World Passenger Festival 2023 - questions part 4

In advance of the World Passenger Festival 2023, I was asked to answer a few questions. These were published in a document for those attending. (Question 1 is here , Question 2 is here and Question 3 is here)

Here's the fourth question.

You are a big proponent of open data, what is the benefit of this approach?

Yes, I am. But firstly, let’s be very clear on the definition of Open Data:

“Open data is data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone - subject only, at most, to the requirement to attribute and share alike.”
https://opendatahandbook.org/guide/en/what-is-open-data/

Open Data is NOT data that is shared but limited in its subsequent use. Open Data is NOT data that a company charges some else for using. Open Data is NOT specific customer account data that is securely shared with a third party (that’s what the UK Government calls ‘Smart Data’).

Open Data is the type of data which sits on the far right of The Data Spectrum and has significant potential benefits for the transport & mobility sector and society.
https://opentransport.co.uk/the-data-spectrum-for-transport-mobility/

These benefits include:

- transparency & accountability of transport operations

- time saving from better informed journeys

- growth from data-powered innovations

- reduction in costs for providing information (e.g. contact centres)

- integration of other providers & modes (e.g. healthier / greener options)

With a study by Transport for London back in 2017 showing that the release of their Open Data is generating £130m annually.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has also fully embraced the use of Open Data. In its recent Transport Data Strategy “Innovation through data” it clearly states that:
“Data should be open by default and using open standards”

This ‘Open by default’ approach means that UK public transportation providers must now make their data openly available, unless it is controlled (e.g. it is sensitive), and DfT will even challenge data owners as to why they cannot make their mobility data open.