Enabling the Promise of Open Government: Addressing Large-Scale Integration, Storage, and Access of Complex Info

Public access to government information is a logical step for governments at all levels, considering that it was created by public institutions. There are, however, many challenges that severely limit what is actually easily accessible. Government agencies and departments produce very large volumes of information in a wide variety of formats and structures. Much of this information is locked in information silos and in proprietary or hard-to-access formats. A myriad of data structures, document types, storage formats and repositories, and even budgetary and personnel limitations have made it difficult for agencies to make the data available in robust, reusable forms. This paper identifies the obstacles facing developers of applications involving large-scale, heterogeneous data systems. It illustrates how they are being addressed with new technologies, standards, and approaches, and shows how they deliver value to governments and the citizens they serve within the context of two case studies.