[geo-discuss] A call for open access to geodata

[Jo Walsh]

I see these five points as the core of a 'manifesto' on open access to
state-collected geodata, and would appreciate critique or embellishment.


* Access to public sector information should be a right.

For public sector information to be exploited, it needs to be 
as widely available as possible. EU FOI laws heavily emphasise
geographic data; 75% of the information generated by government
has a spatial component.   

* With open geodata we can analyse public information better. 

Geographic data underpins civic services such as http://writetothem.com/ 
and http://theyworkforyou.com/ . In the US, grassroots electoral
mapping and campaign planning tools such as http://advokit.net/ 
depend on freely available geodata. 

* Freely available data generates more economic activity.

Opening the data leads to increased competitiveness in the service 
market, particularly in the mobile arena, and encourages innovation.

* The 'Commons' licensing model is a strong public good.

An "Attribution-Sharealike" license would require the user to
redistribute updates to the data; a middle way between commercial 
ipventures and state funding can be found, without resorting to 
unitive data usage charges. 

* The 'cost-recovery' user-pays model is a social failure.

Over 50% of UK national mapping data sales are to government 
or government-funded organisations; a false economy of over 60M. 
Ordinary citizens and not-for-profit organisations can't afford
the current expensive data licenses, and are reduced to supplication.


[0] Directive 2003/98/EC on the exploitation of public sector information:

"Public sector information is an important primary material
for digital content... Broad cross-border geographical 
coverage will also be essential in this context."



-jo