9.3 Linked open data 

What is Open Data? 

Open Data (OD) is data that can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose  (from the Open Definition(link is external)). 

The open movement seeks to work towards solutions of many of the world’s most pressing  problems in a spirit of transparency, collaboration, re-use and free access. It encompasses open  data, open government, open development, open science, open source, open hardware, open  content, open access, and open science and much more. Participatory processes, sharing of  knowledge and outputs and open source software are among its key tools. 

What is Linked Data? 

A) Linked Data (LD) is one of the core concepts and pillars of the Semantic Web, also known as  the Web of Data. The Semantic Web is all about making links between resources understandable  not only to humans but also to machines, and Linked Data provides the best practices for making  those links. Linked Data is a set of design principles for sharing machine-readable interlinked data  on the Web.  

B) The Web enables us to link related documents. Similarly it enables us to link related data. The  term Linked Data (LD) refers to a set of best practices for publishing and connecting structured  data on the Web. Key technologies that support Linked Data are URIs (a generic means to identify  entities or concepts in the world), HTTP (a simple yet universal mechanism for retrieving  resources, or descriptions of resources), and RDF (a generic graph-based data model with which  to structure and link data that describes things in the world). 

What is Linked Open Data? 

Linked Open Data (LOD) is linked data that is open data. Tim Berners-Lee gives the clearest  definition of linked open data in differentiation with linked data: "Linked Open Data is Linked  Data which is released under an open license, which does not impede its reuse for free." 

Advantages of Linked Open Data 

Furthermore, linking open datasets enhances creativity and innovation as all developers, citizens  and businesses can use all those datasets to put things into context and create knowledge and apps. 

Also, some of the benefits of Linked Open Data are: 

∙ Efficient use of resources: Linked Open Data reduces redundancy by building upon and  the work of others rather than replicating existing systems. 

∙ Increased information quality: Linked Open Data encourages the standardization of  metadata and data formats, which makes data more reliable and credible. 

∙ Creates added value: By connecting directly to other data, Linked Open Data allows users  to discover, use and reuse information in new and unintended ways.

∙ Identification of gaps in information: Linked Open Data allows data errors to be  highlighted and corrected. 

∙ Enhances transparency: Linked Open Data creates the means for citizens and advocacy  groups to hold the private sector and governments to account.