Data protection
Under EU data protection law, in particular the GDPR, no personal data or data that can be linked to an individual may be published.
Make data publicly available quickly and easily
Open data solutions for local authorities
Any questions about Open Data?
We are here to support and advise you. Please feel free to get in touch with us, with no obligation.
Open Data for public administration – implementing EU requirements effectively
The EU Regulation on High-Value Data requires public sector bodies to make selected high-value datasets available free of charge. This creates added value for society, the environment and the economy. With the Open Data Package, you can reliably meet the requirements regarding content, provision and deadlines.
Benefits of Open Data
Non-discrimination
Access to the data must be available to everyone without discrimination and without unjustified restrictions.
Free availability
High-quality datasets should, as a matter of principle, be available free of charge and without any additional financial barriers.
Technical specifications
Technical standards must be adhered to when providing high-quality datasets in machine-readable format and via APIs.
Do you have any questions about the provision of open data?
We offer tailored consultancy packages to help local authorities of all sizes implement a data-driven economy.
What are high-quality datasets?
Geospatial data
e.g. maps, urban planning data, infrastructure
Earth and environmental data
e.g. climate data, environmental data, information on water quality and quantity
Meteorological data
Weather data such as temperature, precipitation and wind speed
Statistical data
e.g. population data, economic indicators, health statistics
Company details
e.g. company register, financial data, ownership structure
Mobility data
e.g. transport and traffic information, traffic flows, mobility patterns
Open Data Package – The right solution for your specific circumstances
Workshop: Data law as an opportunity
This workshop provides your local authority with an overview of the current European legal landscape in the field of data law. Participants will gain insights into the EU Data Act, the AI Act, high-value data, as well as data spaces, data brokerage services and the interpretation of the GDPR. The workshop is designed to be interactive and enables participants to develop their own use cases and gather arguments to promote the theme of ‘data as an opportunity’ within their local authority.
- Duration: The workshop will be held in person and will last approximately 4–6 hours.
- Target audience: The workshop is aimed at local authority representatives who wish to explore the subject of data law in greater depth in order to expand their knowledge and develop practical applications for their local authority.
- This package is ideal for local authorities that wish to recognise and harness the potential of data law to drive the data economy in their region. It is particularly valuable for decision-makers planning to implement data-driven strategies whilst taking the legal framework into account.
Introductory seminar
This package includes a one-hour webinar, along with supporting materials and a contact person for further enquiries. It provides an overview of data publication requirements and introduces the Mobilithek and the ‘Piveau’ open data portal.
- Target audience: Ideal for local authority representatives, data providers and organisational administrators who need an initial overview of the subject and wish to understand what steps need to be taken by mid-2024.
- Choose this package if you need a basic introduction and are planning to take your first steps in the field of Open Data.
Data inventory for your local authority
Includes an inventory of existing data and guidance on making it available: advice on data exploration, data preparation and making data accessible; an inventory of value-adding data using a specialist department as an example; classification of data and support with the structured description of data.
- Target audience: Suitable for local authorities that require a detailed analysis of their current data holdings and are seeking support with the practical implementation of data provision.
- This package is designed for local authorities that already have a foundation in place and now wish to take a more in-depth approach to making their data available effectively and in compliance with regulations
Comprehensive implementation consultancy
Tailored implementation consultancy: advice on data exploration, data preparation and making data available; identifying value-generating data within individual departments; classifying data and providing support with the structured description of data; support with connecting interfaces to existing portals.
- Target audience: Local authorities requiring comprehensive support, including technical implementation and integration with existing portals.
- Choose this package if your local authority requires comprehensive advice and support with implementation, from planning right through to technical implementation.
Open Data Portal for your local authority
Provision of an open data portal based on the OS technology ‘Piveau’, including customisation of the front end, training in the manual entry of data records, and 12 months of maintenance, hosting and operation.
- Target audience: Ideal for local authorities wishing to set up their own bespoke open data portal to make their data available to the public.
- Choose this package if you want to maximise the visibility of your data and create a central platform for accessing it.
Presence on the Open Data Portal
Includes a presence on the central ‘Piveau’ platform, with the front end customised to feature your local authority’s logo and colours, training on how to manually enter data records, and 12 months of maintenance, hosting and operation.
- Target audience: Local authorities looking for a cost-effective solution to showcase their high-quality datasets on an existing platform.
- Ideal if you want to benefit from the infrastructure and reach of an existing platform without having to build your own portal from scratch.
Expertise in urban data management and open-source solutions
Telekom, in partnership with DKSR GmbH – founded in 2021 as part of the Fraunhofer Morgenstadt Initiative – specialises in urban data management and open-source solutions for local authorities. As an IT service provider with many years of experience in the data economy, we support public administrations and are responsible for operating Open Data Bayern and Mobilithek, the national access point for mobility data. Mobilithek serves as a platform for the publication and exchange of open data by public bodies.
Frequently asked questions
The public provision of data by local authorities and municipal enterprises can offer enormous added value. Certain types of public sector data are of particular interest because their reuse in a wide variety of applications can bring significant benefits to society, the environment and the economy. For this reason, the European Commission has defined six categories of such high-value datasets in the High Value Data Implementing Regulation, which public bodies are required to make available free of charge.
High-quality datasets are those that offer particular potential for generating socio-economic benefits and that should be made available in machine-readable formats and via APIs. The EU Regulation lists six categories: geospatial data, Earth observation and the environment, meteorology, statistics, business and business ownership, and mobility.
The regulation stipulates that the data must be published either in the public domain (CC0) or under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0), and that more restrictive licence models are not permitted.
Although high-quality datasets may contain personal data, the EU Regulation makes no exception to data protection law. Techniques such as generalisation, aggregation, anonymisation, differential privacy or randomisation are recommended to prevent individuals from being identified and to ensure data protection.
You can also find further information on this in the Privacy News.
Member States are required to implement APIs to provide high-quality datasets, carry out data protection impact assessments, and determine whether exceptions to the free provision of datasets are necessary. They must also report on these measures to the European Commission.
You can also find further information on this in the Privacy News.
Piveau is a data management system developed by Fraunhofer FOKUS: it is characterised by its high level of user-friendliness and performance. Even large volumes of data are processed reliably at high speed. The system provides the ideal technological foundation for the flexible development of high-performance, open data portals and/or internal data management systems.
When the Regulation comes into force in June 2024, the rules on data usage fees may change. The Regulation aims to make public data available free of charge, although certain measures to ensure data protection may also be taken into account when setting fees.
Members of the public can access open data in order to:
Promoting civic engagement and transparency: By providing access to data from public bodies, citizens can better understand government activities and play an active role in shaping public policy. This strengthens democratic participation and promotes transparency.
Education and learning: Teachers and learners can use open data as a resource for educational purposes, for example to carry out classroom projects, to develop analytical skills, or to investigate real-world phenomena.
Carry out your own projects and analyses: Amateur researchers and data enthusiasts can use open data to carry out their own projects and analyses on a range of topics, such as environmental protection, urban planning or socio-economic developments.
Do you have any questions about the provision of open data?
We offer tailored consultancy packages to help local authorities of all sizes implement a data-driven economy.