There is a data visualization need to open up urban data for citizens to make cities more accessible to all and for better local efficiencies. One can start to graph stories out of urban data in context and project into the future into how a city works and what can be improved. Open storytelling can entail a process of identifying trends, even particular characteristics of an area, and then to provide such data into transformed information contexts. One of the fundamental ways in which data can be made open is via Web APIs which can enable developers to consume and build their own mashable applications. Tackling issues within an urban city with the growing population demands a focused approach to solving them. When data is open and shareable there are multitude of resources that can be gained from open community involvement to solve such challenges with compelling insights on urban life. Governments are starting to open up their data and utilizing the vast global developer community perspectives to scrutinize and reap on social and economic benefits. Availability of such urban data sets has also led to increased big data needs and analytical tools to fuel newer approaches in visualization. Regular meetups have developed towards progress in the use of open urban data which also organize regular hackathons to investigate, discuss, and prototype ideas.
