10-08-2018, 04:32 PM
As a note, you can already download the 2018 imagery from the Kitchener site as it is, but I don't know what license restrictions that comes with. So Google, or anyone else, could already have the imagery (data) if they wanted.
What if that global company takes that open data and uses it in a way that results in additional insight, interest, or investment in the community from which originated?
I have the same problem with Statistics Canada charging users (often other government bodies like the City or Region) for certain data products and tables that are not made freely available on the StatsCan website. The data has already been collected, processed, and reformatted (and paid for) let it be free and used to generate ideas, knowledge, and wealth. I don't think StatsCan does it for profit, only cost recovery, but it seems inefficient.
What if that global company takes that open data and uses it in a way that results in additional insight, interest, or investment in the community from which originated?
I have the same problem with Statistics Canada charging users (often other government bodies like the City or Region) for certain data products and tables that are not made freely available on the StatsCan website. The data has already been collected, processed, and reformatted (and paid for) let it be free and used to generate ideas, knowledge, and wealth. I don't think StatsCan does it for profit, only cost recovery, but it seems inefficient.
Everyone move to the back of the bus and we all get home faster.