Four clues for untying the gordian knot of public sector information w notes

Alberto Ortiz de ZarateDirector of Citizen Services Brussels, 2011/06/28 Four clues for untying the Gordian knot of 2011 Annual Public Sector Information Conference ‘Moving Forward’Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Alberto Ortiz de Zarate,director of citizen services in the Basque Government, and the man incharge of the open data policy in our region.First, I want to thank the invitation of the PSI Alliance. For me and myGovernment, is an honour to speak at a forum like this, which bringstogether much of the European re-users. I want you to know that themain objective of our policy of open data is to fulfil your needs. 1

Cutting the knot: make it easyMany models of opening public sector information can be raised byapplying the European Directive 2003/98/EC. But it is not alwaysgood news that many models can coexist. Releasing publicinformation is a complex problem for Governments, perhaps sotangled as the Gordian knot that Alexander the Great found in hiscampaign of conquest of Persia.The Basque Government has started up an open government datastrategy 18 months ago. Now we have got experience enough todefine our own model. It’s very important to discuss strong and weakpoints of each model in order to approach some kind of agreementbetween governments. The aim is to be more effective and moreuseful for european society. 2

PSI chronology the backgroundgreen DIRECTIVE LAW PSIpaper 2003/98/CE 37/200799 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 First of all, let me explain the timeline of our project. There is quite a long history since 1998, when the European Commission drafted the Green Paper on public sector information in the information society. That was the foundation stone of the PSI movement. In 2003, the European directive on this matter was approved. Spain approved its own law at the end of 2007. 3

PSI chronology the backgroundgreen DIRECTIVE LAW PSIpaper 2003/98/CE 37/200799 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 oGov Data USA: OGD Principles data.gov data.gov: data.gov: conducts the 8 principles of Open Government Data. In parallel to the PSI movement, we find an equivalent in USA, called Open Government Data. PSI and OGD are not exactly the same, but both seek compatible goals, albeit from somewhat different ideological approaches . In 2007 we have the oGov Data Principles manifesto. In 2009, President Obama came to office and, in a short time, data.gov is online. It’s the first time that a national government conducts the eight principles of open government data. 4

PSI chronology the background UK (Brown):green DIRECTIVE LAWpaper data.gov.uk 2003/98/CE 37/200799 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 oGov Data data.gov OGD Principles data.gov.uk: data.gov.uk: first in Europe In 2009, we find the first case in Europe, with data.gov.uk, by the Gordon Brown Government in the UK. 5

PSI Chronology07 08 09 10 11 12 The Basque Country makes history Now we are going to focus in the very last years, in order to explain the Basque history on open data. 6

PSI chronology from a basque point of view DECREE 472/200907 08 09 10 11 12 LAW 37/2007 data.gov data.gov.uk Decree 472/2009 gives responsibility on 472/2009, openness of public information to the Office of Citizen Service In 2009, August , we established that the Office of Citizen Service was to be in charge of opening public information. 7

PSI chronology from a basque point of view Government DECREE Commitment 472/200907 08 09 10 11 12 LAW 37/2007 data.gov data.gov.uk Commitment 29/12/2009 the Basque 29/12/2009: Government ordered starting up the project to open public data Commitment 29/12/2009: the Basque Government ordered starting up the project to open public data 8

PSI chronology from a basque point of view Commitment 29/12/2009 Open Data Decree Euskadi 472/200907 08 09 10 11 12 LAW 37/2007 data.gov data.gov.uk 07/04/2010: "Open Data Euskadi" starts, with over 1,000 datasets On 2010, April, we started up opendata.euskadi.net, our catalog of open data. It was the first non-anglosaxon open data website in the world. 9

PSI chronology from a basque point of view Commitment 29/12/2009 Decree 472/200907 08 09 10 11 12 LAW 37/2007 data.gov data.gov.uk “you are here” here” 1.500 datasets Now we are in the middle of 2011. We have around 18 months of experience by now, and around 1.500 datasets. 10

opendata.euskadi.net07 08 09 10 11 12 This is how our portal looks like, with contents in 3 languages: spanish, basque and english. 11

Our model of Open Government DataThat was the history. I think it will be more interesting to talk aboutour strategy and our model. 12

