Comments on: DataSF : A example for UK Local Authorities to follow ? http://www.edparsons.com/2009/09/datasf-a-example-for-uk-local-authorities-to-follow/ The blog of Ed Parsons, Geographer. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:11:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dane Wright http://www.edparsons.com/2009/09/datasf-a-example-for-uk-local-authorities-to-follow/#comment-1845 Dane Wright Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:46:54 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=995#comment-1845 UK local authorities are indeed following this example and a new directory on the eGov Register now holds links to local government Open Data which is made available for public re-use. This is pretty limited at the moment but hopefully the situation will improve and this can be monitored via the eGov Register. See http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/documents/Open+Data Any type of data can be recorded in the directory and if it is in KML there is a link to allow you to preview the dataset using Google Maps. It's true that at the moment most LA location data will have been created using OS maps and thus cannot be provided for public re-use under current licensing rules. But increasingly local authorities will begin to use alternative sources for their public facing geo-spatial data and this will allow them to provide Open Data which can be freely re-used. UK local authorities are indeed following this example and a new directory on the eGov Register now holds links to local government Open Data which is made available for public re-use. This is pretty limited at the moment but hopefully the situation will improve and this can be monitored via the eGov Register.

See http://www.brent.gov.uk/egr.nsf/documents/Open+Data

Any type of data can be recorded in the directory and if it is in KML there is a link to allow you to preview the dataset using Google Maps.

It’s true that at the moment most LA location data will have been created using OS maps and thus cannot be provided for public re-use under current licensing rules. But increasingly local authorities will begin to use alternative sources for their public facing geo-spatial data and this will allow them to provide Open Data which can be freely re-used.

]]> By: Jules http://www.edparsons.com/2009/09/datasf-a-example-for-uk-local-authorities-to-follow/#comment-1844 Jules Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:53:37 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=995#comment-1844 Couldn't agree more. The OS rules on derived data makes sharing of information difficult. The OS provide excellent maps, but their restrictions mean we have to look elsewhere for new leaders in the mapping arena. Thankfully Google has at least opened up mapping for everybody, something that's been sadly lacking from Ordnance Survey. Unfortunately it takes time to create data not based on OS coords or background information, but it will happen because who wants to limit distribution of their data by antiquated OS rules. Thanks Ed, I needed somewhere to express my disgust at the mapping situation in the UK. Couldn’t agree more. The OS rules on derived data makes sharing of information difficult.

The OS provide excellent maps, but their restrictions mean we have to look elsewhere for new leaders in the mapping arena. Thankfully Google has at least opened up mapping for everybody, something that’s been sadly lacking from Ordnance Survey.

Unfortunately it takes time to create data not based on OS coords or background information, but it will happen because who wants to limit distribution of their data by antiquated OS rules.

Thanks Ed, I needed somewhere to express my disgust at the mapping situation in the UK.

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