The following e-mail was sent to councillors Bob Monette, Rainer Bloess and Rob Jellett, who represent the east end of the City of Ottawa, in which I live.  I encourage you all to write your councillors in support of Open Data.

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Councillor,

As a resident of Ottawa’s East End, and as a software developer, I am writing you regarding the presentations that were made before the IT Services Subcommittee on Monday, April 19^th with regards to “open data” in the City of Ottawa.

If you are not yet familiar with the topic of Open Data, the basic idea is that information should be made available in standard formats that can be read by a variety of computer programs. This data should be available for use by the public, without restrictions.

For example, the City current publishes its Garbage Collection Calendar as a PDF file on its website.  Although PDF files are a popular format in which to present data, they are is not “open”. All you can do with a PDF-based calendar is look at it, or print it.

An open version of this same calendar would be, in its simplest form, a list of dates on which garbage collection would occur and which types of garbage and recycling are collected on those dates.  Although not as visually appealing as the current PDF calendar, this list of dates can be read by many different pieces of software to provide value-added services such as sending reminders to your cell phone or e-mail address the night your recycling should be put out, or adding the collection schedule to your calendar software of choice.

A few examples of other datasets that would be of value if provided in an open format include map layers of bicycle paths, parks and parking lots, lists of upcoming events, or the inspection records of local restaurants.

There are a growing number of developers that are, for their own utility or enjoyment, taking data that is made available by the City, and creating computer applications to inform and serve the citizens of this city.  These applications take many forms – from websites to applications for mobile phones.  The Open Data initiative aims to make more information available.

Yes, there is a cost associated with making the data available.  However, you will see a great return on this investment as these applications are released.  The cost of preparing this data and making it available is minimal compared to the cost of having the city develop the applications that will be created by the community.

This Saturday, April 24^th, the “Open Data Hackfest” will be taking place at City Hall.  This event will showcase applications already being created with the limited data that is available.  Other cities in Canada – Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton, to name a few – have released many datasets in open formats.  I encourage you to look at what both our own local developers and other cities are doing, to see the possibilities that exist for our city.

You can find information about these initiatives through the following links:

• Ottawa Open Data Hackfest – http://www.opendataottawa.ca/
• Vancouver Open Data – http://data.vancouver.ca/
• Toronto Open Data – http://www.toronto.ca/open/
• Edmonton Open Data – http://data.edmonton.ca/

I believe in the value and the benefits of open data to the City of Ottawa, and am very glad to see that IT Services Subcommittee is in favour of it.  When this issue is presented before the full council, I hope you will support it as well.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Shawn M. Hooper