The London Data Library is on course for its first release for use later this year, the city authority’s chief digital officer has said.
Theo Blackwell has described the progress on the development of the resource in a blogpost, saying it will provide more advanced functions than the existing London Datastore, the open data portal that has been in use since 2010.
This is part of the Data for London programme which is aimed at simplifying the sharing and usage of data across the city, with the Data for London Library offering a service for the easy discovery and re-use of datasets.
Blackwell said the first release should be made later in the year as the team perfects the search function, and will include existing metadata from the London Datastore, the Office for National Statistics and two (currently unnamed) London boroughs.
This will be followed by inviting other public sector bodies in London to add their data catalogues, along with work to support complex data sharing arrangements, personal data storage and security, and the use of streaming and internet of things data.
Federated model
It will operate as a federated rather than a centralised system - providing access to data from connected sources rather than holding it all in one place - with the Greater London Combined Authority providing leadership for adding datasets, developing standards and data quality, building the ethics behind its use and encouraging public participation.
The main benefits expected are: enhanced discoverability through a single, searchable platform; improved data sharing; and supporting collaboration between organisations to tackle key challenges.
Blackwell said that a catalogue for organising datasets has been developed, including open data sources relevant to London projects and metadata of private datasets.
“Our new Data for London Library will offer a new user-friendly service for easy data discovery for urban datasets,” he said. “To support this service, we will also create new standards to foster collaboration between councils, universities, government agencies and others across the city.”
