Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden have been generating city- and district-scale energy models based on public data sets including the new building roofprint data from DRCOG. 

NREL's system combines data from multiple public data sources to create individual OpenStudio energy models for specific buildings. For cities with energy data transparency laws, actual energy use of buildings reported through the SEED platform can be used to calibrate the energy models to historic data. Once researchers create an energy model for a particular building they are able to estimate the energy savings of common energy efficiency measures. Doing this at a city scale allows cities and utilities to study the potential effects of energy efficiency programs as they seek to meet aggressive goals for energy and carbon savings. DRCOG's data set allows researchers to customize each building model to a unique building footprint, further reducing uncertainty in the model and improving its predictive capabilities. 

Access to detailed public data, such as DRCOG's building roofprints, will enable NREL to provide more specific recommendations for cost effective energy efficiency upgrades. Public open data can provide a wealth of information and will help NREL improve energy use at a large scale. 

OpenColorado recently upgraded its data catalog to CKAN version 2.5.2, with the help of Xentity Corporation.

The upgrade brings several functional and performance improvements, such as: 

• More built-in dataset previews;
• A more user-friendly look and feel;
• API access to datasets; 
• The option to mark datasets as private or public; 
• Improved dataset authorization under organizations; and
• Performance improvements.

OpenColorado is also planning more enhancements in the near future, including: 

• Data catalog analytics;
• Enhanced dataset views; and
• Federating data with other data catalogs.

Scott Primeau, OpenColorado president, expressed appreciation to the catalog's data partners for their support and encouragement to continue to improve. Xentity Corporation provided pro bono development support for the upgrade, as well as several other improvements to the OpenColorado data platform. As OpenColorado works toward expanding the data catalog, it welcomes continued input and support from its data partners.

DRCOG's has unveiled a new web map related to traffic signal timing. Through its Transportation Operations Program, DRCOG staff works with member governments to develop and implement capital and signal timing coordination improvements, increasing the ability of jurisdiction staff to maintain reliable operations while decreasing delays at signalized intersections across jurisdictions. The cooperative effort reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality, decreases fuel consumption and improves roadway operations efficiency.

Like DRCOG's other web maps, the Signal Timing Briefs map is built on an open-source stack. DRCOG uses a combination of JavaScript, Leaflet and Bootstrap to develop its maps. Recently, DRCOG has started using the D3 JavaScript library for additional flexibility and enhanced visualizations (the Signal Timing Briefs map uses D3 to draw and filter the GIS data).

The Signal Timing Briefs map shows the projects completed during the last ten years. Users can find summary statistics for each project and link to the project's official timing brief. If a corridor has had multiple projects, users can view the brief for each year the project was conducted. Lastly, when users filter by project year, they can access an annual summary in the lower right-hand corner.

DRCOG staff appreciates comments and feedback on the Signal Timing Briefs map.

There are five breweries in Centennial --- with more to come --- and the City of Centennial wanted to create an easy, interactive way for residents to discover what's in their own backyard.

The Centennial Virtual Brewery Tour, resulting from collaboration among the city's communications, Geographic Information Systems and economic development departments, takes residents and non-residents on a web-based journey through the breweries and introduces them to the people and ideas behind the local craft-beer industry.

Using an online mapping tool from Esri, the tour pinpoints the exact location of each brewery while displaying (on the same screen) recorded interviews with the brewmasters, behind-the-scenes photos and detailed narratives that provide a glimpse inside the arduous-but-rewarding world of beer-making.

Go to www.centennialco.gov, click on the "Things to Do" tab, then click on "Virtual Brewery Tour" under the "Places To Go" section. Cheers!