Toronto Sun: Toronto’s data open but almost useless

Posted by Tracey P. Lauriault on Jul 07, 2011; 1:22pm
URL: http://civicaccess.416.s1.nabble.com/Toronto-Sun-Toronto-s-data-open-but-almost-useless-tp3414.html

Toronto’s data open but almost useless
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/06/torontos-data-open-but-almost-useless

This is the first news article I have seen in Canada to date that questions data access for citizens not just designer/developer/academic community:

“Right now, the primary audience is the local designer/developer/academic community,” Garner says. “However, we have plans to build it out and position it more clearly within the context of Open Government in a way which would have more tangible benefits for a wider audience.”
It’s time for those plans to become action. As long as citizens have to rely on web-savvy developers to do the hard work for them, the data isn’t truly open.

However, I am not sure which format the article's author wants the data in, xls is probably the lowest common denominator and many of the City's data are in those formats.  The City of Toronto Catalog has ESRI shape files, those are GIS files and there is no making those easier either.  How does a city decide on formats?  Should they be releasing data in the way that they use them in the formats used as part of a city's business processes or should they re-format the data for the public?  

Geogratis took the approach to release data as they use them.  This keeps their costs down by not adding any work load, it also keeps the data accurate, as conversion can introduce errors in geomatics files.  It also means that users need to know how to work with those formats and do the conversions themselves and bear the risk of errors as well.

The article is also a bit erroneous, as the Edmonton Catalog has many formats that are difficult to use by lay people.  Useful for those creating mashups but not great for lay people.

So interesting that it brings up citizen use but not quite an accurate picture.

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Tracey P. Lauriault
613-234-2805
http://traceyplauriault.ca/