Open Data Essentials

What is Open Data?

Data is open if it satisfies both conditions below:

Technically open: available in a machine-readable standard format, which means it can be retrieved and meaningfully processed by a computer application
Legally open: explicitly licensed in a way that permits commercial and non-commercial use and re-use without restrictions.

Examples of Terms of Use in Data Licensing:

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Can you give some examples of Open Data?

OD in Countries
- UK
- USA
- Chile
- Italy
- Australia
- Moldova
- Kenya
OD in Cities
- San Francisco
- Chicago
- London
- Nantes
- Rennes
- Vienna
- Vancouver
OD in Sectors
- Budgets and Public Finance
- Education
- Health
- Nutrition
  - Food Security Open Data Challenge
- Agriculture
  - WB Data on Agriculture & Rural Development
  - UK Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Transport
  - OpenPlans
- Environment
  - WB Climate Data
- Extractive Industries
  - Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
- Energy
  - Enel Open Data
- Geospatial
  - OpenStreetMap
  - Haiti Data geospatial information
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
  - Australian ICT Open Datasets

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How would my country benefit from Open Data?

The Economic Impact of Open Data
Open Data and Economic Growth
Costs and Benefits of Data Provision
The Benefits of Open Data – Evidence from Economic Research
OKF Live Document on Evidence & Anecdotes for Open Gov Data
A National Information Framework for Public Sector Information and Open Data
Shakespeare Review: An Independent Review of Public Sector Information
Market Assessment of Public Sector Information by Deloitte
Open Government Promo Video by OGP
La Innovación en Servicios en España
Reutilización de información pública y privada en España
Examples of Applications
- Civic Commons – repository of government and civic apps for Open Data and Open Government
- OpenSpending – tracks government financial transactions across the world and present them in useful and engaging forms for everyone from a school-child to a data geek
- BrightScope – brings transparency to opaque markets. Primarily operates in two major segments: Retirement Plans and Wealth Management
- Spikes Cavell – equips decision makers in the public sector with the business intelligence, online tools and analytical insight they need in order to transform the way they procure goods and services
- Elgin (UK street works) – delivers real-time access to local roadworks information across nearly 100 local authorities as well as motorways and trunk routes across England and Wales. Users are able to view precisely where and when roadworks are taking place, who is responsible for them, and assess the likely impact on journey times
- PoliceUK – provides street-level crime and outcomes maps and data, and details of the local policing team and beat meetings
- CheckMySchool – participatory monitoring program that combines the use of digital technology and community mobilization to provide easy access to information, provide a platform for sending feedback through online and offline means, and help resolve education issues
- iLive.at – presents users with demographic, crime, and other location information tailored to an exact location in DC
- Ecofacts – small app to learn about energy consumption, climate change and what you can do about it
- Moldova BOOST – collects and compiles detailed data on Moldovan public expenditures from national treasury systems and presents it in a simple user-friendly format