Open Data for Open Government
This three year project will explore open data best practices, policy and delivery options in a rural setting. Our primary focus is on regional and municipal governments in southeastern British Columbia. We are extending the goals from the Geothink project to provide a more complete view of open data. Our research will benefit individual researchers and the greater geospatial community. These new partnerships will enable us to better engage in research with local communities.
Setting the stage for the adoption of open data policies in rural Canada is our key outcome. Advancing the conversation around open data will allow our communities to have the same access as citizens in urban centres. Open access to data enables the public to engage with community decision-makers. Students, in K-12 & post secondary, will be able to explore the data for class projects and research, enhancing their understanding for data's role in planning and decision making. Further, it will foster the development of new products and services by the opening of data.
The Grant
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is funding this research (through the Community and College Social Innovation Fund, CCSIF and the Community Investment Program respectively) in partnership with the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI), the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK), the Open Data Society of BC, Open North, Urban Opus, University of British Columbia- Okanagan (UBC-O), McGill University and Esri Canada.
For more information about Selkirk College’s Applied Research & Innovation work, see our webpage on Selkirk.ca.
