Government Linked Data Application Challenge

Goal

Open Government Data and Public Sector Information (PSI) more generally is a hot topic. The Linked Open Data movement has made a substantial amount of PSI data available. What is missing are applications that demonstrate the benefits of using open government linked data.

We're looking for Web applications that use two or more linked data sources from the eGov domain, that clearly demonstrate an added value, be it in terms of exploring unknown relations or integrating facts in a dynamic and exciting way. Examples include:

• If candidates for elective office were to document their "platforms" (goals and objectives) in StratML (ANSI/AIIM 21:2009) format, value-added intermediary services could enable voters to compare the positions of the candidates not to each other but also to their own on the issues about which they care. (If the candidates themselves fail to document their positions on the issues in readily shareable format, like StratML, others coud do so for them, based upon whatever information may otherwise be publicly available.)
• A company wants to invest in a certain area - what PSI indicators (statistics, taxes, etc.) are available to decide if a certain area is suitable
• A government agency needs to do some planning - what data is available for deciding to build a road in a certain area
• Subsections 202(b)(4) & (5) of the U.S. eGov Act, which require agencies to work together to link their performance goals to key groups, including citizens, businesses, and other governments, as well as internal Federal Government operations.
• what else ???

Rules

• two or more linked data sources
• must be available on the Web (online)
• bonus based on 5-star plan (the more stars are address, the higher the ranking)
• if data is missing, participants are encouraged to publish it themselves (at least for the demo)
• bonus points for publishing as well as consuming PSI linked data

Prizes

There are two categories, see below. Beside this all winners will be mentioned at event XXX and a report in YYY (online media? newspapers? etc.) to follow.

Judge's Prize

A committee of judges (W3C, gov, others) select the three best apps, based on rules above.

People's Choice

A Web-based system allows people to select the three 'coolest' apps.

Potential Linked Data Sources

• data.gov.uk
• data.gov
• data.australia.gov.au
• www.opengov.se
• Data-Gov Wiki from Jim Hendler's group at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• GovTrack
• Open Election Data
• US Census Data
• Ordnance Survey
• The StratML Collection
• Open Governmental Datasets a directory sources from DERI.

Potential Announcement Venues

Blogs/Websites

• w3c
• Sunlight Foundation Blog
• w3c twitter
• timbl on twitter?
• Data Sources: Ordnance Survey, data.gov.uk, data.gov, etc.

Discussion Lists

• public-egov-ig
• public-lod
• lod-announce
• get-theinfo
• ckan-discuss
• sunlightlabs
• uk-government-data-developers

To Do

• who is the main organizer (W3C?)
• website - own domain? W3C? etc
• a cool name for the challenge
• time frame (when to start, how long, etc.) - see potential list of target venues
• link the award ceremony to an international event such as gov2.0, Sandro has an UN contact ?
• co-sponsor/organizers from Google, etc?
• LATC/LOD2 can/may sponsor prizes
• related activities
  • http://tw.rpi.edu/portal/Mashathon_in_Washington_DC_on_August_24-25,_2010
  • http://gaininitiative.wik.is/
  • Sunlight Foundation's Design for America competition.
  • Apps for Democracy