The Societal Benefits of Open Government Data with Particular Emphasis on Geospatial Information

摘要

During the last decade several initiatives have worked towards open and free data. First, the success by the open and free OpenStreetMap and partly the free use of Google Maps has been an eye opener for many users as well in the public sector as in the private sector including individuals. Besides several legal frameworks like the EU directive on Re-use of Public Sector Information and the INSPIRE Directive on geographic information have in various ways encouraged to opening up free re-use of public sector information. As a consequence, a minor group of European countries have launched their own open government data projects, and the current research focuses on the role of open and free public sector information as a major step towards a digital society by analysing the observed socio-economic impact of the Danish open government data initiative.