Open Data Standards Pilot:Discoverability & Interoperability Findings

Jean-Noé Landry, Executive DirectorSuthee Sangiambut, Research & Policy Officer

June 27, 2018

Overview

• Pilot Project Background

• Open Data Context

• Pilot Project Findings

• Recommendations

Pilot Project Background

• The need: lack of open data standards• Pilot Project Tasks

▪ Inventory of existing open data standards▪ Define top 10 municipal open datasets▪ Engage 10 municipalities for detailed input▪ Map differences in dataset name, categories, tags & attributes▪ Propose dataset definitions for top 10 ▪ Final Report with adoption strategy & recommendations

Initial survey: what dataset to focus on?

1. Address points (GIS)

2. Building footprints (GIS)

3. Building permits

4. Business listings

5. Crime information

6. Development permit applications

7. Election results

8. Emergency calls (911)

9. Financial: Actual Expenditures

10. Financial: Budget data

11. Food safety inspections

12. Public facilities

13. Road construction

14. Procurement contracts

15. Service requests

16. Street Centerline (road segments)

17. Traffic accidents

18. Transit data

19. Zoning (GIS)

Key observations

Response rate = 73

1. Participation in open data groups?a. Majority do not collaborate outside their municipality on open data

2. Where do you currently get information about data standards? (n=47)a. MISA: 21/47b. Colleagues internally: 24/47c. Other municipalities: 35/47d. No data standard in our organization: 12/47

Publicly available: Available as a legislated requirement, Available on our open data portal, Available in digital (non pdf) formatClosed/unknown: Available in a database (but not available to the public), Dataset unavailable, Don't know, can't say

Choosing top datasets

Demand for data

Low Medium High

Benefits of the data

Low

Medium Building Footprints, Financial: Actual Expenditures, Procurement Contracts, Traffic accidents, Road Construction

High Crime InformationBusiness Listings, Development Permit Applications, Election Results, Financial: Budget Data, Service Requests

Address Points, Building Permits, Food Safety Inspections, Road Network, Transit Data, Zoning, Public Facilities, Transit

10 datasets

• Road network• Public facilities• Address points• Transit data• Building permits• Road construction• Zoning• Election results• Budget• Business directory

Standardization Gaps: Centerline/Road Network

Dataset Different Names Used

Different Categories Number of Tags (range)

Number of Attributes (range)

Road Network 5 8 0 - 9 8 - 18

• Naming conventions varied

• Data categories not consistent. In some cases, no categories• Dataset tags/keywords not leveraged• Attributes similar but not identical

Road Classification

Ottawa Source: https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/community-plans-and-design-guidelines/design-and-planning-0-13

Ontario Road Network Source: https://www.sse.gov.on.ca/sites/MNR-PublicDocs/EN/CMID/ORN%20Road%20Net%20Element%20-%20Data%20Description.pdf

Catalogue representation of datasets

Before After

Pilot Project Recommendations: Dataset Categories

• Administrative Boundaries. Location based boundaries are used to define legal (e.g. municipal boundary) or operational boundaries (e.g. election wards, garbage collection zones).

• Business and Economy. Services and related data that supports the business community and the local and regional economic development.

• Community Services. Social services that support the wellbeing of individuals, families and the community at large.

• Environment. The entire natural ecosystem of air, water, land and biodiversity and all related inter-relationship data.

• Health and Safety. Services data related to Fire, Police, Emergency Medical Services and hospital and health care data.

• Infrastructure and Facilities. Data related to hard infrastructure assets (e.g. sewer and water networks) and municipal facilities such as community centres and City Hall.

Pilot Project Recommendations: Dataset Categories

• Land Development. Data related to the land development process (e.g. zoning change application, building permits), zoning and official land development plans.

• Local Government. Data related to the operation of local government including elections and contact information for public services, complaints and events.

• Location (Geospatial). Address points, (centreline) road network, location markers (horizontal and vertical control), E9-1-1 locations.

• Maps and Imagery. Municipal map products and interactive mapping together with terrestrial and remote sensed imagery.

• Parks and Recreation. This category includes data on recreation facility assets (e.g. parks, tennis courts, arenas), cultural assets (e.g. museums), libraries and recreation program data.

• Transportation. The entire transportation ecosystem including roads, bike paths, public transit, transportation planning and related statistical data.

Recommendations: Dataset Definition

Key Standards Adoption Strategy Factors

• Simple process• Education• Ongoing community of practice support• Vendor support

• Finalize Version 1.0 of Dataset Definition• Table the following approach at the next MISA Ontario Board of

Directors meeting:▪ Increase metadata output in open data by: continuing to

engage municipalities▪ Develop a DIY guide for: standards adoption, standardisation of

metadata, and dataset content▪ Expand scope of work to include all levels of government▪ Expand collaboration to MISA Canada Chapters

What’s Next? Moving Beyond the Pilot