Urbanie & Urbanus

Issue 2021 Jul

Smart City?

Issue 5, P.78 - P.90

Smart Cities - Overview, Open Data, Privacy and Management Issues, Standards and Solutions

Alexander C. Ngai Siu

Architect and Senior Urban Designer, EUASIA Limited

Abstract

Governments typically coordinate and release data from multiple agencies through a central, secure, read-only location such as “data.gov” that facilitate users to find and use data. This location where data are published is called an open data portal. There are a range of platform options from cloud-based open sourced portals or built by their own cities. In Hong Kong, through the Public Section Information (PSI) Portal DATA. GOV.HK, anyone can access freely and harvest the datasets (covering from demographic, economic, geographical and meteorological data) through API for commercial and non-commercial purposes. 

Priority of published data can be based on availability or by community feedback. Countries benefit from the release of government data in many ways, some common examples include, promoting transparency and accountability, releasing social and commercial value, and increasing citizen participation and engagement.