The document discusses open source development at the City of Helsinki. It notes that Helsinki has a small team practicing agile software development using open data, open source code, and open APIs. The team assists city departments in opening data and building APIs. Helsinki is a fan of open source and open data because it allows for crowdsourcing, transparency, flexibility, and lower costs. The document presents several APIs developed by Helsinki, including ones for open decisions, city services, linked events, resource reservations, and a platform for citizens to provide feedback. It concludes by discussing potential crowdsourcing of data on amenities and bike stations.

1. City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Crowdsourcing smart city
data in Helsinki
Riku Oja
Code Fellow@City of Helsinki
dev.hel.fi
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

2. Open source development at
the City of Helsinki
• A small team with agile software development practices using
• open data
• open source code
• open APIs
• Number of software developers
• 2013 – 1
• 2014 – 2
• 2015 – 5
• 2016 – 6 coders, 1 devops, 1 designer, plus contractors
• We assist city departments in opening up data and build APIs on top of
them
• In collaboration with Helsinki Region Infoshare (www.hri.fi), we
organize the bi-weekly Helsinki Loves Developers event
2
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

3. Why is Helsinki a fan of open
source and open data?
• Less dependence on monolithic systems and external providers
• Constantly improving quality of code and data
• Crowdsourcing
• Transparency, eyes on the code
• In-house software and procurement expertise prevents the most
glaring errors usually done when outsourcing
• Fast and agile development, lower costs, direct access to city data
• Allows employing the most recent technologies and external agile
developers whenever needed
• Allows collaborating and harmonizing APIs across cities
• Increases transparency and accountability in public sector decisions
and budgeting
• Lowers boundary of participation between citizens and government
3
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

4. Open decisions API
4
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

5. Helsinki Service Map and API
5
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

6. Linked Events API
6
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

7. Resource reservation API
7
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

8. Kerro kantasi platform and API
8
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

9. Where do we need more amenities?
9
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

10. Where do we need more amenities?
10
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

11. Where do we need city bike stations?
11
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

12. Where do we need city bike stations?
12
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

13. Next: snow on the bike lanes?
13
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016

14. 14
Thank you!
dev.hel.fi
riku.oja@hel.fi
City of Helsinki
City Executive Office
Mindtrek, Tampere
10/18/2016