Interactive Mapping and Open Data Illustrate Excess Federal Property

Last week, I reported how open source tools make mapping easier. Yesterday, the White House showed how open data can be visualized in a massive new interactive feature posted at WhiteHouse.gov. The map was published as the White House proposed legislation to create an independent commission to identify civilian properties that can be sold, closed or destroyed.

The interactive map of excess federal property is beautiful, fast, and it shows the location of approximately half of the 14,000 buildings and structures that are currently designated as excess by the White House. Many structures from the Department of Defense are not mapped, given national security concerns.