Datasketch+CKAN: communicating open data in a simple and friendly way

Miguel Angel Alor Flores

Funding Area: Capacity building / Construcción de capacidad

Problem Statement: Many open government and transparency champions have complied with publishing public sector information in open data portals, but end up feeling frustrated or dissatisfied because they have not achieved a greater impact on citizens, since citizens do not understand how to use open data, ultimately creating a more significant digital divide, limiting the ability of citizens to access information and benefit from it. We propose the combination of two technologies based on open software, which we have proved it could solve this gap: CKAN and Datasketch. CKAN is an open-source data management system that allows the publication, exchange and search of data, widely used globally by governments such as Australia, Canada and the United States. Datasketch is a software that allows data visualisation in an attractive design for citizens, customisation according to the graphic line of each government and the export of data in multiple formats We want to build capabilities around the combination of those two systems, what have achieved in their implementations, how they are connected and how they can be adapted to the diverse governments that use CKAN worldwide.

Proposed Activities: Phase 1 - EXPLORE (6 months) The objective of this first phase will be to define the needs, raise requirements and generate low-code solutions that allow governments to test the system internally. For this, we will follow the following steps: Mapping of local and national governments: prioritize 8 governments to work with, in order to recognize needs and opportunities for enhancing the system Information gathering: From interviews with the leaders of each open data portals, we will map the needs and gather documentation that will help us define the problem. Virtual Design Thinking exercises: Virtual Design Thinking workshops will be held to validate and deepen the needs of governments that use CKAN worldwide. Information analysis: The coordinating team will make a definition of the mapped problems and needs. Phase 2 - SOCIALIZATION (3 months) The objective of this second phase is to share the room for opportunities around visualization of open data portals worldwide, documenting the achievements and the held research. Documentation: user guides and manual on how to adapt Datasketch+CKAN to any government that currently uses CKAN Wireframe design: design of mockups and wireframes for the Datasketch+CKAN website Website Implementation: space where all the information about this project can be found and shared. This site will also have linked urls to use cases around the world where it has been successfully implemented and news coverage about the impact of the solution. Social media sharing: communication of the project to allow future iterations and improvements and to disseminate the tool and the associated learning. Online workshops: we will held online workshops with governments that currently use CKAN in order to show what are the opportunities of visualising the current open data in their portals, and what they can achieve with it.

Openness: Through innovative methodologies such as design thinking, we seek to understand the needs and pains of the users of open data platforms from the government and civil society. In addition, building the solution on a digital public good such as CKAN allows it to adapt to the future due to the importance of open source. That is why the proposed solution not only seeks to benefit the government, helping them comply with the general transparency law and its open government agenda, but also the general public, allowing them to have actionable information to work on social issues, communicate them and influence the public and political agenda. The engagement of a broader community in the work, and the openly output sharing will ensure the opennes of the project.

Challenges: One of the most important challenges that can appear is related to the participation of the governments that use CKAN in the design thinking workshops. Since their involvement is critical for the success of the project, an early approach will start as soon as the acceptation of this project is communicated. Nonetheless, we have previously worked and implemented the solution with Mexico City, the Government of Ecuador and a pilot with the Government of Madrid. Hence, the project will start involving these stakeholders and from there start iterating.

Neglectedness: Yes. We have been awarded for the implementation of a pilot within the Madrid City, Mexico City and the National Government of Ecuador. Thus, there is support for the democratisation of data science around the world. On the same page, we have been trying to upscale the project to other instances, for example we have just been short-listed for its implementation in Monterrey City. There is an increasing opportunity to expand this solution to other governments that want to make their open data friendly and accessible to everyone.

Success: The impact achieved so far has een measured by Mexico City and the World Economic Forum: There has been an increase in the number of users and the number of visits to the Open Data Portal. Users spend most of their time browsing through the available visualization catalog on the site, with an average of 2 and a half minutes. The normal average is 50 seconds. Data downloads have increased up to 4 times. The media and journalists have used the data visualizations for public affairs and transparent information about the government. People share the visualizations on social media. Other entities have shown interest in opening up their data. The INEGI (National Institute of Statistics) has started sharing data in an open format because now they see its value. Mexico City has reduced the high impact that crime had by 50% (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/06/how-data-helped-mexico-city-reduce-high-impact-crime/)

Total Budget: 19000

Affiliations: Datasketch

LMIE Carveout: Yes. We are a company based in Colombia, and the proposed solution has been implemented in Mexico and Ecuador.

Team Skills: Datasketch is a social technology company that promotes the responsible use of information and data technologies for evidence-based decision-making. Our mission is to democratize data science by reducing barriers to technology adoption in organizations. We are an interdisciplinary and international team: mathematics, statistics, design, journalism, anthropology, engineering, data science, software development and political science.

Submission Number: 185