SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 13 — The Best of California Awards will be presented at the California Technology Forum today by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government.

Highlights from the 2015 Best of California Awards include:

• Alameda County’s Shuttle Mobile App increased public transit ridership by 29 percent between county buildings for both employees and the public. The new app provides schedules, routes, pickup points and more for the shuttle and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).
• The California Project Academy Series sponsored by the Department of Technology has saved the state more than one million dollars in educator costs. This series received a special award for innovation in workforce initiatives for providing California IT professionals as volunteer trainers with the Academy to help educate the state’s workforce on IT best practices.
• The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) created a mobile device-based service with a technology for incorporating Transportation Network Companies such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecare into the airport’s permitting process for commercial transport. SFO has licensed the technology that will create a new national standard for data interchange between airports and TNCs.

In its 13^th year, the Best of California Awards program recognizes public-sector professionals and local government organizations for their innovative technology solutions in state and local government across the state.

Winners are selected by a panel of judges based on a number of criteria, including collaboration among agencies, innovative use of technology, economic benefits and improving public services and business processes. During the reception following the California Technology Forum, 26 Outstanding IT Service and Support Awards will also be presented to those dedicated to California public service.

“These awards are a chance for the people behind these new applications and innovations to be recognized for new services they are bringing to citizens all over the state,” said Todd Sander, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. “The Center is delighted to honor public servants who are helping move government forward with new technology.”

2015 Award Recipients: 

Demonstrated Excellence in Project Management 

• Dan Stall, Project Manager, California Department of Parks and Recreation

Best Application Serving an Agency’s Business Needs 

• Alameda County Shuttle Mobile Web Application 
• Personal Duress Alarm System (PDAS), California Department of State Hospitals, Health and Human Services Agency

Best Application Serving the Public 

• OPEN BOE, California Board of Equalization 

Best IT Collaboration among Organizations 

• San Francisco Business Portal, San Francisco Department of Technology 

Best In-House Developed Application 

• SFO Application-Based Commercial Transport System, San Francisco International Airport

Best Mobile/Wireless Project 

• Animal Services and “Finding Rover” Reunite Pets and Owners, County of San Diego Department of Animal Services

Most Innovative Use of Social Media / Citizen Engagement 

• Talking Transportation: Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan Online Engagement Tool, Contra Costa Transportation Authority

Best Data Analytics / Business Intelligence Project 

• Pedestrian and Cyclist Traffic Collision Analysis Project, City of Los Angeles

Special Award: Innovation in Workforce Initiatives 

• California Project Academy Series, California Department of Technology 

About the Center for Digital Government

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. The Center provides public- and private-sector leaders with decision support and actionable insight to help drive 21^st-century government. CDG is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.

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Source: Center for Digital Government