The open data project
Screenshot of new website
A new website allows users to download public government information, which they can both consult and incorporate when creating services
The Government of Catalonia launched the Dades Obertes gencat website, which will allow users to access a wide variety of public information provided by the Government of Catalonia. This new web portal is part of the Government of Catalonia's Open Data Project, an initiative which concretizes the Government's commitment to open government and transparent administration.
Open data webViewers of the website can download data in a reusable format, which they can consult and employ to create services like mobile phone applications in both public and private initiatives. As such, the data is being shared with open intellectual property licenses that allow for redistribution, reuse, and commercial use.
A few examples of services which could be created using this data include traffic advisories and air pollution alerts (such as those created by associations which treat respiratory disorders). The information could also be used in designing interactive maps and graphics and for multiple kinds of searching, such as the Government of Catalonia's facilities search engine, which allows users to locate schools, hospitals, and athletic complexes.
Available data
For some time the Government has been working to guarantee open data and to facilitate the reusability of public information. Examples thereof include: numerous RSS feeds which provide information and detail services and are already used by various public and private digital services; downloadable databases such as Termcat; and free data applications such as those offered by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat).
The Dades Obertes gencat web portal goes one step further, grouping together and expanding all of the Government of Catalonia's open data initiatives in a single catalogue.
The first phase of the project will provide access to the following data:
- Administrative procedures: grants, subsidies, permits, licenses, open contests and bids for tender, for both individuals and businesses.
- Statistical data: Catalan economic indicators and basic statistics about the 947 municipalities and 41 regions of Catalonia.
- Geographic and cartographic data: data on more than 26,000 facilities of public interest (including museums, schools, hospitals, and sporting complexes); topographic data, maps, and orthophotographs; and global positioning services, including Caster NTRIP, CATNET WEB, and GEOFONS.
- Visual data: multimedia (image and video) archives which illustrate the cultural and scenic diversity of Catalonia.
- Linguistic data: terminological collections of public interest stemming from terminological research conducted by TERMCAT.
- Meteorological data: forecasts for Catalonia and the Catalan Countries, including regional, marine, and Pyrenees forecasts.
- Current issues data: RSS feeds including news headlines and other frequently updated content.
- Transportation and mobility: Rodalies (regional train) advisories.
In the near future, when the second phase of the project is launched, users will also be able to download Government of Catalonia addresses and phone numbers; metro, bus, tram, and FGC (metropolitan train) live travel news; a map of all of the stations which measure electromagnetic emissions from mobile phone antennas; and IT service coverage information regarding DTT, broadband, and mobile telephony services, among others.
