IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2013 - 55

this solution, the sensor simply
needs to invoke the platform API.
Then the Open Sensor Data platform stores the data measurements
of the registered service and publishes them through a web service
in a standardized format.
First Results and Impact
on Innovation
Evaluating the impact of the current revolution of sensors in Open
Data can be one of the most difficult parts in the public value chain
analysis. Here, we focus on two
main results to prove its impact: a)
the number of datasets registered in
the Open Sensor Data platform, b)
the applications developed by using
open datasets, both points analyzed
in the framework of the Open Cities Project, through the Apps4Europe Challenge [25].
Datasets impact
Fig. 2 shows the number of datasets included in the Open Sensor
platform of the Open Cities Project. It is not far from the number of
datasets of a more mature platform,
the PublicData.eu portal [26]. The
global number of datasets is 44 for
the Open Sensor Data platform and
17 027 for PublicData.eu. we have
selected all the datasets that are
offering real-time data. The total
number of Open Sensor Data is 33
for the Open Sensor Data platform
and 77 for PublicData.eu. The dataset types are very different in number, and the biggest group in each
platform is transport for the Open

Sensor Data platform and politics
for PublicData.Eu.
New Applications Impact
As a result of the Apps4Europe
challenge, 113 applications (apps)
were created. This challenge
allowed developers throughout
Europe to deploy new apps that had
to include Open Data. The source
of the datasets was free; developers
had to acknowledge the provider to
allow verification that Open Data
was in use. Initially we observed
that developers primarily chose two
categories: Transport with 26 apps,
and tourism with 22 apps. Moreover, most of those applications
can be launched in more than one
country, like the sharing and rental
bike programs that can be sold as a
single app [27].
An application that uses Open
Data to provide a new service or
visualization usually is usually
best when crossed and combined
with more than one dataset, resulting in what is known as a mashup.
Although it is not a standard definition, the term comes from web
2.0, where a mashup referred to a
user customizing its services [28].
Common mashups implement
Open Data to include information
awareness depending on the user
location. Three mashup examples
show the potential of opening sensor data:
■ Eixos.cat: A mashup application implemented by Planol.
info. The categories of information used are: area type,

Open Sensor Data Platform
9%

9%
Culture; 0%

3%
3%

12%

23%

10%
61%

■

PublicData.eu
1%
7%

■

demographic data, industrial areas, and general maps.
Those public datasets are
combined to identify potential
location for commerce. The
new resultant service allows
the user to obtain information
about the best place to set up
a specific type of business.
To offer these services the
mashup also includes private
data that comes from uploading eye-scouting data through
the studied areas.
Tram and Bus in Helsinki:
Okode, a Spanish company,
developed an app that had
great impact in Helsinki. It
combines different transport
sensor datasets with maps.
The result shows the real-time
location of any bus or tram in
the city. The new service has a
direct impact on citizens who
download it, especially during
the winter, as it enables them
to reduce their waiting time for
buses or trams.
Blindsquare: This app is
the winner of the Open Cities Challenge [7]. It creates a
different way of implementing augmented reality. This
mashup included Open Datasets, FourSquare, and used the
Open Street Map. The innovation comes from including
audio through speech synthesis and providing information
about streets and crossings to
the blind. Blindsquare can also
help user find a new shop or to

31%

Environment
Energy and Utilities
Transport
Politics
News
Culture
Emergency
Tourism

Fig. 2. Open Sensor Data in portals.
IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

wINTEr 2013

http://www.PublicData.Eu http://www.PublicData.eu http://www.PublicData.eu http://www.PublicData.eu http://www.PublicData.eu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2013