The Open Data Delusion (opens in new tab)

(brokentoilets.org)

16 pointspuntofisso10y ago5 comments

5 comments

5 comments · 1 top-level

795210y ago· 4 in thread

A lot of this kind of information (like public toilets) is not really suitable for fixed schemas and periodic release. It works better as a log of simple events that relate to a particular thing in the real world.

For example:

* Disabled toilet opened (01/01/2012). * Reports of graffiti from member of public (06/02/2012). * Opening hours changed to 8am - 8pm (14/02/2013).

The flow of events contain much more information than a few edited facts. It allows people to enter complete information without needing to agree a schema. The data on its own is useful without complex tools or UI.

cossatot10y ago

That's an interesting point. How would you make a map from it?

795210y ago

I think that coordinates could be added in a siumilar way. A problem we have currently is that not information is included on the accuracy of locations. This approach could help solve that:

* Postcode - EC1V 0AJ (01/05/2014) * GPS survey of entrypoint - 51.527411,-0.101689 (06/05/2014) * Ordnance Survey Toid linked - 156151456156 (01/05/2015) * Location logged on OpenStreetmap - entity ID 1561561561 (07/02/2015)

Of course having a schema and standards is better, but not actually essential. Parsable text is more useful than nothing at all.

reustle10y ago

A map of the toilets? Each update could still have a status assigned to it (available/broken) so you could just query the toilets which are available

puntofissoOP10y ago

I accept this point, but versioning can help address it.

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