Urban data platforms: With or without open data?

Many municipalities in Germany are currently working on an urban data platform in order to make better and more efficient use of local data. The role that open data can play in such a context was the topic discussed by more than 80 participants at the 14^th Open Data Network Meeting on May 21, 2024.

Larger municipalities often set up their own platforms, while smaller ones opt for a network approach. Commercial and open source solutions are also available.

“But is the issue of open data being considered too, or is there still a need for lobbying here?” asked Mario Wiedemann, Senior Project Manager in the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Data for Society project, at the start of the meeting.

On the one hand, urban data platforms host software that pools data from a range of sources in one location. On the other, by making data available in a specific city or region, they provide opportunities to create a range of applications, for example in the areas of mobility and environmental protection.

The meeting kicked off with presentations by Anne-Marie Kilpert and Benjamin Hassenfratz from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) in Kaiserslautern. In his remarks, Hassenfratz discussed various terms: data stories, dashboards, data marketplaces. These are external components and applications that can be developed, but are always based on an urban data platform. One possible application, for example, is an open data portal.

But what role does open data actually play? Benjamin Hassenfratz, who advises communities through his Smart City Engineering project, explained that when people contact IESE, the focus is not necessarily on open data. “Many cities and towns generally want to use an urban data platform to achieve in-house goals,” he said. “Open data is usually only considered as an add-on and is not the main concern.” 

At the same time, there are a number of advantages to including open data from the start. Urban data platforms can reduce technical obstacles, since they make it possible to automate processes, Hassenfratz said. Moreover, open data can be stored directly on the platform and need not be transferred to an open data portal. The prerequisite, however, is that DCAT-AP.de is used as the metadata standard. 

Nevertheless, municipalities face a number of challenges here. In some cases, Hassenfratz explained, data is only available in analogue form, the data format is impractical or the data is of poor quality. He offered the following advice for communities wanting to get started: They should first be clear about whether they actually need a data platform, they should identify possible benefits and use cases, and they should ensure they have support at the highest levels of the organization. And, of course, they need to clarify what everything will cost.   

Marius Henkel, who is responsible for data governance and open data for the city of Kaiserslautern, then discussed the intercommunal data platform shared by six communities in Rhineland–Palatinate and Saarland. By joining forces, the municipalities have been able to split the development costs. In addition, the joint platform ensures de facto standardization, and responsibilities are spread among the different participants. There has already been a proof of concept. Like Hassenfratz, Henkel spoke of an open data portal as one use case made possible by an urban data platform. 

Finally, Klemens Maget from Berlin’s Open Data Information Office presented an open data journey. The process describes the path to open data in five stages: understanding the data’s potential, identifying and describing data, processing data, publishing data and visualizing data. The journey also includes numerous practical tips for each stage.

Harald Wedel from Germany’s Federal Office for Agriculture and Food presented plans for a program to fund open data in rural areas. The aim is to support rural communities in realizing the ideas they have for making data available but have not yet been able to implement. The target audience is rural municipalities with up to 35,000 inhabitants, which can receive a maximum of €50,000 in funding over 12 months. All the relevant information is to be published in the Federal Gazette and at www.ble.de/LandOpenData at the end of May.

The Municipal Open Data Network Meeting is a joint initiative of the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Difu, the German Institute for Urban Affairs. The digital event is primarily aimed at public administrators working at the local level. At the beginning of each meeting, participants have the chance to interact during a speed networking session. Speakers then give a 15-minute presentation, sharing their ideas and experiences. Afterwards, there is plenty of time for questions and discussion.