Developing Open Data for Manchester

Developing Open Data for Greater Manchester

Julian Tait

7th May 2015

OpenDataManchester

[email protected]@julianlstar

CrowdFlow WiFi heat map

OpenData Cities

• Developed in 2009 by FutureEverything

• Became an umbrella for a programme of open data work in Greater Manchester and beyond

• Created Open Data Manchester, DataGM and GMDSP

OpenDataManchester

How would a city evolve if all data was made open?

OpenDataManchester

How would a city evolve if all data was made open?

• Create an environment for innovation in services based upon data

• Enable re-enfranchisement of the citizenry

• Allow greater accountability

• Generate savings through efficiency

• Create a more collaborative design environment

OpenDataManchester

Looking towards North America

OpenDataManchester

Wigan317,800

Bolton276,800

Bury185,100

Rochdale211,700

Oldham224,900

Tameside219,300

Stockport283,300

Salford233,900

Trafford226,600

Manchester503,100

Greater Manchester

Population2.7 million OpenData

Manchester

OpenDataManchester

Benefits of looking at the conceptual city

• Creates the potential for scaling solutions and an enhanced return on investment

• Helps identify city-scale challenges rather than borough-scale ones

• Aligns with how people use the city

OpenDataManchester

Benefits of looking at the conceptual city

• Creates the potential for scaling solutions and an enhanced return on investment

• Helps identify city-scale challenges rather than borough-scale ones

• Aligns with how people use the city

Problem - GM doesn’t work like that

Creating the environment for change

OpenDataManchester

Understanding challenges faced by the city:

• No money

• Need to continue to deliver services

• The need to make efficiencies and share data

• Need to be seen to be acting on behalf of citizens

OpenDataManchester

Who is the data for?Creating a demand-side argument

Man

ches

ter

Salford

Bolton

Tames

ide

Traffo

rd

Oldham

Wigan

Stock

port

Rochdale

Bury

Policy andimprovement

Planning

Freedom ofinformation

Pan GreaterManchester

Identifying communities

The politics of open data

OpenDataManchester

The politics of open data

OpenDataManchester

The rise of the armchair auditor and the downsizing of the state

“The simple task of putting spending online will open the doors to an army of armchair auditors who will be able to see at a glance exactly where millions of pounds spent last year went.” Eric Pickles 2011

• Partnership between FutureEverything and Trafford Council

• Three months from start to launch

• Based upon CKAN

• Holds data for public and voluntary sector organisations

The evolution of DataGM

OpenDataManchester

OpenDataManchester

Open data ecology

DataGM Structure

Trafford FE

Lead PartnersLocal Authorities

Pan-GM Organisations

OpenDataManchester

Advisory B

ody

Voting Steering Group

10 GM Local Authorities - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside & Wigan

Pan - GM Organisations - TfGM, GMP, GM Fire and Rescue & Strategic Health Authority NW

Non Public Sector Organisations - FutureEverything & OpenData Manchester

Advisory Body - Marketing Manchester, New Economy, MDDA, Open Knowledge Foundation & Others

DataGM Structure

The weird and wonderful world of public data

OpenDataManchester

The weird and wonderful world of public data

The challenges faced:

• Sometimes held in different systems

• The data is likely to suffer years of abuse

• Often different datasets describe the same thing differently

• Arcane and proprietary formats that aren’t easy to interpret

• Data often maintained by 3rd party who restricts access

• Data gatekeepers

OpenDataManchester

Thank you.

OpenDataManchester

[email protected]@julianlstar

Developing Open Data for Greater Manchester

Julian Tait