A Cook’s Tour of Open Data from a User’s Perspective (Deputy Ministers)

Presentation to the Deputy Ministers in the Government of Prince Edward Island at a meeting in Brackley, Prince Edward Island, on August 27, 2015, looking at open data not from a policy or regulatory perspective, but through the eyes of someone who has been consuming open data, and pointing to general principles that have been learned along the way.

Transcript

1. A Cook’s Tour of Open Data from a User’s Perspective Presentation to 
 Deputy Ministers, Government of Prince Edward Island
 Peter Rukavina, Hacker in Residence, Robertson Library, University of PEI August 27, 2015 http://hacker.vre.upei.ca/
3. JULY 7, 1994 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PEI CRAFTS COUNCIL JOINS THE WORLD WIDE WEB CHARLOTTETOWN - The PEI Crafts Council today became the first organization on Prince Edward Island to join the Internet computer network's "World Wide Web." The "World Wide Web" (WWW) is an international collection of interconnected information providers founded at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Wide Web uses hypertext and multimedia techniques to make "the web" -- collections of information on computers around the world -- easy to roam through, browse, search and contribute to. The PEI Crafts Council, the Prince Edward Island organization offering services and support to crafts producers, will use its WWW server to offer information on crafts and the crafts industry to crafts producers around the world. The project will centre on information from the Council's "Crafts Information Service," a comprehensive database of sources of materials, tools, equipment and services for crafts producers.
4. 1996
5. 2003
6. Open Data Principles
7. Open Data Principles (from a user’s perspective)
8. Windmill by Stephen Downes is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
9. Photo of Richard Brown from Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island
10. Photo of Ron Estabrooks taken at the open house to officially launch the Hermanville/Clearspring wind development from www.gov.pe.ca.
14. Golf at 50BPM by user707748013 50 MW 50 BPM
15. W&W - Bigfoot (Uriel M Deephouse Remix) by urielm 122 MW 122 BPM
16. Clip of audio from CBC Spark interview with Peter Rukavina by Nora Young, recorded June 19, 2011.
18. [ { "data1":164.2, "data2":17.63, "data3":0, "updateDate":1437139741, "error":0 } ]
19. [ { "on-island-load":164.2, "on-island-wind":17.63, "on-island-fossil":0, "updateDate":1437139741, "error":0 } ]
24. http://innovis.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/
25. “I have become slightly obsessed by your energy graph and am very grateful that you have found a way to record the load and wind power generated in PEI. Do you by any chance have a spread sheet of these values? I am looking at using storage to balance wind fluctuations and was hoping to try and using the real load and wind data to accomplish that.”
26. Open Data Principle № 1 You have no idea (at all) what open data might be used for.
28. Town of Stratford Building Permit Summary 7/1/2013 to 7/31/2013 Applicant Estimated Development Date PermitID Applicant Name Phone # PID Lot# Address Permit Type Project Value Permit Fee JUL-15-2013 DP078-13 Robert Gaudet 902-367-6129 932111 171 6 Carrington Road Accessory Building - New $1,200.00 $30.00 JUL-25-2013 DP056-13 Stratford Quickstop 1044494 1 Jubilee Drive Accessory Building - New $11,000.00 $100.00 Sub Totals: $12,200.00 $130.00 JUL-05-2013 DP072-13 Rosemary Scott 902-569-3021 728188 135 33 Celtic Lane Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $800.00 $30.00 Addition JUL-16-2013 DP077-13 Kent Building Supply - 329375 154 Spinnaker Drive Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $5,000.00 $30.00 Andrew Sanderson Addition Sub Totals: $5,800.00 $60.00 JUL-26-2013 DP085-13 Richard E. Woodfield 902-367-3637 1010693 7 Picton Beete Cr Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $3,000.00 $30.00 New JUL-12-2013 DP076-13 Jamie Doiron 902-629-0224 486118 14 Towerwood Drive Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $3,000.00 $30.00 New JUL-03-2013 DP039-13 Chris and Jennifer 902-569-2114 471508 10 Aintree Drive Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $6,000.00 $30.00 Whitlock New JUL-30-2013 DP016-13 Craig and Jennifer 902-566-1801 1014638 93 Bonavista Avenue Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $25,000.00 $30.00 Lawlor New JUL-15-2013 DP062-13 Drew and Karen 902-894-3959 1029180 22 Saints Crescent Accessory Structure (Pool, Deck, etc) - $50,000.00 $30.00 MacIntyre New Sub Totals: $87,000.00 $150.00 JUL-31-2013 DP059-13 Craftsman 940650 11 Galway Court Single Family Dwelling - Addition $18,000.00 $56.80 Construction JUL-05-2013 DP071-13 Roger Johnson 902-569-4882 