Across the globe open data frameworks are being adopted by governments at all levels. This movement facilitates a switch toward governing with the people, rather than controlling data and exclusively providing services to the people. It also marks a move away from the concept of a centralized Spatial Data Infrastructure.
The concept of spatial data infrastructure needs to evolve in light of this movement. Instead of a central national or regional repository of spatial data, the new infrastructure looks more like a loosely coupled repository that allows both data downloads and uploads from citizens.
The concept of SDI is that of a fully-baked offering of spatial data that strictly adheres to specific framework data types, and has a level of completeness that is often unachievable. There will always be constant flux of the quality of spatial data, and completeness of the data set. The move toward more open repositories with read and write capabilities will be disruptive, but by exposing data deficiencies we can help harness legions of citizens to assist in making the data more complete.
With this move toward more mainstream access to geospatial data, there comes a need to educate and provide tools to use the data. The launch of GeospatialPlatform.gov here in the United States is a positive one that couples both data distribution and online tools for viewing and manipulating data. The concept of a platform where federal agencies will stand up services and applications that can be built upon by citizens for alternate views is a powerful one. The centralized capacity among many federal agencies is also a strong move for more efficient and transparent operations by federal agencies.
The missing ingredient as of now is an engagement by citizens to participate with tools that are used and useful by real people. By using the Gulf Response as a test case for this platform, the government has provided a brilliant case study for mapping and open data for an event that has dramatically disrupted the way of life of thousands of people. The use of this site, and the importance it plays in helping people understand the implication of this disaster, will be an important case study of the utility of open data and services for, and by, the public.
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