What is Open Data?
Open data is data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone, subject only to the requirement that the source of the information is attributed.
Why is OSi releasing data freely?
The Governments Open Data Directive identifies two core objectives, the publication of high value government data in open format, making it publicly available and freely reusable; and engaging with a broad community of stakeholders to promote use of the data for the benefit of all sectors of the economy.
Part of this strategy is for various data creators including OSi to release relevant data for the public to use free from any licencing limitations. The Strategy document can be viewed here. In support of the strategy OSi has made openly available may datasets of local and national importance.
What data is released?
OSi has release in excess of 120 datasets on OSi’s Open Data Portal including the National Place Names Gazetteer, the National 1:1000000 map of Ireland, the Regional 1:250000 map of Ireland and National Statutory Boundary data. These datasets are released under 7 main themes:
Administrative
Boundaries
Built Environment
Nature & Environment
Placenames
Transport & Travel
Water & Hydrography
Over time as open data becomes more central to the States data infrastructure, more and more items will be released from OSi and other state agencies. The data released as open data by OSi is harvested and is also available on the open data portal hosted by data.gov.ie .
What licencing restrictions will apply?
The main goal of open data initiatives is to ensure that the restrictions on using and disseminating the data are minimal. As part of this, any data released by OSi, through our Open Data portal, will be free to use as long as we are attributed as the content creator. A standard Creative Commons Licence applies to OSi’s data that is released as Open Data.
Under this licence you are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. However, in doing so you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests that OSi endorses you or your use of the data.
For queries relating to OSi’s open data policy please contact [email protected]