Strategic framework: Open GovernmentWe are working under the umbrella of an Open Governmentstrategy.The Basque government has expressed its commitment to theprinciples of open government: transparency, participation andcollaboration.At one hand, each department is launching initiatives for opengovernment, from a sectorial point of view. At the other hand, we arelaunching some cross-cutting initiatives for the whole government.One of them is Open Data Euskadi. Another one is Irekia, our OpenGovernment website, which I strongly recommend to visit and know. 13

“In the Basque Country that I want, the citizen is anadult one who is able to think, decide and takeresponsibility by participating in the jointconstruction of the country.And I want to stress this: the times when citizenswere treated like children who are led by the hand,who are told what to do are over. The days whenpeople look to the politic parties or public institutionsto know where to walk have come to an end.” Patxi Lopez, January 14, 2010 “A new social contract between Basques” http://www.slideshare.net/Irekia/100114-contrato-social-kontratu-sozialOur region’s President is giving a strong support to the OpenGovernment strategy, and to this project. I want to quote 2paragraphs from a speech at the beginning of 2010. 14

Main objectives (1) Generating value and wealth Innovative products by companies, reusers and citizens in general. (2) Promoting government transparency Reuse of data to analyze and evaluate governance. (3) Interoperability between administrations New public services using data from different public bodies.Although we know that we can expect some more, we are focusingthe project on 3 main goals: 15

Cutting the Gordian knot #1: No documents, but data #2: No authorizations, but free reuse #3: No information-on-demand, but on-offer information-on- on- #4: No fees, but freeOK, probably I am boring the audience with all of this, talking all thetime about ourselves. I apologize. Now I can offer you a piece ofdebate.The PSI Directive –and the Spanish Law- sets a flexible frameworkwhich allows a number of choices.As I said before, some Governments are finding difficult to make reala project of open data.I think there are 4 knots that must be cut in order to go ahead withthe releasing of data. The key is “keeping it simple”. 16

#1: No documents, but data do it Wisdom yourself! Information Documents DataEuropean Directive defines PSI as “documents”. Problems:It misleads. The information theory tells us that the nuclear unit isthe data, while the document is a collection of data assembledtemporarily for a particular purpose.It is overwhelming. The number of documents possible from the dataapproaches infinity, and the neccesary work incalculable.It is unclear. PDF documents can not be considered open publicinformation!Our choice: raw datasets, with a high level of disaggregation. 17

#2: No authorizations, but free reuseThe term "administrative license" implies a request for use of publicinformation, an administrative proceeding and the issuance of alicense for a particular use for a given period. This is an absurdbureaucratic complexity, because:Information on the Internet is directly taken, not is requested.If public, I have the right to make use of it. Why limit my access?Our choice: CC-BY license where neccessary 18

on- on- #3: No on-demand, but on-offerWhen we think of documents and administrative licenses, we arethinking of a system of public information at the request ofstakeholders. This builds:An unsustainable system. Each request would be an onerousadministrative burden.Barriers to consumption. Its hard to ask for information we do notknow that there is.Our choice: release the information without waiting until isdemanded, while listening to the demands to release moreinformation. 19

#4: No fees, but free Australian Government: http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/gov20taskforcereport/chapter5.htmThe EU directive allows the setting of fees for the use of publicinformation. Again, we are in a paradigm of documents into ademand system. However, when focusing on data in a offer system,the fees are unnecessary and counterproductive.The fees are a major barrier. Reuse decreases exponentially with theprice of fees. Even small amounts can be a barrier that discouragesmost.The data is cheap. If an Administration already offers information onits website, the cost of offering data besides is minimal.The collection costs. The recovery procedures are only sustainablewith high rates.Our choice: spend a small budget, release lots of data and let themfree. 20

Priority in the releasing of data with reasonable technological sophistication 1.500 datasets tecnological model 4 stars on a scale of 5 (Berners-Lee)The technological model has also to be considered.Most of you will know the useful Berners-Lee’s scale of 5 stars.We have focused our strategy on the releasing of data, not on thetechnological sophistication. Nevertheless, we need to keep abalance. Datasets rated in the first stars of the scale are too muchdifficult to reuse. We feel comfortable with a 4 stars rate, and even 3stars may be enough for reusers.Of course, you can focus your strategy on the technological model.Doing so, you can contribute to make bigger the cloud of linked data.But the fact is that, unless you have unlimited resources, you willhave to choose between many datasets or few-but- beautifuldatasets.In the present time, with so few data to reuse, it is the time offocusing in the amount, with only a reasonable technologicalsophistication. 21

