open data - oi sir tim hands off my spreadsheet
DESCRIPTION
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.TRANSCRIPT
“Oi – Sir Tim hands off my spreadsheet”
Ian Painter – Managing Director
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!!
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
What do we mean by Open Data?
1. Legally openThe legislation that enforces data to be accessible without restriction.
2. Socially openA community and environment augmenting the legislation that supports sharing, re-use and collaboration of data.
3. Technologically openData in a format that doesn’t hinder humans or machines.
Open Data
Open Standards
Linkable Data
Linked Data
Benefits of Open Data
• Comply to legislation• Government best practice• Transparency• Data sharing• Communities• Feedback• Efficiencies
Implementing Open Data
Think Big
• Spatial Data Infrastructures• SOAP, OGC Standards, GML/XML• INSPIRE• Designed for:
– Business2Business– Government2Government
{INSPIRE GeoPortal example}
Think Small
• Lightweight Web Services, • Web Standards
– W3C, KML, GeoRSS, GML, XML• Designed for:
– Business2Consumer– Government2Citizen
Think behind the Portal
Open Data Architecture
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
Build Communities around your open data
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
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
We’d like to get you started...
Visit http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/gpce/ for a FREE copy
• data.gov.uk• jrc.inspire.eu• openlocally.com• snowflakesoftware.com (!!)• Twitter.com/sflaksoftware• LinkedIn – Open Data forums
Some useful resources...
Ian Painter | ian.painter@snowflakesoftware | @iapainterwww.snowflakesoftware.com | 02380 238232
GO Publisher Community Editionhttp://www.snowflakesoftware.com/gpce/