ColoradoOpenData.org has just been launched. The new site says that it draws from the experience of data.gov.uk and data.gov, and is organized by Colorado Smart Communities, a group dedicated to transforming Colorado government through the use of technology.
The site aims to be a clearinghouse of government data and applications, and includes references to a host of tools, many of which are Open Source. The site has very little data or applications yet, but launched as a sparse offering in order to solicit feedback and help gain momentum.
The site isn’t aligned to a specific government data source or objective, so it will be interesting to see if it thrives. The home page includes some for-sale sponsor tags, aimed I’m sure at providing some revenue to cover the costs. Without a reliable source of funding, it will not prove sustainable, which may lead others to question its validity. There may be room here though for a “neutral” third party as the source for data collection across different government jurisdictions.
Lead via @sgillies on Twitter
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One thing I like about the Colorado site is its links to existing data repositories. Why duplicate data storage if an agency already maintains an adequate online delivery mechanism? In New York City, by contrast, the DataMine website duplicates a boatload of data already available online through other sites, especially the NYC Dept of City Planning’s “Bytes of the Big Apple” project. And the DataMine site doesn’t do anything to improve the delivery (such as convert the data files to standardized, open formats). Your points about sustainability are well taken, but hopefully the Colorado effort will be easier to maintain/sustain if it continues to avoid duplication.
Great point about the use of pointers rather than duplication. I like your point about standardized formats, as It will be interesting to see if greater use by more people puts pressure on governments for more open data formats and greater standardization of data models.