Factsheet v1

DaPaaS

The DaPaaS (Data- and Platform-as-a-Service) project will deliver an environment where developers can both publish and host data-sets and data-intensive applications, which can then be accessed by end-user applications in a cross-platform manner. The resulting platform will reduce the complexity of open data publishing and consumption.

At a glance

Project title: “Data Publishing through the Cloud: A Data- and Platform-as-a-Service Approach for Efficient Data Publication and Consumption” (DaPaaS)

Project reference: 610988

Project co-ordinator: SINTEF

Partners: Stiftelsen Sintef (Norway) Ontotext AD (Bulgaria) Swirrl IT (UK) Sirma Mobile AD (Bulgaria) Saltlux Incorporated (Republic of Korea) Open Data Institute (UK)

Duration: 24 months (start date 01/11/2013) Cost: €2,173,746 (EU contribution: €1,499,000)

Website: dapaas.eu / project.dapaas.eu Twitter: @dapaasproject

Project Rationale - the idea behind DaPaaS

While a large number of datasets have been published as open (and often linked) data in the recent years, applications utilising these open and distributed data have been rather few, which can be explained by the challenges encountered in the area of data publication and consumption.

The DaPaaS (Data and Platform as a Service) project will deliver an intuitive platform for publishing, consuming, and reusing open data, as well as deploying open data applications. This will make these activities easier and cheaper for SMEs and small public bodies which otherwise may not have sufficient expertise and resources to do so. The data layer (DaaS) will offer a publishing infrastructure that features components for large-scale data replication, versioning, analysis, and data access APIs, with primary focus on Linked Data (RDF). The platform layer (PaaS) will provide efficient datastore access, data import and transformation services, reporting services, data enrichment and linking, search and indexing, and caching. The DaPaaS UX layer will provide the means for consumers to access, navigate and explore the data both through open data portals and mobile services. Publishers will have access to an additional interface for data integration, transformation, enrichment and clean up.

Throughout the research project, the partners will develop a prototype for a cross-platform data consumption environment that will efficiently create the user-friendly interfaces to access the data and data-oriented applications. Partners will also undertake research that will enable the design of a tool-supported methodology and guidelines for publishing, dissemination, and consumption of Open Data through the DaPaaS platform. To ensure the successful design of the technical requirements underpinning DaPaaS and the successful final product, detailed case studies and user scenarios will be developed from the various partners over the duration of the project.

To create the DaPaaS platform, the project will address various components and activities dealing with the life-cycle for open data publishing and consumption. The figure below provides an overview of the approach.

DaPaaS Impact and means of achievement

The DaPaaS platform aims at overcoming some of the main current challenges regarding uptake of Open Data publishing and consumption. DaPaaS will achieve:

• A reduction in the cost for SMEs and public organisations which lack sufficient expertise and resources to publish open data.

• A reduction on the dependency of open data publishers on generic Cloud platforms (such as AWS, Azure and AppEngine) to build, deploy and maintain their open/linked data from scratch.

• An increase in the speed of publishing new datasets and updating existing datasets through the provision of a sound methodology and integrated toolset that will support the full open and linked data lifecycle. These products will also increase the quality and consistency of published data.

• A reduction in the cost of developing applications that use open data by providing an integrated platform where infrastructure and 3rd party value added services and components can be reused. Also, a reduction in the complexity of developing applications that use open data by creating a set of cross- platform and mobile widgets and components utilizing the open data sets on the platform which can be used by application developers. Both of these outcomes will increase market opportunities for developers and start-up companies.

• An increase in the reuse of open data by providing fast and seamless access to numerous open data sets to the applications hosted on the DaPaaS platform.

Work packages and deliverables

The research is structured into 7 work packages:

Work package 1 (DaaS for open data) will analyse the current data-as-a-service offerings and seeks to understand best practice and draw up technical recommendations for the project. Led by Ontotext, it will aggregate the requirements for the service and provide the design and architecture for the DaaS software infrastructure, as well as provide actual software prototypes.

Work package 2 (PaaS for open data applications) will provide an analysis, best practice and technical recommendations based on current platform-as-a-service offerings. Led by SINTEF, it will aggregate the requirements for the service and provide the design and architecture for the DaaS software infrastructure, as well as provide actual software prototypes, integrating into the prototype provided in WP1, thus providing an integrated DaPaaS platform.

Work package 3 (Cross-platform open data consumption) is being led by SIRMA mobile, and will provide both the framework that facilitates the creation of mobile APIs for data access; the modular user-interface for easily building web apps, and the multi-platform modules for easily building native apps.

Work package 4 (DaPaaS methodology) focuses on establishing a clear and simple methodology of data publishing, ensuring that DaPaaS delivers a tool which will lower the complexity of open data publishing for non-experts. Swirrl will lead on the work in WP4 which will select, integrate and where necessary, develop the tools to support this simple methodology, applying it to a selection of use cases as identified in WP5.

Work package 5 (Use cases) will define in detail the real-life use cases to be used in DaPaaS. Saltlux led, the use cases defined will generate the detailed technical requirements as outlined previously in WP1-4, ensuring that DaPaaS delivers infrastructure, suitable for all a wide-range of domains that could create business opportunities and efficiencies. WP5 will also define methods for the validation of the infrastructure.

Work package 6 (Dissemination) will be led by the ODI and will include development and execution of the impact strategy for DaPaaS. This strategy will ensure that the project engages directly with relevant communities, as well as acting on their feedback to increase the relevance, effectiveness, and adoption of the final product. WP6 includes the creation of the project website, presence on other relevant community channels, and ensuring that DaPaaS continues to have an impact after it has been completed.

Work package 7 (Report) focuses on the management and monitoring of the DaPaaS project, including both operational and financial strands. It ensures that all project reports are prepared and delivered, and that all quality aspects of the project are fully addressed. SINTEF, as as project co-ordinators, will lead on WP7.