Claremont Graduate University Professors Visit White House

Professor Tom Horan and Assistant Professor Brian Hilton from Claremont Graduate University's Center for Information Systems and Technology (CISAT) were invited by the White House to discuss their work at the Safety Datapalooza, which highlighted innovators from the private, nonprofit, and academic sectors who have utilized free government data to build products, services, and apps that advance public safety in creative and powerful ways.

The event, hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the US Department of Transportation, was Friday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC.

This marks the second time in the past four months that the White House has invited the professors for discussions on data and public safety. The pair previously traveled to Washington in May to participate in the launch of the federal Public Safety Data Community.

Horan and Hilton are developing projects at the cutting edge of health and public safety information technology. They have worked together to create the SafeRoadMaps website, which uses traffic safety data to analyze dangerous roads and highways. The application, a partnership between CISAT and the University of Minnesota's Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, has been viewed by users more than 12 million times.

During Friday's Safety Datapalooza, government officials planned to announce the release of new safety data resources, including real-time tools to provide details about natural disasters and improve preparedness and emergency response. The event was followed by an expo in which attendees can engage in hands-on demonstrations of highlighted innovations.

The event featured U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, DOT Deputy Secretary John Porcari, Labor Deputy Secretary Seth D. Harris and U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt.

--Claremont Graduate University