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Boris bares data bunker

Efforts to open up datasets held by public bodies will receive a big boost today, with Boris Johnson announcing he will publish reams of crime, education, environmental and health information from London's archives. Some 200 local authority and City Hall datasets will be made available via the "London Datastore", a new website …

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Thomas 18
FAIL

surprise surprise

Who would have thought Google would be interested in teaming up on a project where it gets to access governmental databases.

BlueGreen

extract of animal attacks db in xml from site

<ROW>

<Ward_Code>00BJGG</Ward_Code>

<Ward_Name>Latchmere</Ward_Name>

<District_Code>00BJ</District_Code>

<District_Name>Wandsworth</District_Name>

<Count_12-2007/>

<Count_1-2008/>

<Count_2-2008/>

<Count_3-2008>1</Count_3-2008>

<Count_4-2008/>

<Count_5-2008/>

<Count_6-2008/>

<Count_7-2008/>

<Count_8-2008/>

<Count_9-2008>1</Count_9-2008>

<Count_10-2008/>

<Count_11-2008/>

<Count_12-2008/>

<Count_1-2009>1</Count_1-2009>

<Count_2-2009/>

<Count_3-2009/>

<Count_4-2009>2</Count_4-2009>

<Count_5-2009/>

<Count_6-2009/>

<Count_7-2009/>

<Count_8-2009/>

<Count_9-2009/>

<Count_10-2009/>

<Count_11-2009/>

<Count_12-2007_to_11-2009>5</Count_12-2007_to_11-2009>

</ROW>

.

Fold the date metadata right into the tags why don't you. Include non-events. Add pointless summary.

<sigh/>

Destroy All Monsters
FAIL
Reply Icon

Fail in private industry. Succed in gov.

Is this for real? I can't believe the abysmality.

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
Reply Icon

Gah

This is why i _HATE_ xml. Its so damn inefficient at transmitting data. The CSV files that are available are a much better option. I mean, what percentage of a XML file is actually data nowadays...? You can see why computers have to be more powerful than 'Deep Thought' to run the most trivial of tasks.... Grumble grumbe...

/in my day....

TimG
WTF?
Reply Icon

If you think those are bad

try looking at the health stats...

<Percentage_change_in_Rate_of_alcohol-related_admissions_per_100000_..-EASR-.._Year_2006-2007_-_2007-2008>-8</Percentage_change_in_Rate_of_alcohol-related_admissions_per_100000_..-EASR-.._Year_2006-2007_-_2007-2008>

Seriously, WTF?

Anonymous Coward
Paris Hilton

Too late Boris?

About 300 years too late.

Neal 5

but in the small print,

you have to first pass a rigourous vetting system, involving multiple bribes to either or all political parties, and a copious amount of cap doffing, just to get permission to even think about registering at the site. If you ever had the temerity to even think about hatching a non pc viewpoint, then you're alternative information database will be the DNA one, upon which you will have no say, and your entire family tree's names will be forwarded to the US authorities, for placement on the no-fly list.

Stuart 1
Pint

INSPIRE-ing

Gee thanks - we finally get access to the data we paid for all due to the goodness of Boris's heart...ahhh. Actually improved access public data has had a recent boost due to INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) coming into law -despite the lobbying of the like of the ordnance survey, Royal Mail etc. So looking forward to seeing a lot more data available as a result - NOT looking forward to multimillion pound contract awarded to the usual suspects for doing quick google-map mash-ups however - hoping that free access means that the likes of My Society.org get to a better job instead.

Mark Dowling
Badgers

Sounds something similar to what Toronto is doing

See here:

http://www.toronto.ca/open/

John Smith 19
Thumb Up

what about the *important* data sets

Number of kilos of ilegal drug ingested by elected representative and type.

Number of hookers per year per elected representative and *who* paid for them.

I have *no* interest in anyones private life *untill* it looks like it's being used as blackmail/a bribe for favours. Then their private life *becomes* my interest.

If elected representatives do not like this perhaps they *should* consider an alternaitive career.

Anonymous Coward
WTF?

How'd they manage to make it fail so bad without cookies/scripts?

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/packages?page=1

Try clicking the numbered pages in the list at the bottom. You get to pages numbered like

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/packages?page=2

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/packages?page=3

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/packages?page=4

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/packages?page=5

and so on, but they all show the same content! ROFL, are they ignoring the query string and keeping a duplicate of the same information in the cookie or a hidden form submission or something? Eejits!

Elmer Phud
WTF?

Late

Isn't most of this data already available via local authority sites and UpMyStreet etc?

As usual with Boris it's nothing new, someone else's idea and bugger all use.

Bram

WHY

This is probably the single most foolish IT/DATA idea the UK public sector could cook up and to work with google!

This is just about generating revenue by selling us to the highest bidder.

We have to think about privacy, its just not giving out any information its also about not being bothered. With this happening you could be bombarded with a million adverts non stop and have an algorithm telling you what you need/want.

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