An Overview of MassDOT Developer Efforts

1. DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE
November 14, 2009
MIT, Tang Center

2. WELCOME
Developers Conference Overview
Chris Dempsey + Joshua Robin, MassDOT
UP NEXT: JEFFREY B. MULLAN, SECRETARY MASSDOT
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

3. WHAT IS MASSDOT?
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has four
divisions:
•Highway (State Highways and Bridges, Turnpike)
•Transit (RTAs, MBTA, MassDOT Rail)
•Aeronautics
•Registry of Motor Vehicles
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

4. SIX MONTHS AGO: MassDOT and its customers want
mobile + web applications with info about transit and roads.
MassDOT builds its own app: Developers try to build their own:
•Long procurement •Beg MassDOT for data
•Only one application and one •Scrape data yourself
audience served •Jump through hoops to get data in
•Limited agility to improve the app digital formats
long term. •Worry that even when you release a
successful application, MassDOT
would object
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

5. NEW MODEL: OPEN DATA
“Open” MassDOT data by making it available in standard
formats
•RSS, XML, GTFS, etc.
Harness the power of developers to build interesting and
useful applications with our data
•Creates value for both MassDOT AND developers
Better serve customers across many platforms
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

6. MASSDOT DEVELOPERS PAGE BETA
July 2009, MassDOT launches the MassDOT Developers as a
resource to developers interested in working with transportation
data!
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

7. A NEW APPROACH
In addition to opening data, MassDOT Developers efforts
strive to engage the developer community in a new and
different way:
•A focus on allowing developers to shape the direction
this effort takes
•Monthly meeting with developers
•An open conversation through the MassDOT Developers
Google Group
•Use of Twitter for updates @MassDOTdev
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

8. A NEW APPROACH
“This approach is a smart 21st-century
alternative to hiring some consultant who
develops inelegant software at exorbitant
costs.”
Boston Globe, Saturday, September 5, 2009
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com

9. MAKING AN IMPACT: RESULTS
•6 innovative applications with at least 2
more in development
•8 creative visualizations that tell the story
of the MBTA.
Follow the Developers Conference on at hashtag #massdotdev
And at the conference website: www.massdotdevelopersconference09.com