If you are trying to leverage the Internet to empower people, we can help. TOPP is a non-profit incubator for projects that create a more open, engaged society.
TOPP is home to experts in the following fields:
- Open Source Software Development
- GeoSpatial Technology
- Video Production
- Web and Visual Design
- Advocacy Journalism
- Transportation Policy
If you are interested in becoming a client or partner, please contact us.
Open Source Software
TOPP is one of the world's largest organizations dedicated to producing open source software. We are widely respected in open source circles, and our skills range from Python web frameworks to mapping platforms to video archiving tools. We work with a wide range of open source projects.
Our founder, Mark Gorton, has spent the past decade building a series of innovative financial and technology companies, including Tower Research Capital LLC, Lime Brokerage LLC, LimeWire LLC, and Lime Labs LLC. Mark has a proven track record of growing and managing software teams.
Our experts include:
Andrea Aime is an expert geospatial technologist with specialties in large data systems and spatial data analysis algorithms. Over the past 8 years, Andrea has been a leader in major open source software projects, including Geotools and GRASS.
Mapping Technology
Our OpenGeo division is leading the way toward more open, interoperable geospatial data. OpenGeo builds software and crafts custom solutions, providing flexible, reliable, and secure mapping applications.
Our experts include:
Chris Holmes is the chair of the Project Steering Committee of GeoServer, and he was a founding board member of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. In 2005, Chris Holmes used a Fulbright in Zambia to assess the potential for open source software to construct Spatial Data Infrastructures. He is a frequent keynote speaker at geospatial conferences.
Tim Schaub draws on a decade of web and geospatial experience. He is a steering committee member and core contributor to OpenLayers. Before joining TOPP, Tim spent a number of years developing mapping solutions for conservation organizations in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.
Video Production
Streetfilms has exploded as the world-wide media hub for Livable Streets advocates.
In just three years, Streetfilms have been watched more than 2 million times online. Advocates around the world use Streetfilms video shorts to win support for smart transportation projects in their communities.
Streetfilms is known for high quality production, professional camerawork, quick coverage of emerging stories, and a unique brand of edu-tainment. Past videos have featured such notables as Jan Gehl, New York Times ‘Ethicist’ Randy Cohen, and Enrique Peñalosa. The films also highlight strategic partnerships, such as our Summer Streets PSA, produced for the NYC Department of Transportation.
In addition to Streetfilms, TOPP produced the full-length feature Contested Streets, which has appeared on the Sundance Channel.
Web and Visual Design
TOPP's strong portfolio of visual and web design contributes to the success of software products, advocacy campaigns, and partner organizations. We produce work across an array of media:
Interaction and Visual Design for open source software projects, as with FixCity Bike Racks.
Web Design. TOPP builds focused, engaging websites for community projects like Park(ing) Day NYC, Block Party NYC, and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition.
Photo Simulations are a powerful tool for visualizing great public spaces. Our before-and-after simulations of places like Grand Street and the Upper West Side have helped communities garner support for cityscape improvements.
Print Materials. We have produced collateral for exhibitions, conferences, and community events.
Advocacy Journalism
A focused news outlet spreads news quickly, wins traction with public officials, and inspires citizen action. TOPP deploys talented journalists to cover beats - such as transportation policy and urban education issues - that the mainstream media either ignores or mangles.
Our advocacy journalism projects:
Streetsblog has helped redirect New York City's transportation planning. With 125,000 unique monthly readers, Streetsblog taps the power of New Yorkers to reimagine their streets.
Gotham Schools is a news source and online community for teachers, parents, policy makers, and journalists. This blog helps New Yorkers figure out what works and what doesn't in the nation's largest school district.
Streetsblog Los Angeles began in the spring of 2008, and Streetsblog San Francisco launched at the beginning of 2009. We plan to launch Streetsblogs in a number of other cities.
Streetsblog Capitol Hill connects livable streets advocates with the workings of federal transportation policy.
Streetsblog Network is a powerful distribution channel for policy news, best practices, and action alerts. Connecting nearly 400 quality transportation blogs, the Blog Network reaches nearly every Livable Streets advocate in the country.
Transportation Policy
Our work is reshaping cities and neighborhoods, creating transport systems that work for everyone. We:
Produce powerful new media outlets that are both local (Streetsblog.org) and national (Streetsblog Network) in scope.
Create useful websites like UncivilServants.org and Block Party NYC.
Via Streetfilms.org, use video to help reform advocates win support for local projects.
Develop strong, collaborative campaigns, such as the New York City Streets Renaissance.
Build open source software and provide consulting services for transportation and planning agencies.
In New York alone, our work has redirected millions of public dollars towards projects that put pedestrians, bikes, and transit first. Our work has changed policies in dozens of cities, and our reach is increasingly national.