4 Ways to Build a More Effective Open DataProgram
Open data initiatives are helping localgovernments everywhere establish trust and transparency while garnering greaterresident participation and accessibility to resources. And they are launchingeverywhere.
In early February, with the aim to increasetransparency throughout the state, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signedlegislation that requires all state agencies to enact data transparency.
Meanwhile, in the city of Salinas, Calif.,armed with a new $2.3-million records-management software system, thegovernment is embarking on an open data and civic engagement initiative thattargets neighborhood safety, The Californian reports. The project aims toorganize data in a presentable and useable way on the city’s recentlyoverhauled website in order to engage more deeply with the public. It will alsoresult in the creation of an open data policy.
“We are in the age of big data and open data. A lot of people thinkof big cities and what they are doing internationally. You hear about Shanghai,London, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but really the movement for data and newtechnology has come through the big-sized cities to at least 100 other citiesacross the country,” said Salinas’ City Manager Ray Corpuz Jr. at a pressconference.
But as cities embark on new open datapolicies, it’s important to understand how to securely and effectivelyimplement open data initiatives.
1. Get a Chief Data Officer
The New Jersey Open Data Initiative doesn’tjust set forth rules around new data sharing standards, it also solidifies thechief data officer position, placing New Jersey CDO Liz Rowe in control of theopen data initiative.
Rowe has been active in her role since2015, telling Government Technology that she was originally brought onboard todevelop a strategy to define and manage enterprise data. Now, with the new law,she will use her authority to develop a data-set format standard across allagencies, share best practices and more.
"The initiative will help us drive thedevelopment of common standards and governance across the executivebranch," Rowe told the publication.
CDOs can help to ensure all public data ispublished in a timely manner, and to encourage public participation around thedata as it is released and updated, providing regular opportunities forfeedback and collaboration, according to the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation. Thefoundation uses technology and policy analysis to improve governmenttransparency and accountability. It has released recommendations aroundbuilding more effective open data policies for cities.
2. Establish an Easy-to-Use Website
With transparency and community engagementas the aim of open data, governments should be sure to place all open data on apublicly available city website, and be sure to maintain it.
But some cities are going even further. InRiverside, Calif., officials are going beyond portals by creating a municipalapps page, dedicated to hosting Android and iPhone apps that offer easy accessto data sets, including “311 requests, geolocated landmarks around town, orpublic meeting agendas,” according to an article on the Sunlight Foundation’swebsite.
3. Cater to Your Citizens
Open data has tons of creative uses, butneeds differ across localities.
In Los Angeles, a city that issues morethan 2.4 million parking tickets annually, the government launched an open dataportal in January that aims to give residents insight into where and when topark. According to an article on 21st Century State, the website providesdrivers with information on the most common times and reasons that violationsare issued.
“As much as we’d like to reduce parking fines, we currently rely onthe revenues,” said Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin in a press release.“Rather than just cut ticket prices now, we should instead invest in newsolutions that will help to reduce administrative costs, and give people aclearer indication whether they can park in a spot — so as to not get a ticketin the first place.”
4. Report and Review Your Open DataStrategy
Once a year, be sure to assess and reportthe city’s open data strategy, including “an assessment of how the city’s opendata work has furthered or will further the city’s programmatic priorities, anda description and publication timeline for datasets envisioned to be publishedby the city in the following year,” according to the Sunlight Foundation.
The results of the report will allow a cityto ensure city officials and open data projects are actively working towardachieving the city’s open data goals.
翻译：灯塔大数据；
