What is Public Open Data?
Public Open Data is data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone – subject only, at most, to the requirement to attribute and sharealike.
Key aspects:
- Availability and Access: the data must be available as a whole and at no more than a reasonable reproduction cost, preferably by downloading over the internet. The data must also be available in a convenient and modifiable form.
- Re-use and Redistribution: the data must be provided under terms that permit re-use and redistribution including the intermixing with other datasets.
- Universal Participation: everyone must be able to use, re-use and redistribute – there should be no discrimination against fields of endeavour or against persons or groups. For example, ‘non-commercial’ restrictions that would prevent ‘commercial’ use, or restrictions of use for certain purposes (e.g. only in education), are not allowed.
If you’re wondering why it is so important to be clear about what open means and why this definition is used, there’s a simple answer: interoperability.
Interoperability denotes the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together (inter-operate). In this case, it is the ability to interoperate – or intermix – different datasets.
What kind of data should not be open?
Personal or privacy related data, which does not contain information about specific individuals, commercially sensitive data or national security government related data should not be part of the Public Open Data.
How it works and why is it good for all of us?
Publishing open data creates a virtuous circle that benefits those using and delivering transport networks.
Public Open Data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone can support operational service improvements, the development of new customer facing products and services, increase transparency and innovation and challenge existing ways of working.
Private Open Data sets (such as proprietary processed data) will be available also to those who can complete specific challenges, launched by the Municipalities or Public Transport Operators.
tranzy.ai does not release any personal or commercially sensitive data.
What’s different?
Our philosophy centers around common good and the action of doing good first, and we strongly believe that providing fair and equal access to public data is far more valuable to us and our society than utilizing it exclusively for a perceived competitive advantage, regardless of ownership.
tranzy.ai is the first private company that has a growth strategy based on Open Data, because we believe a private company is better suited to orchestrate open data initiatives than a public institution.
Expertise
Private companies often have specific expertise in data management, analytics, and visualization. They may have dedicated teams and resources for collecting, analyzing, and presenting data in a user-friendly format that can benefit the public.
Innovation
Private companies are typically driven by profit and are more likely to invest in innovative technologies and solutions to make data more accessible and valuable. They may also be more flexible in adapting to changing technologies and user needs.
Accountability
Private companies are accountable to their customers and shareholders, who demand high standards of transparency and quality. This can translate into a higher level of accountability and responsiveness to user needs compared to some public institutions.
Partnership opportunities
Private companies may be more willing to partner with other organizations to develop and promote open data initiatives, such as academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. This can lead to a more collaborative and diverse ecosystem of data providers, users, and stakeholders.
Overall, a private company can bring a unique set of skills, resources, and perspectives to the task of orchestrating open data initiatives, which can complement and enhance the efforts of public institutions. However, it’s important to note that public institutions also have a critical role to play in ensuring that open data is used for the public good and that access to data is equitable and non-discriminatory.
Best practices: Deloitte's report on value of Open Data for Transport for London (TfL)
Research by Deloitte shows that the release of open data by TfL is generating annual economic benefits and savings of up to £130m a year.
Proof of concept: Open Data Live Map – iframe
This useful tool was created only using Public Open Data sets.
