming interface and tips for using American Community Survey statistics.

The Census Bureau has issued "The Census American Community Challenge," which asks developers to use publicly available American Community Survey statistics in the agency's open API. Participants are asked to develop an application that helps communities either with economic development or with disaster planning. Note: Privacy and confidentiality are core commitments of the Census Bureau. No confidential or personally identifiable information is available.

The webinar will show developers the basics of using American Community Survey statistics, provide an overview of Census Bureau geographies and show them how to access the statistics through the API. They will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

The Census Bureau's API and participation in this national event open up Census Bureau statistics beyond traditional uses, giving developers in research, business and government the means to customize the statistics into applications that their audiences and customers need. The National Civic Day of Hacking brings together citizens, software developers and entrepreneurs from across the nation to collaboratively create, build and invent solutions using publicly released data, code and technology to solve challenges relevant to neighborhoods, cities, states and the nation.

With the release of this API and other upcoming forward-looking online communications improvements, the Census Bureau is meeting the goals of the Digital Government Strategy to make information more transparent and customer-centered.

Wednesday, May 15, 1 p.m. EDT

Tim Gilbert, survey statistician, American Community Survey Office
Michael Ratcliffe, assistant division chief, Geocartographic Products and
Criteria, Geography Division
Bill Rankin, information technology specialist, Research & Methodology Directorate

To participate in the webinar, please register online here. You will receive a confirmation email once you have registered.

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