The Center for Business and Policy Research at University of the Pacific is celebrating the launch of San Joaquin County Data Compass, an innovative data platform developed in partnership with the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

The website, which was designed by computer science and business analytics graduate students, is a tool that brings the community’s census data into one intuitive platform.

Users can explore the economic opportunities and challenges in their area and see data on key drivers of the county's economy.  The site includes indicators such as agriculture, transportation, employment and business activity and examines how those factors impact current economic conditions and future mobility of the region.

“We've been really happy to be able to support the classroom learning with this project, and feel it's a responsibility of the center, because we are community centered and focused, to bring as much of these applied learning experiences as possible to Pacific students,” said Tom Pogue, director of the Center for Business and Policy Research.

Pacific students designed the site to make navigating and using data easier and more accessible for community members researching demographics, housing, economic trends and more, such as small business owners or prospective home buyers.

The Center for Business and Policy Research offers students hands-on internship opportunities and gives them direct job experience. The center conducts custom studies for public, private and non-profit clients, including economic impact reports, market research and other economic and policy analysis, to meet real-world needs.

“Being part of the San Joaquin Data Compass project has been incredibly rewarding, especially as an international student,” said computer science major Omkar Prathamesh Punekar ’26. “Knowing that I'm contributing to a platform that helps people keeps me motivated to do even more for the community. Plus, collaborating closely with such an amazing and talented team makes the entire experience truly meaningful and inspiring.”

The platform is also an applied learning opportunity for students who develop and maintain the interactive site.

“Working with public data has pushed me to grow technically and better understand how our work benefits the people who use it,” said computer science major Bishnu Kumar Gatraj ’26 “I’ve appreciated the guidance from Dr. Thomas Pogue and Steven McCarty. They have created a supportive environment where learning and collaboration go hand in hand.

“It’s been rewarding to see our work come to life in a way that promotes data accessibility and transparency. This experience is helping me become a more well-rounded developer, blending the structure of academia with the practical mindset of the workplace.”

Pogue said the team will continue to evolve the website and update data as needed.