Free and Open Data Research
The MetroGIS Data Producers Work Group and Policy Board have been actively engaged in research, deliberation and review of the benefits of freely and openly available public geospatial data in the Seven County Metropolitan region.
The following resource materials, research and articles have been prepared and assembled over the course of 2013 in service of that discussion.
On October 23, 2013, the MetroGIS Policy Board adopted a Resolution of Support for Free and Open Public Geospatial Data and are advancing their recommendation and supporting research to the governments in the Seven County Metropolitan region.
As of October 2015, all Seven Metropolitan Counties have adopted free and open public geospatial data policies and are offering their data through their own data portals or through the Minnesota Geospatial Commons.
MetroGIS Documents and Research
- Single-Page Fact Sheet on Free and Open Geospatial Data
- MetroGIS: Free & Open Access to Data: Research & Reference Documents (75 page white paper resource)
- Free + Open Public Geospatial Data in Minnesota: Questions, Answers, Concepts and Resources for Practitioners Version 6.3 (Updated Nov 18, 2019)
- MetroGIS Policy Board Resolution of Support for Free and Open Public Geospatial Data
- Sample Resolution Resource Document for City and County Government
- Sample Letter of Support from MetroGIS Policy Board Chair to County Board Chairs and County Administrators
Open Data Articles
- NSGIC: Geospatial Data Sharing Guidelines for Best Practices
- NSGIC: This Isn't Private Information
- NSGIC: Economic Studies for GIS Operations
- Brian Timoney: The Flawed Economics of Closed Government Data
- New Legislation Cements California's Local Government Data Culture Shift
- White House Guru to Counties:
- Unlock Your Data
- Copyright at Harvard Law: Minnesota
- Creative Commons: Data Uses of CC Licenses with Data and Databases
- Creative Commons: CC Zero(Public Domain License)
Current Minnesota Free + Open Data Status (Maps & Data Resources)
- Minnesota Geospatial Commons: Free & Open County Map and Related Data Sets
(Updated as new information is available.) - Status Map
(PDF, Updated as new information is available.)
County Open Data Resolutions (by date of adoption)
- Ramsey County, February 11, 2014
- Hennepin County, February 11, 2014
- Dakota County, March 25, 2014
- Carver County, April 1, 2014
- Anoka County, April 22, 2014
- Clay County, October 28, 2014
- Washington County, November 18, 2014
- Scott County, October 6, 2015
- Itasca County, December 9, 2015
- Waseca County, June 21, 2016
- Carlton County, January 23, 2017
- Steele County, February 28, 2017
- Olmsted County, November 5, 2019
- Aitkin County, July 27, 2021
Presentations
- Free and Open Data: History and Recap of the Issue - Randy Knippel, Dakota County
- Free and Open Data: Context - Geoff Maas, MetroGIS
- NSGIC Presentation (September 16, 2014) - William Johnson (GIO, New York) & Geoff Maas (MetroGIS)
- Open Data Licensing: Making It Clear - David Fawcett, MPCA
Contact
For more information on the Free + Open Public Geospatial Data Initiative, please contact:
Geoff Maas, AICP GISP
Affiliate Faculty, University of Minnesota
[email protected]
763.772.4287