Open data: why we need it
The term ‘open data’ has been bandied about quite a bit in the last couple of years, and the idea has certainly gained more momentum here in the UK in the year just gone thanks, at least in part, to some big changes by Central Government.
So, first off, what is it?
Put simply, it’s getting the data we (the public sector) collect, making it available on the web, and giving it a license that says ‘do whatever you want with it’.
What benefit is it?
There are numerous potential benefits to publishing open data:
• Increased accountability and transparency
o Citizens can more easily stay informed and so can make better decisions
o Communities can check that they are being heard
• Reduced Freedom of Information traffic
o If the data is held, it’s already online for all to see
o Traffic will either be avoided completely or will only require responses pointing to the correct datasets on the web
• Aide business and innovation
o Creative minds can utilise the data e.g. as part of web or phone apps
o Businesses can make more informed decisions about the area
What’s next?
The future is linked open data which enhances the potential of open data by giving it a defined structure. This allows for automation (because computers can understand it), easier and more open access to the data, and informative links between datasets.
For a bit more information, check out my quick (4 slide) presentation.
2. what is it?
Open data:
Any data that is released to the public under a suitable open licence
such as the Open Government Licence
The data is allowed to be reused and redistributed for any purpose
Linked data:
As above, but the data is also structured so that it is machine readable
Data is easily interrogated and queried
Links between data give context and added value
The pinnacle of open data – 5* on Tim Berners-Lee’s scale
3. why publish open data?
Accountability/transparency
More informed citizens can make better decisions
Community can easily check their views are being heard
Reduction in FOI requests
Cost savings because all but sensitive data is already accessible
Potential to aide business & innovation
It’s the law!
At least in part, and likely to become more so
Open data strategies, white paper
4. why publish linked open data?
Increases the potential of the data
More easily reusable by businesses and the community
Added value through links to related data
Ability to pinpoint exact data values – useful for FOIs
Data kept in one place
Only 1 update required to update any number of systems built on the
data
The ideal standard for open data, as set out by Tim Berners-Lee
A view echoed by central government
5. the future of linked/open data
Real-time information on the web
Pull key info from the data store – auto updating content
Applications on top of the data:
Businesses using the data as part of their commercial products
Web apps that produce more engaging visualisations of the data
Eg infographics, pie charts etc
Reporting applications for quick dataset comparison
Could be used internally to identify correlations between datasets
Integration with GIS
1 place to update the data
Can plot geographic information pulled from the data eg school locations
