The Virginia Open Data Portal Launches

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

What is the Virginia Open Data Portal?

The Virginia Open Data Portal serves to extend access to Commonwealth data empowering our constituents to interpret, analyze, and transform our data into actionable intelligence. Secure and appropriate data sharing is fundamental to the success of our society because information supports engagement. Commonwealth data is a strategic asset that when leveraged, can drive innovation, increase quality of life, and promote economic growth. 

Who is the Open Data Portal for?

Everyone! The Open Data Portal is for everyone and anyone to access the Commonwealth's open data assets. It provides transparency to the residents of Virginia. It also serves as a tool for data discovery so state government agencies can see what datasets are available within other agencies.

What datasets are available within the Open Data Portal?

There are project-based datasets available as well as agency data. You will also find data by category such as: business, economy, education, employment, environment and natural resources, family and health, finance, government, licenses, public safety, recreation and culture, and transportation. For the initial launch, you will find a focus on COVID-19 datasets from the Virginia Department of Health. The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to continue growing the number of open datasets available through the portal over the coming months. If you are a Commonwealth of Virginia agency interested in leveraging the Open Data Portal to share your open data, send us an email to learn more.

What can I do with the data available on the Open Data Portal?

The Open Data Portal platform allows users to view stories and dashboards, create visualizations, filter data, and access it via APIs (application programming interfaces) to build solutions in web and mobile applications. Ready to get your hands dirty? Read our Top Tips for Getting Started. 

Where can you find the Open Data Portal?

The Virginia Open Data Portal is available at data.virginia.gov.

Why is this important?

The Open Data Portal provides the opportunity for Virginia residents to engage with data from their government and the communities they serve. It promotes transparency and invites the public to contribute toward building solutions for what matters most to them. The Chief Data Officer for the Commonwealth believes that Virginia's data should serve the constituents of the Commonwealth, and the Open Data Portal is a monumental step toward this goal.