Open Data & Software Tools

The following are links to selected Open Data, Open Access Reports, & Open Source Software tools that can be used to help forecast the future facing the U.S. and the world.

  • Census & Survey Processing (CSPro) System - Free software packages used for entering, editing, tabulating, and disseminating US and global census and survey data.

  • CIA World Fact Book - Providing information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, military, communications, transportation of countries around the world.

  • CropLife International - Maintains several databases of facts and figures relating to agriculture and the plant science industry, food security, climate change, technology, economics, etc.

  • Data.Gov - Interactive data sets, software apps and other tools made available by the U.S. government.

  • Data.Education.Gov - U.S. Department of Education interactive data tools, data sets, and reports on education in America.

  • Google Public Data Explorer - Making large public datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate.

  • IFC Global Economic Data - An array of global economic data from the World Bank for researchers, policy makers, and other organizations.

  • NationMaster - Compilation of statistics from such sources as the CIA, UN, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank, etc.

  • Ocean Data.Gov - Portal to 'open' databases than can help us in planning for the future of our oceans, coast, and Great Lakes.

  • Open Knowledge Foundation - A global non-profit organization focused on realizing open data’s value to society.

  • RapidMiner - Open source data mining, analytics, and predictive software tools.

  • SPARC - A global coalition committed to advancing open research and education solutions.

  • Stats America - Providing information on hundreds of economic and demographic indicators for states & communities across the U.S.

  • U.N. Statistical Databases - An Internet-based data service bringing UN statistical databases within reach of users around the globe.

  • USA_Spending.Gov - Established to provides reports to citizens on how the federal government is spending funds.

  • World Bank Open Data & Research - Making available information from World Bank data sets, national statistical systems, and research reports. Download Open Data & Software Tools.

* See list of major free and open source software posted on Wikipedia. Also, check out TED Talks: What's Next in Tech.


Open Source Initiative & Open Source Movement

A recent report by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) found that open source software and solutions are now ubiquitous, recognized across almost all industries as a fundamental component of their infrastructure, as well as a critical factor in driving innovation. Over the past twenty years, the OSI has worked to promote and protect open source solutions, software development, and sharing communities, championing open solutions in society through education, collaboration, and infrastructure, stewardship of major open source software initiatives, and preventing abuse of the ideals and ethos inherent to the global open source movement. See OSI Report - 2018


If you would like to suggest new material or links to be added to this web site, please email groenpj@cs.com


World Bank Report

Access to environmentally and socially sustainable energy is essential to reduce poverty. Over 1.4 billion people are still without access to electricity worldwide, almost all of whom live in developing countries. About 2.5 billion use solid fuels—wood, charcoal and dung—for cooking and heating. Every year fumes and smoke from open cooking fires kill approximately 1.6 million people mostly women and children, from emphysema and other respiratory diseases.