Page 13 - Redefining smart city platforms: Setting the stage for Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms - A U4SSC deliverable on city platforms

2 The evolving landscape of smart cities and communities

2.1 Data life cycle management by default

• A starting point for any smart city or community is to manage and utilize the data it collects
in the most effective and appropriate way. Therefore, it is important to understand that these data
fit into several key categories and that each needs to be dealt with differently. A typical way of
classifying the data is as follows:

– Closed personal data: Data that are generated by individuals are private and this requires access
control and masking techniques to be used or divulgated. It also requires consent for use and
traceability.

– Closed organization data: Data that are generated and administered by public or private
companies and that have to remain confidential for public security, privacy or commercial
reasons.

– Shared data: Data that are either sensitive or commercially valuable but can be shared under
strict conditions to authorized roles within other agencies or upon the payment of a fee to
provide added value.
– Open data: Open data refers to any information that has been made available for anyone to
access, alter, and share. It is open not only technically but also legally. It could be from a public
source, e.g., government data, or from a business, e.g., company intelligence, and can be used
for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

Open data are the easiest to manage and make available. Many cities have adopted a policy of
“Open Data by Default”, where the presumption is to make data freely available unless it can be
shown that this is not appropriate. Cities around the world have adopted Open Data Portals to
enable such data to be easily available for widespread use. 1

However, it is important to recognize that even though sharing personal or other confidential data
in an appropriate way is far more complex, that is where the greatest value can accrue to the city.

Cities and communities are learning that the key is to adopt a “Sharing by Default” policy. Such an
approach refers not only to technology options but, more importantly, to a culture that helps the
community be innovative and reach its goals in a collaborative manner that is beneficial for society,
while ensuring that the digital rights of individuals and communities are properly protected.

It is vital that the appropriate data will be easily available and with the level of richness required to
support whoever needs to take a political, strategic or operational decision in a city. This is one of
the main objectives of the city platform. Open data are simply the public part of these data.

Redefining smart city platforms: Setting the stage for Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms 3