Brno, August 12 (BD) – Open Data provided by Brno is another way to produce something useful for both, yourself and the city itself. Web or mobile apps developed by Brno locals and based on Open Data have been already serving to inform people about public transportation or changes in urban zoning plan. Your idea can be next!
The City of Brno is well known for its effort to emancipate its citizens. As the official website of Brno says: „Brno is full of skillful people who are not afraid to invent new things”. Brno promotes emancipation and involvement of its citizens in many fields like participatory budgeting. Technology stemming from Open Data is yet another option. The city website already lists some useful apps for citizens.
What apps can you use today?
Do you need to find official documents from Brno municipality or you want to know where another supermarket will emerge? This app mapasamosprávy.cz shows you easily the future plans of the city hall.
There are also apps that inform you about public transportation in real time. Iris app will provide you with information updated every 20 seconds on actual location of all buses, trains and trams in the Southern Moravia Region.
HejbejBrnem is a project developed for non-governmental organization Nesehnutí. It covers almost entire transportation, cycling routes and traffic jams in order to help you move smoothly across the city. Thanks to button “This needs to change” (Chce to změnu) you are empowered to report your grievances and push Brno towards a better future.
There are also other apps which are only prototypes so far. You can get an inspiration here.
Turn your ideas into useful software with Open Data
Data are available to all people and for all ideas in this database. In case data offered in the database is inadequate for your project, do not hesitate and write an inquiry to opendata@brno.cz. The city website will then publish your app on their website when ready. However, Brno does not bear any responsibility and does not guarantee their functionality. It is all up to developers.
Open Data is data fully and freely available to the public but it is formatted in a machine-readable way. Although not very user-friendly, thanks to web/mobile apps, it can be turned into transparent, effective and interesting software and serve to all. Criminality, existing vacancies in companies or kindergartens or anything that crosses your mind can be build up from Open Data.
Brno pioneers
Trend to provide free information available to the public is still uncommon and unnatural for the most of Czech businesses. Traditional view on Open Data is rather skeptical due to potential piracy and breach of privacy.
Brno is a pioneer in promotion of Open Data and many local institutions and companies share the tendency towards transparency and openness. A lot of good things can arise from such an innovative approach when third party’s minds meet information!
