This document discusses open data and open APIs in the U.S. and worldwide. It notes that open data can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose. Governments share data to meet compliance requirements, better communicate with citizens, create efficiencies, and spur innovation and economic growth. The U.S. has over 135,000 open data collections and 450 APIs available. However, challenges remain in making non-machine readable data accessible via APIs and ensuring data quality and privacy. The document advocates expanding open data ecosystems through community engagement to realize open data's potential.

1. Open Data and Open API in the
U.S. and Worldwide
Jeanne Holm
Senior Consultant
December 11, 2014

2. What is Open Data?
Open data and content
can be freely used,
modified, and shared by
anyone for any purpose

3. Citizens and Businesses Need…
3
• Government to provide more and better
information for
• Transparency
• Economic development
• Education and learning
• Analytics and insight
• Civic programs
• Citizen engagement

4. Why Do Governments Share Data?
•Meet regulatory compliance
•Better communicate with citizens and
stakeholders
•Create internal efficiencies
•Spur innovation and economic growth in a
sector
4

5. Which Sectors Can Use Open Data?
5
(Gartner 2013)

6. Innovating With Open Data in India
• Data.gov.in (12,000+ datasets)
• RTI provides a process
• Rich technical knowledge and
numbers of developers
• World class educational
institutions
• Open source platform
• Lack of machine accessibility
to open data (e.g., API)
• Need to formalize the open
data community
• Policies are incomplete for
open by design
• Digital divide persists
• Real-time and GIS data are
rare
• Indic language requirements
Opportunities Challenges
6

7. 7
Building a National Platform
for Open Data
Building a National Platform
for Open Data

8. Presidential Executive Order and DATA Act
•Order: All government open by
default
•Law: Financial data disclosures
in structured standard formats
8

9. 135,000+
collections
500,000 data
resources
230 organizations
450 APIs

10. Open Exchanges with Citizens
10
Data jams and
data paloozas and events
at the White House,
agencies, and everywhere
Data jams and
data paloozas and events
at the White House,
agencies, and everywhere

11. Connecting Over Social Media
11

12. Public Feedback
12
https://github.com/GSA/data.g
ov

13. Open API at API.Data.gov
13

14. Integrates Cities, States, and Federal Government
14

15. Open Government Platform (OGPL)
15
Email, Github, Facebook, Drupal.org, and Twitter for discussion
https://github.com/opengovtplatform
http://www.opengovplatform.org
Email, Github, Facebook, Drupal.org, and Twitter for discussion
https://github.com/opengovtplatform
http://www.opengovplatform.org

16. 16

18. Creating the Open Data Community
18
Open Data
is an
Ecosystem

19. Essential Participants for Open Data to Succeed
19

20. Releasing and using open data is
about empowering people to
make better decisions
Releasing and using open data is
about empowering people to
make better decisions
20

21. Create Communities with the Public and Government
21
Topics
Developers ✓
Safety ✓
Energy ✓
Health ✓
Law ✓
Education ✓
Ocean ✓
Manufacturing ✓
Business ✓
Ethics ✓
States ✓
Counties ✓
Cities ✓
Agriculture ✓
+ many more…

22. Agriculture Drives Innovation and Saves Lives
22
Farmers’ Markets
mFarm

23. Next Steps: Expand India’s Open Data Ecosystem
• Engage, encourage, and inspire all Indian citizens
• Build relationships with public and private organizations in using open data
• Create opportunities and recognize excellence
• Partner with educational institutions and community groups
• Become open by design
• Implement Policies and Acts that promote publication of data
• Provide local data
• Encourage and support states sharing data
• Provide more real-time and geospatial data
• Ensure trust
• Validate data quality
• Ensure citizen privacy
• Provide an open forum for feedback
• Enhance accessibility
• Adopt standards and ensure machine readability (via APIs)
23

24. A Global Movement Has
Begun to Provide
Transparency and
Democratization of Data
A Global Movement Has
Begun to Provide
Transparency and
Democratization of Data
24