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
Category: The Commons
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
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
The state of open licensing, 2017 edition
Let's talk about open data licensing. Again. Last year I wrote a post, the State of Open Licensing in which I gave a summary of the landscape as I saw it. A few recent developments mean that I think it's worth posting an update. But Leigh, I hear you cry, do people really care about licensing? … Continue reading The state of open licensing, 2017 edition
What is a Dataset? Part 2: A Working Definition
A few years ago I wrote a post called "What is a Dataset?" It lists a variety of the different definitions of "dataset" used in different communities and standards. What I didn't do is give my own working definition of dataset. I wanted to share that here along with a few additional thoughts on some … Continue reading What is a Dataset? Part 2: A Working Definition
The Lego Analogy
I think Lego is a great analogy for understanding the importance of data standards and registers. Lego have been making plastic toys and bricks since the late 40s. It took them a little while to perfect their designs. But since 1958 they've been manufacturing bricks in the same way, to the same basic standard. This … Continue reading The Lego Analogy
Mapping wheelchair accessibility, how google could help
This month Google announced a new campaign to crowd-source information on wheelchair accessibility. It will be asking the Local Guides community of volunteers to begin answering simple questions about the wheelchair accessibility of places that appear on Google Maps. Google already crowd-sources a lot of information from volunteers. For example, it asks them to contribute photos, … Continue reading Mapping wheelchair accessibility, how google could help
Lost Boy 