[OSGeo-UK] CKAN for open geodata

[Jonathan Gray]

Bill, Jo,

Regarding your comments on a portal or datastore for geodata, the 
Comprehensive Knowledge Archive Network (CKAN) is a registry of open 
knowledge 'packages' - such as large datasets or collections of content 
- and includes geodata:

   http://ckan.net/tag/read/geodata
   http://ckan.net/tag/read/geo
   http://ckan.net/tag/read/osgeo

We've put in some effort to add geospatial datasets - and it would be 
great if others could think of any other packages to add!

At the moment it has a bare minimum of metadata - but adding support for 
domain specific metadata is something that we've certainly spoken about 
before. I believe Jo Walsh raised the question of adding support for 
geospatial metadata [1]. Any suggestions about how it could be developed 
to better meet the requirements of the (open) geodata using community 
would be much appreciated!

We've also spoken with the Internet Archive about mirroring large 
datasets, and publishing datasets in multiple formats - and they were 
enthusiastic.

I put myself down to come to the meetup in May, but unfortunately wasn't 
able to make it in the end. I look forward to meeting people at future 
events though!

Warm regards,

Jonathan Gray
The Open Knowledge Foundation

[1] http://lists.okfn.org/pipermail/okfn-discuss/2007-October/000601.html

Joanne Cook wrote:

> 5) Finally- the data- the biggest issue is that the basic mapping
> data just isn't there, unless you are affiliated with a university or
> council. However, we could provide advice on how to use openstreetmap
> data, and I certainly like your idea of a portal for other types of
> data, or at least links to where it might be found.

William Wilcox wrote:

 > I started to think about your comment about lack of data. It is all
 > very well having these great programmes but without data they are of
 > little use. What about a wiki or data store for free datasets? People
 > can upload them for use by other members. Obviously a moderator could
 > verify that each set of data was actually free! This would not only
 > promote OS Geo but offer a 'beginner' a starting place to find data.
 > It would be a 'package' - an OS programme and OS/free data with which
 > to work with!