The Future of Community Strength?

Hamilton splashed into the possibilities of open data when Open Hamilton launched its swimming and water spots application called, "Dowsing", during the peak of the July heat wave.

Dowsing allows the community to quickly find the nearest swimming or wading pool, splash pad, or beach in one quick search.

Dowsing includes non-City swimming facilities including the YMCA, YWCA, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton.

The significance of the app is that it builds community strength by removing the artificial and unfortunate separation of swimming information caused by the fact that different organizations or city departments house operating details (hours, price etc.) in different online locations.

For instance, there is no comprehensive page on the City of Hamilton website for splash pads. Some are listed by Public Works, others by Parks. The City’s recreational swimming webpage lists only city run swimming facilities. The Boys and Girls Clubs list only their swimming pool.

Citizens are more interested in the 'when' of swimming rather than the 'who'. With open data, we are able to meet the needs of citizens and offer organizations, such as the City of Hamilton, free applications that strengthen their website’s ability to serve the community.

Open Hamilton is improving Dowsing and offering free use of the app to anyone wishing to include it on their website.

The possibilities of open data are endless.

Events are another service that will benefit from the movement. Hamilton offers dozens, if not hundreds of websites with events listings. The challenge for event organizers is deciding which sites to submit their event to – they can’t possibility enter their data on every website.

For event goers, the challenge is trying to decide which sites are likely to have events of interest.

If the event organizer and event goer have different ideas of which website is most likely to be the bridge between them, they are not connected.

Through open data, an event organizer could submit their information to any local website in the open data collaboration and the event would be instantly shared among dozens of websites. Event goers could then go to any website and find all the events of interest to them but from the same source or database.

Volunteer opportunities might work the same way using open data – people with skills to offer can connect with the charities looking for them.

Imagine myhamilton.ca as a stronger community portal powered by and offering community data.

Open data is more than the bits of information, it is a community in action. The more data we share, the more we can work together. And its working together that makes Hamilton stronger.