City launches ‘Snapshot’ feature

Web page aims to give residents an easier way to break down, digest data

Data is not always the easiest to break down and digest. To help simplify the process, the city of Santa Clarita has produced a creative way to highlight information on a variety of projects and achievements accessible to all.

Under the “Highlights” tab on the city’s open data website (data.santaclarita.com), residents now have access to a compressed version of statistics and different facts in what’s been dubbed the City Snapshot, making data reading a lot easier on the eye.

“We wanted to be able to highlight the city’s accomplishments and day-today work in a new, fun, easy-to-digest

way,” said Carrie Lujan, the city’s communications manager. “This new website displays the information with bright colors, photos of residents who use our services, employees and our public safety partners.”

The web page, launched last week, features a scrolling effect that takes users through sections filled with photos and numbers presented via colorful animations and effects.

Topics of exploration are organized by Administrative Services, City Manager’s Office, Community Development, Neighborhood Services, Public Works, and Recreation, Community Services, Arts and Open Space.

These areas offer datasets, ranging from how many miles Santa Clarita Transit buses have traveled to how many graffiti tags have been removed and the number of fire calls conducted in a given year.

For example, under Public Works, users will see that 191 intersections were assessed for traffic improvements, 3,800 potholes were filled by the city’s street team and more than 73,000 square feet of sidewalks were repaired.

The data now live on City Snapshot is from 2017, unless otherwise stated, but Lujan said the city is working on adding 2018 figures as “(t)his is a living website, which we will continue to add datasets to and update over time.”

For those wanting to dive deeper into public information, users will be redirected to a city website dedicated to that specific topic by simply clicking on a fact box.

City Snapshot is part of the city’s online data hub, which was launched a few years back. Open Data breaks down the figures as far back as 2012 in graphics, charts and other traditional formats.

Despite different layouts in the way information is shared, both sites “achieve the goal of a transparent government: open, accessible and accountable,” the city said in a news release late last week.

To access the new data webpage, visit santaclarita.com/citysnapshot.