Cities Opening Up Local Data
Vancouver: 15 September 2009
The City of Vancouver launched its open data web site in beta on 15 September.
Vancouver is one of a number of municipal level governments working to make its data freely available. Some examples (although not necessarily all) include: London; San Francisco; Portland; Nanaimo, British Columbia; Kamloops, British Columbia; Washington DC; Toronto and New York.
Vancouver is one of the first, if not the first city, to pass a formal motion (Open 3 Motion) (21 May 2009) to promote the principles of open data, open standards and open source. As a result of this motion, Vancouver City staff put together a site to make possible the free downloading of public data. This site is now live (beta) and is being used. The expected benefits of these initiatives are many including the attracting of talent and new business to the Vancouver community.
What is Vancouver’s Open Data Catalogue Beta Version?
The Open Data Catalogue site describes the goals as:
“By freely sharing its data in accessible formats — while respecting privacy and security concerns — Vancouver is joining many government agencies in moving to harness the energy and involvement of citizens, community-based organizations and private businesses in everything from creative community problem-solving to the development of new service delivery ideas and solutions. “
The Vancouver data catalogue initially is focused on geospatial data with plans to increase the variety of data and data formats.
Community input and feedback are solicited on the Open Data Catalogue site.
The V1 online magazine’s article on the Vancouver Open Data site by Jonathan Mark,GIS Manager, IT Department, Corporate Services at the City of Vancouver, provides an overview of the data catalogue, its development and how it is starting to be used. Jonathan’s closing comments:
“As we move forward, we plan to substantially expand the data that is available through the site as well as the formats in which it is available. These changes won’t happen overnight, but we hope to move steadily forward.”
How has the Vancouver Community Responded?
Community developers (not the City) are starting to work with the data and have created a wiki and discussion group to share application ideas and discuss datasets. Applications are under development including live community projects on a range of municipal issues (see Vancouver Open Data Wiki).
What are the Challenges?
David Eaves , social media expert and one of the key proponents and advisers behind the open Vancouver motion, writes about the initiative on his blog in a topic entitled: “Vancouver’s Open Data Portal: Use it or Lose It”. In this excerpt from the blog, he prompts businesses and citizens to take up the challenges offered by the data access (read the posting and discussion online).
“…But the open data is only the part of the puzzle. Yes, our data is now beginning to be set free. But we have to use it.
If not, we'll risk losing it.
I wish I could say that the city will share data no matter what and that political support will continue forever. But the fact is, municipal resources are limited. While the potential of open data is enormous, we need more than potential; we need some wins. More importantly, we need an active and engaged community working to make Vancouver better, more efficient, and more interesting because of our open data. We need to show politicians and public servants in Vancouver, but also in Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Nanaimo, Moncton and other places across the country that citizens want access to data, and that if we get it, we will help their city (or province, or country) come alive in new and inventive ways”
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