Open Linked Public Sector Data for Citizen Engagement

Abstract: Open data have been recognized as a strategic tool for governments all over the world, in their efforts to increase citizen trust, engagement and collaborative action. Despite their significance and the political support at EU level, many challenges remain open for member states in their effort to provide on-line services for the discovery and use of public sector datasets. This workshop is focused on obtaining requirements from (potential) users of open public sector data for the use of these data. The requirements are obtained by conducting a questionnaire and by presenting and discussing the first results of this questionnaire. Furthermore, the benefits and restrictions that are typical for currently available open public sector data that are used by scientific communities and citizens are discussed. In particular the role of meta-data and their role for citizen engagement are discussed and paradigms for open governmental data annotation and provision are presented. Participants are asked to provide their view on benefits and restrictions of open governmental data and directions for e-Infrastructure projects.