Transportation is a major metropolitan issue, with direct impacts on economic strength, environmental sustainability, and social equity. A combination of recent technological advancements such as social networking, mobile computing, open source software, open data and APIs, and spatial analysis all combine to provide an opportunity to improve mobility and at a lower cost than has been possible in the past. Given that transportation agencies are more cash strapped than ever, the lower cost and higher impact approach has wide appeal.
There are two un-conference gatherings called TransportationCamp, with one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast that will raise awareness of this opportunity and build connections between disparate innovators in public administration, transportation operations, information design, and software development. Major themes of discussion will include: open data — best practices and technical challenges, ways to lower the cost of technology for transportation agencies, and creative new approaches to addressing transportation issues. Session topics and activities will be suggested by attendees and organizers leading up to the event.
