This is a rough transcript of a talk I recently gave at a session at Pidapalooza 2019. You can view the slides from the talk here. I’m sharing my notes for the talk here, with a bit of light editing. I'd also really welcome you thoughts and feedback on this discussion document. At the Open Data … Continue reading Talk: Documenting Identifiers for Humans and Machines
Author: Leigh Dodds
CTO at EnergySparks (https://energysparks.uk), previously Director of Delivery at the Open Data Institute. Proud Dad.
Talk: Tabular data on the web
This is a rough transcript of a talk I recently gave at a workshop on Linked Open Statistical Data. You can view the slides from the talk here. I'm sharing my notes for the talk here, with a bit of light editing. At the Open Data Institute our mission is to work with companies and … Continue reading Talk: Tabular data on the web
UnINSPIREd: problems accessing local government geospatial data
This weekend I started a side project which I plan to spend some time on this winter. The goal is to create a web interface that will let people explore geospatial datasets published by the three local authorities that make up the West of England Combined Authority: Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Bath … Continue reading UnINSPIREd: problems accessing local government geospatial data
Observations on the web
Eight years ago I was invited to a workshop. The Office for National Statistics were gathering together people from the statistics and linked data communities to talk about publishing statistics on the web. At the time there was lots of ongoing discussion within and between the two communities around this topic. With a particular emphasis … Continue reading Observations on the web
The building blocks of data infrastructure – Part 2
This is the second part of a two part post looking at the building blocks of data infrastructure. In part one we looked at definitions of data infrastructure, and the first set of building blocks: identifiers, standards and registers. You should read part one first and then jump back in here. We're using the example of … Continue reading The building blocks of data infrastructure – Part 2
The building blocks of data infrastructure – Part 1
Data is a vital form of infrastructure for our societies and our economies. When we think about infrastructure we usually think of physical things like roads and railways. But there are broader definitions of infrastructure that include less tangible things. Like ideas or the internet. It is important to recognise that there is more to … Continue reading The building blocks of data infrastructure – Part 1
Creating better checklists, a short review of the Checklist Manifesto
I've just finished reading The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (Cancer Research UK affiliate link). It's been on my reading list for a while. In my work I've written quite a few checklists to help capture best practice or to provide advice. So I was curious about whether I could learn something about creating better checklists. I … Continue reading Creating better checklists, a short review of the Checklist Manifesto
When are open (geospatial) identifiers useful?
In a meeting today, I was discussing how and when open geospatial identifiers are useful. I thought this might make a good topic for a blog post in my continuing series of questions about data. So here goes. An identifier provides an unambiguous reference for something about which we want to collect and publish data. … Continue reading When are open (geospatial) identifiers useful?
Data assets and data products
A lot of the work that we've done at the ODI over the last few years has involved helping organisations to recognise their data assets. Many organisations will have their IT equipment and maybe even their desks and chairs asset tagged. They know who is using them, where they are, and have some kind of … Continue reading Data assets and data products
We CAN get there from here
On Wednesday, as part of the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that the government will be creating a Geospatial Commission "to establish how to open up freely the OS MasterMap data to UK-based small businesses". It will be supported by new funding of £80 million over two years. The Commission will be looking at a … Continue reading We CAN get there from here
Lost Boy 