Download the PowerPoint to click the links: http://e-sd.org/MuoUj The LGA's direct data feed (API) allows anyone to view and download open data about local areas, such as demographic details and performance data. It's been built to support both amateur and professional developers, and can help you deliver information services that matter. These slides were shown at our launch event, a breakfast meeting with lots of local government authorities and app developers, but provide a good overview and introduction of the service.

1. API Developers Breakfast
Technical overview, use and features
available
Mike Thacker, Dominic Skinner and Steve Messer
Porism Limited
9 July 2015 api.esd.org.uk

2. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
What is the API?
A set of RESTful web methods that feed data to
front feed applications.
See:
http://webservices.esd.org.uk/
http://webservices.esd.org.uk/explain

3. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
What you get
• Everything that drives the LGA’s own
applications for benchmarking and small area profiling
• Data (see datasets) maintained by Research
and Information team
• Sound statistical analysis (see value types)

4. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Applying a consistent framework
Metrics • 2,917 metric types with values
• 49 million metric values available
(+ 85 million in back end)
• many data sources
• consistent time periods
• consistent breakdowns
• large to small official statistical areas
• other areas

5. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
How metric values are defined
Areas Time periodsMetrics
All types
Id1 - Population
Population of all counties of England in 2014
All types
All counties
All types
Calendar year 2014

6. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
API keys
• Sign in and request a key
• Public key is for quick use
• Public private key is to ‘sign’ live calls
• OAuth is to recognise individual users (if you need to)

7. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Some simple examples
The following JavaScript examples use
no server side code whatsoever!
Include jQuery Library
Call web service with
public key using
JSONP
Parse returned JSON and output data
Insert your Public Key

8. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Some simple examples
Want to see the API in action? Download the
examples and create your own security keys.
Replace YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY with the public key you have created. Save
and open the HTML file to view.

9. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Public Private Key example
This simple PHP function
takes a URL (like the one
shown earlier) and appends
an Application Key. It then
generates a signature from
the URL and Private Key.
Examples can be found on
File Exchange.

10. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Help with metric types
See standards pages

11. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Help with web methods
Use the data tool or see
‘Explain’ in web methods tool
See example

12. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Help with anything API-related
See API help

13. api.esd.org.uk@LGInformPlus
Further information
API: api.esd.org.uk
Help: help.esd.org.uk / support@esd.org.uk
Tim.Adams@local.gov.uk Mike.Thacker@esd.org.uk
@DrTimAdams @MikeThacker
Mike SteveDom