709154 73 Rankin Drive Single Family Dwelling - Addition $40,000.00 $114.40 JUL-10-2013 DP070-13 Greenleaf Construction 902-566-3358 603613 1 2 Battery Point Drive Single Family Dwelling - Addition $150,000.00 $43.68 Sub Totals: $208,000.00 $214.88 JUL-25-2013 DP081-13 D.C. McCardle 902-367-9200 398586 70 77 Southampton Drive Single Family Dwelling - New $180,000.00 $458.20 JUL-18-2013 DP079-13 D.C. McCardle Ltd 902-367-9200 398586 72 85 Southampton Dr Single Family Dwelling - New $200,000.00 $469.40 JUL-30-2013 DP084-13 Barry MacDonald 1045749 13 11 Donegal Lane Single Family Dwelling - New $300,000.00 $1,187.60 Thursday, August 01, 2013 Town of Stratford Building Permit Summary 7/1/2013 to 7/31/2013 Page 1 of 2
31. pdftotext -raw
 Weekly_approvals_webpage_21_Oct_2011.pdf \ Weekly_approvals_webpage_21_Oct_2011.txt
32. 10-533 335067 402-bld-10 20-Oct-10 3-Oct-11 18-22 Water Street... 10-569 363556 439-BLD-10 17-Nov-10 3-Oct-11 20 Lapthorne Avenue... 11-002 1018274 001-bld-11 4-Jan-11 6-Oct-11 375 Mount Edward Road... 11-136 342436 326-bld-11 26-Aug-11 3-Oct-11 134 Kent Street...
33. -63.12688,46.23066,22 WATER ST,"10-533 335067 402-bld-10… -63.12606,46.24454,20 LAPTHORN AV,"10-569 363556 439-BLD-10.. -63.14558,46.27834,375 MOUNT EDWARD RD,"11-002 1018274 001-bod-11… -63.12808,46.23572,134 KENT ST,"11-136 342436 326-bld-11…
37. Open Data Principle № 2 PDFs are where 
 data goes to die.
38. I walked thru some testing with the admin assistant in planning. She had some concerns with data entry -- she found it cumbersome and also identified a couple of scenarios that were not possible to enter properly, or were not represented clearly in the result.
39. Open Data Principle № 2B Bureaucrats really like File > Save as PDF…
41. scale drawings drawn to Parking Design Standards and certified (stamped) by a qualified engineer, architect, or public land surveyor Shall be submitted where there are ten (10) or more Parking Spaces or for less than ten (10) spaces as required by the Development Officer with the application for the Building permit showing entrances and exits to such Parking facilities, all proposed and Existing Parking Spaces, aisles, lighting, and drainage of the Lot;
42. scale drawings drawn to Parking Design Standards and certified (stamped) by a qualified engineer, architect, or public land surveyor Shall be submitted where there are ten (10) or more Parking Spaces or for less than ten (10) spaces as required by the Development Officer with the application for the Building permit showing entrances and exits to such Parking facilities, all proposed and Existing Parking Spaces, aisles, lighting, and drainage of the Lot; scale drawings drawn to Parking Design Standards and certified (stamped) by a qualified engineer, architect, or public land surveyor Shall be submitted where there are ten (10) or more Parking Spaces or for less than ten (10) spaces as required by the Development Officer with the application for the Building permit showing entrances and exits to such Parking facilities, all proposed and Existing Parking Spaces, aisles, lighting, and drainage of the Lot;
43. GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ................................................ 26 4.1 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS 4.2 BUILDING HEIGHT 4.3 DECKS, AND OTHER PROJECTIONS INTO YARDS 4.4 EXISTING BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES 4.5 FENCES 4.6 GROUPED DWELLINGS 4.7 ONE MAIN BUILDING ON A LOT 4.8 RESTORATION TO A SAFE CONDITION 4.9 SATELLITE DISHES AND COMMUNICATION TOWERS 4.10 WINDMILL TOWERS 4.11 SUBDIVIDING OF ATTACHED DWELLINGS 4.12 SWIMMING POOLS 4.13 VEHICLE BODIES
44. GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ................................................ 26 4.1 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS 4.2 BUILDING HEIGHT 4.3 DECKS, AND OTHER PROJECTIONS INTO YARDS 4.4 EXISTING BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES 4.5 FENCES 4.6 GROUPED DWELLINGS 4.7 ONE MAIN BUILDING ON A LOT 4.8 RESTORATION TO A SAFE CONDITION 4.9 SATELLITE DISHES AND COMMUNICATION TOWERS 4.10 WINDMILL TOWERS 4.11 SUBDIVIDING OF ATTACHED DWELLINGS 4.12 SWIMMING POOLS 4.13 VEHICLE BODIES General Provision for Buildings and Structures ................................................................................. 26 4.1 Accessory Buildings 4.2 Building Height 4.3 Decks, and Other Projections into Yards 4.4 Existing Buildings or Structures 4.5 Fences 4.6 Groups Dwellings 4.7 One Main Building on a Lot 4.8 Restoration to a Safe Condition 4.9 Satellite Dishes and Communication Towers 4.10 Windmill Towers 4.11 Subdividing of Attached Dwellings 4.12 Swimming Pools 4.13 Vehicle Bodies
46. Open Data Principle № 3 Sometimes “open” can simply mean following 
 basic rules of design.
