Given that the more data you gather and the more open it is, the more likely you will be to be able to gain information, knowledge and – eventually wisdom – from it; and places about which there is most wisdom (knowledge and information etc) are most likely to thrive; then it is in the interests of local leaders to draw together (create links to) data about their area?
One way of doing this might be to set up an online local observatory. This could be as simple as a list of links to datasets, sources of data and information relating to your area with some explanation of what each is, how and why it exists, how it might be biased etc. This would enables you, or anyone else with an interest in the area (and who may therefore be able to help you) to make more of what data and information is available. When you add links to datasets on your local observatory, you could use the 5 Star Standard to indicate how open the data is.
Bear in mind that the evidence of your own and other people’s senses forms data too. Your local observatory does not just have to be a dry list of datasets; it could include comments and newsfeeds about the area; video interviews with local people; photographs and drawings of the area; maps and plans. Your local observatory will probably be online, but it could also have a physical base at a local library, school or community centre.
You might already have a website covering your area which enables people to share information about it. Could that be the place to base an online local data observatory?
Reviewing this section …
the summary of this section on Open Data
why ‘bigger’ isn’t always better when it comes to data
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