Snowflake Software launches manifesto for Open Data

Inspired by the UK General Election (taking place on Thursday 6 May 2010), Snowflake Software has today launched its pre-election manifesto for Open Data.

Continued supporters of Open Data, Snowflake decided to put itself to the test and continue its efforts to educate the industry about Open Data and what it really means.

With the recent release of the OS OpenData sets in the UK, Snowflake has already been working hard to make the data available in a truly open manner, by converting the data to the open data exchange standard – GML.  In the manifesto, Snowflake also commits to providing customers with OS OpenData in GML – the Open Standard for data exchange.

Eddie Curtis, CTO comments:

“Open Data isn’t Open until it is in a form that you can quickly read and understand. Because our technology is driven by Open Standards, we were able to quickly load and publish the data to GML. Our customers now have access to even more data for their business processes and decision making”.

Snowflake have also stayed on topic and used the opportunity to serve the OS BoundaryLine data using its Web Service technology – GO Publisher WFS. Accredited by the Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) Web Feature Service standard, Snowflake has used its technology to serve Westminster constituency electoral boundary data in GML.  You can access the data here: http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/webservices/OpenData.htm

Party Leader and Managing Director, Ian Painter added:

“Whilst we’re injecting a bit of fun around Open Data and the UK General Election, there are some very serious underlying messages which we fully support and commit to. For us, being an Open Standards data exchange company, Open Data and Open Standards go hand in hand. We're passionate about Open Data in Open Standards so vote for us and keep your data

Snowflake is also taking its campaign on the road as part of the free series of training seminars run by Training4GIS. You can meet the team and discuss the manifesto by registering for one of the remaining GeoDATA 2010 events:

• Cardiff – 11 May
• Liverpool – 13 May
• London – 20 May
• Glasgow – 10 November
• Belfast – 16 November

Register for free: http://www.citiesrevealed.com/events/geodata10/

Read the full snowflake manifesto on Open Data here: http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/campaigns/opendata/manifesto.pdf