Making the Case for Open GIS Data in Wisconsin

… open policy, open technology, open access.

2015 WLIA Annual Conference

Imagine…

• A shared Wisconsin basemap • Resolved jurisdictional boundaries • Citizen engagement through technology • Shared civic software? • Tapping into crowdsourcing efforts • Tapping into ‘Maker’ communities, civic hack-

a-thons …

Trends / Timeliness

Conference Theme: Data Forward • Move toward smaller government • Public-private partnerships • Government-citizenry partnerships • LEAN initiatives at state and local levels • Estimated $3B nationally in untapped benefits

“Open” – in open data context

“Technically Open” & “Legally Open” • Machine readable • On-line, downloadable or web API • Free • No restrictions on use or re-distribution • No liability for providers • Documentation to accompany

Engagement by Peer States/ Cities

Credit: Sunlight Foundation

Engagement by Peer States/ Cities

• Nine states have formal policies for open data via adopted legislation or executive orders.

(Maryland has current legislation in process) • At least 24 states have open data policies using a less

formal route than legislation or executive order

Government Technology – Dec.17, 2014

“Open Data” in Wisconsin

• Muni’s take the policy lead. (WLIA Plenary speaker last year)

• But… 15 counties…

Rationale

The Wisconsin GIS community has a long, rich history and is uniquely positioned to take the lead in consistent, open access to state and local geospatial data enabling: • New applications & new unrealized value; • Transparency for geospatial funding; • Accountability to internal and external

stakeholders (agencies & public)

Why Now?

• Wisconsin LEAN initiative • County LEAN initiatives • Focus on economic development • Link to real estate development (fees) • Renewed investment in WLIP • Emergence of statewide integration projects

How?

• Analyze existing policies and educate on the value of change

• Watch for opportunities to make open data access part of systems modernization

• Examine municipal models and make county-municipal exchange a pillar and rationale

• Discuss the possibility of statewide policy

How?

• Assess most important and in-demand data for open publication first

• Publish in a discoverable (meta), machine-readable method

• Solicit direct feedback and improve data and delivery in direct response

• Expand data publishing while maintaining and enhancing existing datasets

Potential Benefits

• “Flowing data” lends itself to efficiencies, improved public service and increasingly standard privacy protections

• Open data facilitates open systems avoiding vendor lock and “data lock”

• Engagement of elected officials through dashboards and citizen-enabled app’s

• Engagement with outside innovators

Discussion

AJ Wortley aj.wortley@wisc.edu State Cartographer’s Office