Keeping an Open Mind

OPEN DATA

SUZANNE VAN DEN HOOGEN, MLISDLI WORKSHOP

FREDERICTON, NBAPRIL 28, 2015

Outline• What is Open Data?

• What can we do with Open Data?

• What are the challenges with Open Data?

• How can we support Open Data?

• Group Activity: SWOT Analysis• Strengths• Weaknesses• Opportunities• Threats

What is Open Data?• Open Data is defined as structured data that is machine-readable, freely

shared, used and built on without restrictions.

• The Open Definition provides a more detailed definition of Open Data. To summarize the most important points:

• Availability and Access: the data must be available as a whole and at no more than a reasonable reproduction cost, preferably by downloading over the internet. The data must also be available in a convenient and modifiable form.

• Re-use and Redistribution: the data must be provided under terms that permit re-use and redistribution including the intermixing with other datasets.

• Universal Participation: everyone must be able to use, re-use and redistribute. There should be no discrimination against fields of endeavour or against persons or groups. For example, 'non-commercial' restrictions that would prevent 'commercial' use, or restrictions of use for certain purposes (e.g. only in education), are not allowed.

• http://open.canada.ca/en/open-data-principles

What can we do with Open Data?

Image source: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=1a764df130113410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

In the News…• “The way to make government responsible

is to hold it accountable. And the way to make it accountable is make it transparent so the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they’re being made, and whether their interests are being well served.” Barack Obama (January 21, 2009). Remarks by the President in Welcoming Senior Staff to the White House. The White House. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www.whitehous.gov/the_press_office/REmarksofthePresidentinWElcomingSenio rStaffandCabinetSecretariestotheWhiteHouse.

What are the challenges with Open Data?

How can we support Open Data?

Why do it?• The goal of open data is to make government open,

accessible and transparent and encourage more participation in government. Many examples also show it can save government money. David Eaves: http://eaves.ca/2010/04/14/case-study-open-data-and-the-public-purse/

Open data: the World Bank• http://opendatatoolkit.worldbank.org/en/

• Open Data: IMF

A growing trend among scholars, government agencies and international organisations to share data outputs, codebooks and software.

Challenges of Open Data

• How can we define research data and what types of research data should be open?

• When and how does openness need to be limited?

• How should the issue of data re-use be addressed?

• Where should research data be stored and made accessible?

• How can we enhance data awareness and a culture of sharing?

• Be careful – opportunity to get a lot right, but also to get a lot wrong.

PartnershipsNational & International

Open dataOpen Governmentopen information open dialogue

Open data handbook: http://opendatahandbook.org/pdf/OpenDataHandbook.pdf

Open Data Subject Guide: http://stfx.libguides.com/opendata

Open Data Institute: http://opendatainstitute.org/

Open Data Supporters

http://www.slideshare.net/jenniferbell/benefits-of-open-government-data

https://cudo.carleton.ca/system/files/dli_training/3685/5-open-data-portal-overview-june-2014.pdf

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/tag/visible-government/

http://timreview.ca/article/230

http://open.canada.ca/en/open-data