Who would have thought that the Prime Minister and inventor of the internet would be interested in that spreadsheet on your computer? More than just a hot topic, recent legislative and government initiatives such as data.gov.uk and INSPIRE have made it a reality for organisations to exchange data in an open manner. But do you know what it really means, how it affects you and what you can do to easily unlock and exploit the benefits? There’s so much data out there, stored in various ways: enterprise databases, spreadsheets, word documents, pdfs, access databases or even floating around in a text file on some obscure corporate network – it’s all data. With all this inconsistency, data can’t even be found let alone be used to the benefit of the taxpayer. Sharing data between organisations is a major challenge. And the challenge doesn’t stop at the inter-organisational level. The benefits of true Open Data are great; Eliminating the barriers and pain of data sharing and publication means a more informed general public; Access without restriction and a standard methodology that removes the technological challenges of sharing and re-using the data. Geospatial data has to be part of Open Data because everything happens at a place, whether that be a house, post code, county or country. We often see Geospatial data as special, but the reality is it’s just data and should be Open Data where it can be linked with other information such as Finance or Logistics to provide the complete picture.

1. “Oi – Sir Tim hands off my spreadsheet” Ian Painter – Managing Director

2. Can I talk to you about Resource Description Framework. I invented the web you know! No bugger off, you’ll never take my CSV away and if you go near my Shapefiles you’re gonna get some!!

3. What’s the problem? Data is locked up Inconsistent delivery Inconsistent formats Lack of sharing (inside and out) Difficult to make decisions Silo mentality of services

4. What do we mean by Open Data? 1. Legally open The legislation that enforces data to be accessible without restriction. 2.Socially open A community and environment augmenting the legislation that supports sharing, re-use and collaboration of data. 3.Technologically open Data in a format that doesn’t hinder humans or machines.

6. Benefits of Open Data Comply to legislation Government best practice Transparency Data sharing Communities Feedback Efficiencies

7. Implementing Open Data

8. Think Big Spatial Data Infrastructures SOAP, OGC Standards, GML/XML INSPIRE Designed for: Business2Business Government2Government

9. {INSPIRE GeoPortal example}

10. Think Small Lightweight Web Services, Web Standards W3C, KML, GeoRSS, GML, XML Designed for: Business2Consumer Government2Citizen

12. Think behind the Portal

13. Open Data Architecture

14. Met Office Case Study in Here Re-usable web infrastructure Used for internal and external apps Services without development Dramatic cost reductions High reuse Increased flexibility Considerable productivity gains Lower development costs Faster response

15. Build Communities around your open data

18. How to open your data Publish your data in an open manner XML not spreadsheets or PDF Build a community around your data Encourage your community to do the work for you! Use tools to help you Free data publishing tool – GO Publisher CE Publishes to all open standards including INSPIRE

19. To Sum Up Publish your data as Open Data Think the language of the web XML not Excel, PDF, Word Think Big: SDI for B2B, G2G Think Small: W3C for B2C, G2C Build a community around your data Use tools

20. We’d like to get you started... Visit http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/gpce/for aFREE copy

21. Some useful resources... data.gov.uk jrc.inspire.eu openlocally.com snowflakesoftware.com (!!) Twitter.com/sflaksoftware LinkedIn – Open Data forums

22. Ian Painter | ian.painter@snowflakesoftware | @iapainter www.snowflakesoftware.com | 02380 238232 GO Publisher Community Edition http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/gpce/