Explaining the data

[TeunvanSprundel]

One of the issues we're looking into at the moment is what we need to do to make sure all the different users understand the data. The authority of a dataset uses formal definitions of objects. Some of these definitions can be unclear for the users. E.g. an end-user and authority can talk about the same thing, but use different definitions. How can we make sure it is clear for everyone what the data means.

[TeunvanSprundel]

Some comments from the municipality of Bergen op Zoom: Explaining geo-data to end-users can be a hard task. In the municipality of Bergen op Zoom they arrange some meetings where the GIS experts explain to the users what the data is they are dealing with.
Obviously this is no solution for our platform, but it shows the importance of this issue

[TeunvanSprundel]

An other authority, the "Omgevingsdient Noordzeekanaalgebied" does not have this problem. They make sure that the only persons who are working with their data are people who already know what the data definitions mean.

[TeunvanSprundel]

Some idea's we have are the following:

• Work with aliases. The formal definition stays the one and only formal definition, but users can propose an alias.
• Explain the definition using metadata. We can show this data with an (i) button.

[TeunvanSprundel]

Other ideas are welcome ofcourse

[lvdbrink]

What about using linked data principles to link definitions to data objects and properties? @liekeverhelst can you comment?

For example it would be useful to link to definitions like are present here: http://definities.geostandaarden.nl/concepten/imgeo/id/begrip/abri

Or here: http://imgeo.geostandaarden.nl/def/imgeo-object/paal/verkeersregelinstallatiepaal-niet-bgt
http://imgeo.geostandaarden.nl/def/imgeo-object/paal/lichtmast-niet-bgt

[liekeverhelst]

Yes @lvdbrink @TeunvanSprundel making Linked Data links to definitions is a very good option. Using dcterms:subject is probably the most easy way.

[ndkv]

I think aliases are a great idea, especially when users are able to easily add their own.

Linking to definitions is a good idea, too. I do wonder whether those might be too specialistic/complex for the audience @TeunvanSprundel is addressing.

@TeunvanSprundel do you have an overview of the problems that users run into? What is it they don't understand? Is it merely an ontology (terms) mismatch or are there more fundamental misunderstandings? In other words, who are the users you speak of and what are their needs?

I recently helped hackers at an open data challenge make sense of the geo data in atlasnatuurlijkkapitaal.nl. The datasets in ANK are, compared to other geo outlets, described in great detail. Each dataset comes with a bijsluiter (i.e. a leaflet) that explains what the dataset is about, how it was created, who owns it, where to look for more information, etc. See e.g. http://www.atlasnatuurlijkkapitaal.nl/web/ank/kaarten?x=160000&y=450000&zoom=2&l=4018&al=4018&bl=2&mapLayout=1&location=false&library=false

While the app builders didn't need (or want) more information, the participating data journalists and designers indicated that the provided information isn't enough for them to be able to create compelling stories and visualizations.

This extremely anecdotal story is meant to illustrate that different users require different pieces of information to complete their quest.

[ndkv]

BTW, the mismatch in ontologies also makes data difficult to find.

Yesterday I needed the areas/outlines of Dutch cities i.e. a the urban areas in an average land use dataset. Searching for 'urban areas', 'cities', 'city area' and a bunch of others in NGR didn't result in anything useful. After a while, purely by luck, I discovered the CBS Bevolkingskernen (rough translation: inhabited kernels) dataset.

[lvdbrink]

Wow, I wouldn't have been able to find that one either (Bevolkingskernen...)

[pvgenuchten]

@lvdbrink linking skos concepts as keywords to a dataset cataloguerecord (aka bijsluiter or metadata) is common practice in both dcat and iso19139. It's up to the catalogue search algorythm to make use of skos principles as related, broader, narrower to improve the search result. Also consider multilingual keywords such as elevation vs hoogte, which is a similar challenge.

[lvdbrink]

Yes, using skos for aliases is a good idea!

@TeunvanSprundel Open Annotations could also be a solution for capturing user comments, aliases, etc.

[matthew-spotzi]

@pvgenuchten skos sounds great, we are going to have a good look at it! Do you maybe have an example of the usage of skos in combination with geo-data?

[matthew-spotzi]

@ndkv As you already mentioned different users require different pieces of information to complete their quest. Since we don't know our users (gis experts to citizens) we want to have as many posibilities available.

[ndkv]

Hmm... I'd argue you need to find out who the users are. Including as many possibilities as possible is a recipe for creating an overly complex "thing" that doesn't fit any of the users' needs in a useful way. You'd be pushing a solution instead of letting users pull one that works for them. We have enough 'pushed' stuff in the geo/government world already. It might be fruitful (and exciting!) to turn the process around this time.

Dealing with users is difficult and takes a lot of time. For the purpose of the testbed you can also limit yourself to one group of users (municipal workers, citizens, web developers, data scientist, etc.) and try to satisfy their needs in a robust manner. In case the discovery process proves fruitful you can document it and eventually apply it to the other groups.