Information about the availability of Open Data on local authority websites is now being added to the eGov Register to provide an overview of progress towards the provision by local government of data for public re-use.
It is expected that this information will eventually be superseded by the central UK government resource at data.gov.uk which will provide a directory of both central and local datasets which can be used freely to develop innovative applications using public data. Other examples of such resources are data.london.gov.uk, data.gov, datasf.org and data.vancouver.ca/datacatalogue
In the meantime the eGov Register will be updated to hold details of datasets from UK local authorities which are available for public re-use. These are categorised and searchable with links to the data source and any associated information. Once the eGR self-service facility is available then local authority staff will be able to maintain this data for themselves.
This is work in progress and we welcome any suggestions for improvement or examples of further datasets - please email egr@brent.gov.uk
If a local authority website has a page describing its provision of Open Data then this is shown on its eGR LA page with a link to a list of the datasets which that authority is making available.
Lists of the LAs which currently have Open Datasets are available by:
1. LA name - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/ODLA?OpenView
2. File format - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/webviews/Open+Data+by+Format
3. Category - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/webviews/Open+Data+by+Category
4. Region - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/webviews/Open+Data+by+Region
Examples of data for individual LAs are Brent, Eden, Kent and Lichfield.
An RSS feed for new additions will be available in the future.
Other useful resources relating to Open Data include:
Cabinet Office - Calling Open Data Developers
HM Government - Frontline First : Smarter Government
CKAN (comprehensive knowledge archive network) - http://www.ckan.net
Google public data - http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/request.py?contact_type=public_data
Guardian Free our Data & Data store
Home Office - http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/non-personal-data
London DataStore - http://data.london.gov.uk - opened Jan 2010
UK data store - http://data.gov.uk - opened 21 Jan 2010
Open Knowledge Foundation - http://www.okfn.org
OpenlyLocal - http://openlylocal.com - access to local democracy data for all authorities
OPSI (Office of Public Sector Information) - http://www.opsi.gov.uk
Open PSI - http://www.openpsi.org
Twitter - #opendata #LinkedData
Wikipedia - Open Data, Linked Data, Semantic Web
07/01/10 - London Datastore announced with 200 initial datasets. Full launch at end of January.
07/12/09 - Prime Minister confirms commitment to open data in Smarter Government - "We will encourage local government to release local public data and make it free for reuse, and establish an open-platform local data exchange. Professor Nigel Shadbolt will lead a local public data panel to ensure that data are linked effectively across local authorities, the Local Government Association, government departments and agencies. "
Directory of mashups, APIs etc using LA Open Data - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/documents/Mashups
Usage of social media by UK local authorities - http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/documents/Social+Media