The answer is slightly more complicated than simply ‘data that anyone can access, share and use as the open data initiative was founded by Tim Berners-Lee (the inventor of the World Wide Web). According to the Open Definition from the Open Data Institute: “Open data means a piece of information may be reused, used and distributed without restriction and is accessible for free.” It also states: “Universal participation must be enabled. This means that it does not exclude any fields of endeavour, persons or organisations and does not place restrictions on commercial use or limit the intermixing between different data sets.”
A format that is easy to access is another crucial aspect for making data useful. Datasets need to be stored in a format that is easily accessible, can be downloaded and processed by computer applications and be updated automatically wordpess development when new data are released. They also need to be able to be linked with each one to provide context and allow for the development of new analyses.
The final aspect of open data initiatives that are successful is that they must be concentrated on the most important issues facing your organisation or the government. This will ensure that the funds allocated to open-data initiatives are directed to the initiatives that are most likely to yield positive outcomes and provide sustainable value. This could be in the form of boosting the creation of jobs, increasing sustainability, increasing transparency or supporting the involvement of communities.