Since late 2009 there has been a tendency towards a previously unknown openness in providing governmental data to the public. Valuable data sources are opened not only to selected scientists, but everybody who has internet connection available. The following shall be an overview on Open Linked Data, Government Data Sets and how they are made available in different parts of the world. Starting with the U.K. countries in northern Europe, the U.S.A and Australia have already opened up their databases to the public. The different ways and similarities in Open Data, Government Data and Linked Open Government Data shall be outlined. Furthermore the different user groups and their needs will be considered.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. Overview on the Terms
2.1 Open Data
2.2 Linked data
2.3 Open Linked Data
2.4 Government Data
2.5 Open Government Data Sets
2.6 Linked Open Government Data
3. Data Quality's path to Semantic Web
3.1 Raw data
3.2 Linked Data
3.3 Linking data
3.4 Standards
3.5 License
3.6 Metadata
4. Semantic Web
5. International Use
5.1 United Kingdom
5.2 USA
5.3 Europe (EU)
5.4 Australia and New Zealand
6. Using the data
6.1 Download and Local Applications
6.2 Web Applications
6.3 Visualization
7. Target Group of Government Data
8. OUTLOOK
9. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This work explores the global emergence of Open Government Data and the subsequent integration into the Semantic Web through Linked Open Government Data. The primary goal is to analyze how governmental entities around the world are making data available, the technological challenges involved, and how different user groups can benefit from increased transparency and standardized data connectivity.
- The transition from traditional "Open Data" to "Linked Open Government Data" (LOGD).
- Technical standards for data quality, including RDF, URIs, and metadata requirements.
- International comparative analysis of data opening initiatives in the UK, USA, EU, and Oceania.
- Methods for data utilization, including web applications and visualization techniques.
- Analysis of target groups for government data, ranging from scientists and businesses to the general public.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Linked Data
Linked Data means that the data is connected to other related data in the first place. Anyway there is a difference between simple links and more related information coming with the links. The linking might happen in different ways, making it difficult to compare them. Since this has always been a problem in the web world, there have been efforts to standardize them.
The definitions of linked data have been published by on W3C.ORG by Tim Berners-Lee as “rules” and “steps”[2]:
1. Use URIs as names for things
2. Use HTTP URIs so that people can look up those names
3. When someone looks up a URI, provide useful information (RDF, SPARQL)
4. Include links to other URIs, so that they can discover more things
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the growing public interest in governmental data and the historical development towards the open data movement and Web 3.0.
2. Overview on the Terms: Clarifies definitions and conceptual differences between Open Data, Linked Data, and the specialized domain of Open Government Data Sets.
3. Data Quality's path to Semantic Web: Examines the technical requirements for transforming raw data into high-quality linked data, including standards, licensing, and metadata.
4. Semantic Web: Discusses the evolution towards the Semantic Web and introduces the five-star model for Open Linked Data as a framework for data connectivity.
5. International Use: Reviews and compares the diverse national approaches to open data and transparency in the UK, USA, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand.
6. Using the data: Analyzes the practical application of open data, focusing on download methods, custom web applications, and visualization tools.
7. Target Group of Government Data: Investigates the needs and potential use cases of different stakeholders, including scientists, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
8. OUTLOOK: Offers predictions on the future trajectory of government data transparency, the role of mobile technologies, and political motivations.
9. CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings, asserting that the shift toward linked open data is an irreversible and beneficial trend for global transparency.
Keywords
Linked Data, Open Data, Open Government Data, Semantic Web, data.gov, data.gov.uk, RDF, SPARQL, Metadata, Transparency, E-Government, Data Visualization, Web 3.0, Public Information Systems, Open Source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The paper examines the global movement toward making governmental data publicly available, focusing on the technical and structural transition from raw data sets to interconnected "Linked Open Government Data" (LOGD) within the Semantic Web.
What are the core thematic areas covered?
The text covers the definition of relevant terms, technical standards for linking data, international case studies, practical methods for utilizing the data, and an analysis of specific target audiences for government information.
What is the primary research goal?
The research aims to outline the different approaches countries take to publishing data, identify the challenges of implementing Semantic Web standards, and assess how transparency impacts societal and economic structures.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a literature-based review and comparative analysis, evaluating various international projects and existing standards (such as W3C/RDF guidelines) to draw conclusions about best practices in open data management.
What is the subject matter of the main section?
The main part of the document details the path to the Semantic Web, the specific requirements for metadata, the comparison of international strategies (e.g., the UK "self-service" approach vs. US-driven initiatives), and methods for data visualization.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Linked Data, Semantic Web, Open Government Data, RDF, Transparency, and E-Government.
How does the author evaluate the UK's approach to open data compared to the US?
The author identifies the UK approach as focusing on high-quality RDF data and a "self-service" community-based model, whereas the US approach is characterized as more rapid, focusing on the sheer volume of data published following the Open Government Directive.
What role does the "Semantic Web" play in the author's argument?
The author argues that the Semantic Web is the essential framework for making vast, fragmented government data truly useful by allowing for automated interpretation and context-aware connections between disparate data sources.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH) Markus Volk (Autor:in), 2011, Open Linked Data, Open Government Data Sets, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/172981
