Open Data
From Open NZ Wiki
Open Data Checklist
- It is possible to get data out of the department by requesting it.
- The data are not charged for.
- The data are distinctly encoded, not as part of a PDF or Word document.
- The dataset has a clear license.
- The dataset has metadata indicating coverage, methodology, etc.
- The data are not in a format tied to a particular application (ruling out Excel, ESRI GeoDatabases).
- The license doesn't prevent reuse or limit reuse to non-commercial applications.
- The license doesn't prevent redistribution.
- The data do not require registration to use.
- The data are updated regularly.
- The updates are noted (e.g., there's an RSS feed for new releases, or a mailing list).
- The data is consistently addressable
This is not a linear path--some datasets currently don't require registration but don't have a clear license. Instead, each item on this list makes the data more useful and more easily used. This is a checklist: satisfy these conditions and you've got yourself a data set that serves the most people.
In time I hope we'll be able to flesh out each of these items to include recommendations for formats, licenses, etc. and point to some datasets that Get It Right. That way this can be a guide to government departments who want to open up their data; "do it this way and you'll make your data as useful as it can be."
WIP Page for How to Publish Open Data Page on the Catalogue
Links
We're not the only people to look at open data. Here are some other people trying to solve the "what is open data" question:
