The document discusses several OGP-related initiatives in Italy that promote civic use of open data at the local level. It describes OpenCoesione, which released funding data as open data, and Monithon and ASOC, which enable citizens and students to monitor publicly funded projects by working with this open data. It also discusses a student project in Palermo that compared transportation plans to open data and ultimately convinced the city to release more data. The document advocates engaging a variety of groups with open data and using it to improve processes rather than punish errors.

1. OGP-related Initiatives
at the Local Level
Examples and thoughts from Italy
Marco Fioretti
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

2. OpenCoesione
•Background:
the Italian Government and the EU Cohesion (aka.
Regional) Policy co-fund everything from large
infrastructures to small aids for local projects
The Italian Government released as Open Data
detailed information on all the 800k+ projects funded
in Italy (almost 80 billion Euros)
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

3. OpenCoesione (2)
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

4. Monithon: OpenCoesion e for normal people
Monitoring Marathon fosters (group) civic use of Open
Data
makes it easier for ordinary citizens to:
• work together on the raw data from OpenCoesione
• link to them status reports from the field
• connect everything into structured stories
• stimulate local administrators and entrepreneurs to
work better
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

5. How does Monithon wo rk?
Platform based on Ushahidi
• 10-page end-user manual
• Proposed as collective activity (Monithon Days)
Initially conceived by the OpenCoesione team
Later become an independent project by the Italian
“civic hacking” community
Partners with local activist groups (e.g. Libera, a
national anti-Mafia NGO)
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

6. The Monithon portal
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

7. The Monithon portal (2)
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

8. ASOC (A Scuola di O pen Coesione)
“Monithon in and for schools”
Data-based storytelling on matters of civic interest by
high school students
Includs ad-hoc training course on OpenCoesione data
first cycle involved 7 schools across Italy in 2013/14
other schools should follow this year
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

9. Catramiamoci
Students in Palermo decided to compare bus stop positions, and
bus transit times with planned performances of new light railway
to be developed with POR-FESR funds found in OpenCoesione
The City of Palermo didn't release those data
The students went to get them by themselves, on the ground and
online
Eventually, following that and other pressures, the City released
the official version of the same dataset as Open Data
Proved to students feasibility and value of new ways to interact
with local administrators for the common good
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

10. Catramiamoci (2)
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

11. What may we learn fr om these stories?
Never expect, or use as excuse for doing noting, that
“everybody will, or should, use Open Data”
• That NEVER was (or should have been) the goal
• The goal is to give equal access opportunities to ALL
who can effectively use the data
But widen support and usage of Open Data as early as
possible
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

12. What may we learn fr om these stories? (2)
Never mind about “poor data quality”
• Otherwise you will never get anything done
• Of course data today suck! But...
• That's why we want them open: to improve them together
The point is never to make of data opening a witch hunt
• Make clear that you know that who has “ugly data” today is not
“guilty”
• Explain that not releasing anything is very often worse that
releasing “ugly data”
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

13. What may we learn fr om these stories? (3)
Use opening of Data as occasion to streamline procedures
• If it is too expensive or complicated to release your data, it often
means you are not working well
Make citizens enter structured data (e.g. Company names in
Monithon reports)
Extend the model to work without assistance or input (not
even the initial raw data!) from the above
• E.G. Make schools produce and use Open Data in normal
activities by themselves
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved

14. Final notes
These slides will be available soon at
http://mfioretti.com
Please read and send feedback about the “Open data
in and from schools” proposal at mfioretti.com
Contact info: marco@digifreedom.net and @mfioretti_en
Thanks!
Marco Fioretti (marco@digifreedom.net) 2014/11/26 First National OGP Forum, Skopje
http://mfioretti.com
http://stop.zona-m.net/ Some Rights Reserved