Smart cities go beyond the use of digital technologies for better resource utilisation and reduced emissions; they involve making traditional networks and services of the urban environment, such as transport or water supply, more efficient through digital solutions. The goal is to improve operational efficiency, share more accurate information with the public and provide better quality of government service and citizen welfare. Open data plays a crucial role into the transformation into a smart city. It supports researchers and businesses in creating better products and services and allows

On Friday 14 July 2023 from 10.00 to 11.30 CET, the data.europa academy hosted a webinar on the portal dimension following the Open Data Maturity (ODM) report 2022 . This was the third webinar in a series of webinars on the Open Data Maturity (ODM) report 2022. The first webinar, that took place on 10 February 2023, introduced the ODM assessment, provided insights into the level of maturity of the 35 participating countries in Europe and presented the main trends. During this webinar, the four dimensions of ODM were introduced: quality, portal, policy and impact. The second webinar in the

The tenth course of the restructured data.europa academy called ‘ Introducing data visualisation ’ showcases how you can use data to create inspiring and practical visualisations, and how it can be used to tell a story and take your audience on a journey. By the end of this course, you will know how to design state-of-the art data visualisation. In the digital era, data visualisation is a critical asset and essential tool that allows people to grasp information in a second. The first lesson, ‘ How to make your date easier to visualise ’ highlights examples of data repositories and a set of

Across Europe, innovative open data sewage initiatives are emerging to improve public health. Sewage carries a wealth of information about human health, including data on disease outbreaks, drug use, and environmental pollution. By analysing this data, public health officials can detect and respond to health threats more quickly and effectively. As an example, the Netherlands monitors sewage to trace the coronavirus. The project started in February 2020 by the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) and has grown to cover over 320 sewage treatment plants, providing early

The digital era brings an increasing demand for digital and data skilled professionals. To draw attention to these new skills and understand how different stakeholders aim to address the current lack of these skills in the public sector, the Digital Innovation Lab , also known as iLab, hosted a series of six sessions with experts on ‘ Exploring data literacy initiatives to foster public sector innovation ’ throughout the months of June and July. The first session ‘Data literacy for European Public Administration’ was held on the 14 th of June and highlighted data literacy initiatives for

On Monday 17 July, a report on the implementation of the 2020 Berlin Declaration on value-based digital government was published. Digital and interoperable public services are instrumental for the EU to remain resilient, competitive and innovative. A major driver for successfully digitalising European society and the economy is fair, inclusive, open and trusted digital services. The Berlin Declaration is a commitment based on fundamental rights, democratic values and value-based digital government to shape a human-centred digital transformation and interoperability and to create a digital

The ninth course of the restructured data.europa academy called ‘ Including data in your communication ’ delves into the communication of findings, research and complex topics in an enticing way. Learn how to create data visualisations and meaningful, interactive maps that take your audience on a journey. The first lesson ‘ Beyond the pdf ’ covers three webinars to learn how to create a design process to develop a publication that incorporates data visualisations and data-driven storytelling. Data visualisations can be a vital channel to effectively interpret and analyse complex concepts

Today we celebrate World Youth Skills Day to encourage young people all around the world to obtain skills for personal success and make their dreams come true. This year highlights the essential role of teachers, trainers and other educators in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market and actively engage in today’s world. The right skills bring several benefits, such as better job opportunities and broader possibilities to fully engage in society. This is why the European Commission has designated2023 as the European Year of Skills . It aims to address skills shortages in

As healthcare is becoming more expensive and the world is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, there is an opportunity for more proactive, preventative care. Improving air quality in European cities can save European citizens from the negative health impacts equivalent to several cigarettes a day. Combining datasets from OpenAQ and OpenAIRE can lead to powerful insights into air quality, which can help formulate and execute effective measures. OpenAQ collects real-time air quality data from around the world and OpenAIRE provides access to open research data and publications from

A sustainable data cycle needs a set of principles and practices, as well as effective data governance. The eighth course of the restructured data.europa academy called ‘ Understanding data governance with open data ’, dives deeper into how governmental and legal considerations underpin and influence open data. In addition, the course highlights the role of data.europa.eu in different data spaces and delves into the added value of data governance in the public and private sectors. Data governance sets internal standards to improve how data is gathered, stored, processed, and disposed of