Data is a valuable asset to the U.S. government and the public. Making it accessible and usable intensifies democracy in the country. It also promotes effectiveness in the government, as well as efficiency in each branch. Project Open Data is a place where fostering collaboration and promoting improvement in open data policy is intended. This is where collaboration from anyone is vital to make open data work more effectively.
Data quality is a measure or condition of data based on various factors. It needs to be measured depending on its competitiveness, trend, consistency, and reliability. This can help various organizations and individuals resolve various concerns they have regarding the data.
But how can Project Open Data improve the data quality? Learn the details through this article.
Project Open Data
Having access to open data gives the government, companies, and citizens more transparency in the data. It can monitor government and individual activities, such as expenditures and other relevant information. This means data is accessible to anyone and will be maintained for free, as mandated by the government.
Project Open Data also facilitates collaboration with non-government organizations or agencies. This will help businesses and other agencies accomplish their missions.
However, there are key factors to consider when it comes to open data: its implementation and the tools to be used.
Project Implementation
Having access to open data can be useful for anyone. Imagine having access to organic data for your projects and the information that you need. It’ll be easy for everyone to acquire the relevant information.
However, when it comes to its implementation, there should be some requirements, which are already being implemented:
- Create and maintain an inventory of enterprise data
- Build and maintain public data listing
- Document if data can’t be released
- Ensure that the roles and responsibilities promote efficient and effective data access
- Create opportunities for user engagement
Tools
To implement open data, we need to use tools. This is similar to when we use deep learning as we use various tools to access it. For instance, we use Google to automatically translate the content. On the other hand, open data requires tools for it to be fully implemented:
- Data catalog tools: This is a collection of metadata with data management tools, allowing users to find the data they specifically need. You can think of this as an inventory of the data.
- Converter tools: These are tools that can convert data to another file type. For instance, if you wish your database to be converted into an API, you can utilize a specific converter tool.
- Engagement tools: This is a tool where people can engage using the open data beyond the portal. The main purpose of this tool is to provide better service to consumers.
- Data tools (miscellaneous): These are software that allows you to do other things to the data aside from the ones mentioned above. For example, gathering and collecting data automatically.
What Is Data Quality?
Understanding the quality of the data is integral to anyone, especially if you’re aiming to become a data professional. But how do you identify whether the given information is of good quality? There are characteristics that I recommend you should check to ensure data quality is preserved.
Accuracy
This data aspect checks whether the information is correct. To identify it, you’ll have to ask yourself if it reflects the real-world situation.
Keep in mind that if the data is inaccurate, it can cause significant issues. For instance, if a non-government institution wants to assist a certain town’s residents, they need the data. The information will be the basis of how many people they will provide service to.
Completeness
This characteristic refers to its comprehensiveness. It should be clear and has all the relevant information. This means a regular assessment is necessary to ensure that the data is complete, especially when new information arises.
Let’s say the healthcare providers will conduct a free medical consultation with the cities’ constituents. The data should be complete, especially when it comes to names, blood types, medical conditions, and more.
Reliability
When it comes to trustworthiness, consistency is key. If different sources of information provide conflicting information, it can be difficult for users to know what to trust. This is especially important in sectors such as healthcare, where even small inaccuracies can have serious consequences.
By ensuring that the data provided is consistent and doesn’t conflict with other sources, users are more likely to trust and rely on it.
Relevance
Why does relevance matter? Imagine yourself collecting data, but seeming to have no purpose for it. This means you’re only wasting resources.
Quality data means the information embedded is valuable. People can utilize the information for their specific purposes. For example, the number of people who have a certain lifestyle can be of value. Researchers will be able to understand the data quickly. Keep in mind that some data could be valuable for others but not for you.
Timeliness
This refers to how updated the information is. If you have access to data that gathers information from the past until now, then it’s quality data. You can use the information and it is still relevant to this time.
However, if the data is no longer valid, you might be wasting resources. The data should be updated when new information arises. For instance, if there’s new information regarding the town or new events that will take place, the data needs an update.
How Does Project Open Data Enhance Data Quality?
With the characteristics of good data, It is safe to say that Project Open Data can enhance data quality. But how?
Since the data is mandated by the government, the information is reliable. The data is maintained and will always be accurate. Aside from being mandated by the government, Project Open Data provides open-source tools, such as the ones mentioned above. This makes the data complete and relevant to everyone.
Summary
Having access to open data presents many opportunities for individuals and organizations. This information can be used to improve daily tasks and help achieve goals. Think about the potential benefits for your organization if you were able to access high-quality open data, it would enable you to accomplish your missions and objectives more efficiently.