The European Commission has launched beta version of the European Data Portal at the European Data Forum with more than 240,000 datasets. The European Data Portal (www.europeandataportal.eu) enables fast and simple searching of open data from 34 European countries and supports their systematic onward use. Open data comprises of information gathered, generated or purchased by public institutions that may be used, modified and shared freely by anyone. The European Commission aims to use the European Data Portal to simplify access to this data in order to more successfully tap into its enormous economic potential. However, state administrations, research institutes and the general public also stand to benefit from open data which is enabled through optimised administrative processes, increased transparency and improved possibilities for participation of those associated with it.
Another feature available at the portal is the search for place names for simplifying the discovery of datasets by means of spatial search criteria. For this, conterra deploys the smart.finder, a solution that allows rapid discovery and structured access to extensive, heterogeneous datasets. The basic data is drawn from such sources as the geographical names according to INSPIRE Annex I and open data from geonames.org, which are harmonised and combined with the aid of the FME spatial data hub. The INSPIRE-compliant OGC Web Feature Service that has recently been made available by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) is also used for geographical names in the construction of this so-called gazetteer.
The provision of the beta version represents the European Data Portal’s first public phase. The main aim is to obtain feedback from the public to allow onward development of the multi-million-euro project within the consortium, in accordance with requirements.