51. Metadata Issues • Lot 50 was mislabelled as Lot 66. • Lot 66 was unlabelled. • Georgetown Royalty was mislabelled as Lot 73 • Princetown Royalty was missing.
59. The Confederation Trail passes 
 through 47 lots and 2 royalties.
60. Open Data Principle № 4 Open data is a conversation.
65. (902) 367-3694
67. Open Data Principle № 5 Sometimes your users will create open data for you. 
 Follow their lead.
68. “By 2010, our investment in Islanders’ health care had increased by 25 per cent or over $700 per capita – to $3,655, putting us above the national average of $3,500.” 2011 Budget Address
69. I’m interested in obtaining a digital record of the transactions under what I would call, for lack of knowledge of the terminology, my “health care account” — in other words, all of the payments to doctors, specialists, hospitals, labs, etc. paid out by Health PEI attached to my Health Card account for as long as records are available. Email to Health PEI May 26, 2011 – Day 1
70. Our Information Co-ordinator has indicated to me that you should submit a FOIPP (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy) request. Attached is the Access to Information form which you can complete and submit to our co-ordinator. Reply from Health PEI May 26, 2011 – Day 1
71. FOIPP Request
72. Digital record of financial transactions related to my health care (PEI Health Card # XXXXXX). I’m interested in all financial transactions related to doctors visits, hospital care, emergency room visits, lab tests, etc. with as much detail as available (date, amount, description, account, etc.). I would prefer the information in an open digital format, such as CSV or XML format. FOIPP Request
73. 30 Days Later June 27, 2011 – Day 32
74. What I Received… Physician Date Code Location (Printed report, not digital data)
75. “However, a payment made to a physician is the physician’s personal information and is therefore not ours to disclose. General information related to payments for physicians can be found in the Master Agreement between the Medical Society of PEI and the Government of PEI.” But no financial data…
76. So I appealed to the Information and Privacy Commissioner She agreed to open a review. August 18, 2011 – Day 84
77. Clause 17(2)(c) of the Health Services Payments Act specifically authorizes the Minister to release the information I have requested: “the Minister may disclose information obtained in the administration of this Act, to the person who received the basic health services or to the legal representative or guardian of the person” and subsection 17(3) of the same act sets out the information that is authorized to be provided (emphasis mine): (a) basic health services provided;
 (b) the date on which the basic health services were provided;
 (c) the name and address of the person who provided the basic health services; (d) amounts paid under the plan; and
 (e) the person to whom payments were made from the plan. Sent more information… October 17, 2011 – Day 144
78. Waited…
79. Waited… Information and Privacy Commissioner informed me that her review would take longer than 90 days
80. Waited… Waited… Information and Privacy Commissioner informed me that her review would take longer than 90 days
81. Waited… Waited… Sent the Standing Committee on Legislative Management a letter asking for more resources for the Information and Privacy Commissioner Information and Privacy Commissioner informed me that her review would take longer than 90 days
82. Waited… Waited… Sent the Standing Committee on Legislative Management a letter asking for more resources for the Information and Privacy Commissioner Waited… Information and Privacy Commissioner informed me that her review would take longer than 90 days
83. “One more year…” Information and Privacy Commissioner sends a letter anticipating a ruling in February 2014 January 24, 2013 – Day 609
84. “9 more months…” Information and Privacy Commissioner sends a letter anticipating a ruling in September 2014 January 16, 2014 – Day 966
85. $879.37 February 26, 2014 – Day 1007
86. Open Data Principle № 6 Open data is a necessary precondition for 
 tenacious citizenship.
87. Open Data Principles 1. You have no idea (at all) what open data might be used for. 2. PDFs are where data goes to die. 3. Sometimes “open” can simply mean following rules of design. 4. Open data is a conversation. 5. Sometimes your users will create open data for you. 6. Open data is a necessary precondition for 
 tenacious citizenship.
103. Open Data Principles 1. You have no idea (at all) what open data might be used for. 2. PDFs are where data goes to die. 3. Sometimes “open” can simply mean following rules of design. 4. Open data is a conversation. 5. Sometimes your users will create open data for you. 6. Open data is a necessary precondition for 
 tenacious citizenship.
104. Slides are online at http://l.ruk.ca/deputy-slides These slides are released under a Creative Commons license. You are encouraged to distribute them as far and as 
 wide as possible under the terms of the license.