A model based on web content transparency step:1st step:public information = online Our model relies on the Government’s web platform: euskadi.net. So, our first commitment is to publish the information on our websites, so that my mother can easily find, read and understand it. This is the real action for transparency: all the information for everyone. Hidden information, databases, PDF documents… have to be transformed in web contents –HTML 22

A model based on web content transparency collaboration step:2nd step:release of open datasets Once we show the information on the web, the next thing to do is to release the raw data (xml, csv, wms…) and give access to it in Open Data Euskadi. Reusers can take datasets in order to create new information. This is a relation of collaboration with the Government. 23

A model based on web content transparency collaboration wealth innovation transparency step:3rd step:reuse provides social value Reusers can make new information and new services, pursuing a new business, some innovation or transparency and accountability to control the Government’s actions. 24

Areas of value For Governments and civil society (Ton Zijlstra): • Participation, self empowerment • Transparency, democratic control • Better (gov) products and services • New (gov) products and services • Policy impact analysis, data journalism • Efficiency and effectivity of government bodies • New knowledge entrepeneurs: For companies and entrepeneurs: • New businesses based on reuse of data • Products and services enriched with data reuse • Stimulation of local innovation • More efficient and transparent markets • Improving internal efficiency Ton Zijlstra: http://www.slideshare.net/TonZijlstra/ogd-in-europeThinking a little more in this relation of collaboration with reusers, wefind a number of areas of value. Some of then are related toGovernments and civil society (I took them from Tom Zijlstra) andsome to companies and entrepeneurs. 25

opendata.euskadi.netIf I had some time yet, we can take a glimpse to our website,opendata.euskadi.net. 26

“one stop shop” for reusers shop” 1.500 datasetsEvery department or body in the Basque Government is responsiblefor their datasets. We provide a gate, an “one stop shop” whichmakes easier to find and download all the stuff. 27

Types of data released• Official statistics• Geographic data, maps, orthophoto ...• Environmental information• Meteorology• Tourism resources• Tenders• Grants and subsidies• Other procedures 28

More datasets• Data on management• Data of common interest to many applications• Data on human rights• Translation memories into basque language• The incidence of real-time traffic• Election results• Location of health care resources• Atlas of mortality•… 29

Some extrasAs an example of reuse, some products havebeen developed:– Weather forecast widget– Map of traffic incidences– Search for grants and subsidies in real time 30

Participation and learningWe have a blog and a twitter profile to boost participation and toshare knowledge between reusers and government. If you develop anew service with data from Open Data Euskadi, we will give publicityhere. 31

A success case on top!Modestly, but honestly, we think ours is a success case. I fell morethan happy every time I put “open data” in google.es and see that“open data euskadi” is just on top. 32

Keys to success 1. Highest political leadership 2. Short-term releasing the maximum number of datasets. 3. First datasets of maximum utility and minimum difficulty 4. Making the project sustainable, with moderate levels of investment and spending 5. Providing good web content, usable and understandable, before making it available as open data. 6. Structured formats and standards. 7. Listen and involve reusers in order to meet their needs. 8. Advance the technological model, without seeking the leadership in this regard. 9. Permanent Beta: flexibility in response to the changing environment.Let me share with you which are the keys that explain our success. 33

Hatching a global movement CTIC Foundation: http://datos.fundacionctic.org/sandbox/catalog/faceted/To finish, I have two conclusions: one positive and another onenegative.The positive one is that Open Government Data is growingquickly, and it is a global movement yet. And Europe can claimsome leadership in this issue. 34

Lilacs out of the dead land CTIC Foundation: http://datos.fundacionctic.org/sandbox/catalog/faceted/The negative one is summarized in this verse form “The Waste Land”,by TS Elliot: “lilacs out of the dead land”. In fact, we have onlyisolated examples of open data policies, like lost islands all over anempty ocean. And there is not any coordination between the islands.So, reusers can’t do a good work out of europen data.I think that nowaday priorities are:- releasing much many datasets- coordinate which data must be released everywere and with whichformat 35

mila esker | thank you Alberto Ortiz de Zárate a-ortizdezarate@ej-gv.es http://eadminblog.net linkedin.com/in/alorza @alorzaReady for your questions! 36

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Four clues for untying the gordian knot of public sector information w notes

by Alberto Ortiz de Zarate

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