Via the Visible Government blog:
I am very pleased to announce today at Mesh09 the development of http://toronto.ca/open, which will be a catalogue of city generated data. The data will be provided in standardized formats, will be machine readable, and will be updated regularly. This will be launched in the fall of 2009 with an initial series of data sets, including static data like schedules, and some feeds updated in real time.
The benefits to the city of Toronto are extremely significant. Individuals will find new ways to apply this data, improve city services, and expand their reach. By sharing our information, the public can help us to improve services and create a more liveable city. And as an open government, sharing data increases our transparency and accountability.
This was announced by Toronto Mayor Miller at the Mesh Conference (“Canada’s Web Conference”) a few weeks ago. the comments above are a transcription of a speech the Mayor gave; the video of the speech should also be online. I’m a bit disappointed that the URL announced in the speech simply has a bland “Under Construction” notice, but I look forward to seeing this. There is all kinds of interesting data that might be made available; comprehensive crime statistics, data on the municipal infrastructure (real time maps showing all public works across the city?) and so forth. I wonder if this will be a plain read-only catalogue or if it will have interactive elements? I wonder if anybody is looking at the US government stimulus spending website as a model?
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