A Web service is a mechanism that allows separate software applications to share data over a network. The Internet is such a network. Web services can enable a high degree of interoperability. With Web services, different software applications can share data despite being on different operating systems, platform environments, and written in different programming languages. Developers can use the new Web services to pull data out of Rhode Island's databases and across the Internet and into their own software applications. It enables the wide spread use of RI government data in Internet-based software applications. Web services are similarly used by Internet companies such as Amazon and Flickr.
S. James Willis, director of eGovernment for the Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of the State, wrote about the new Web services on the Government Code Collaborative (GOCC) blog.
"Currently, government technology often quarantines its data from other agencies and its own citizens," Willis wrote. "While sensitive government data must be protected, there are many ways that citizens would be better served by making specific public content available through open services."
Later on he says, "It is simply unacceptable at this point in history that a citizen can use web services to track the movies he is renting, the weather around his house, and the books he's recently purchased but cannot as easily monitor data regarding the quality of his drinking water, legislation or regulations that will directly impact his work or personal life, what contracts are currently available to bid on for his state, or what crimes have recently occurred on his street."
The Govtracker Services are a step in resolving this, Willis says on the blog.
Rhode Island used an open source Web Services Engine called RSSonate to create and implement the Govtracker Services. RSSonate was developed by the RI Office of the Secretary of the State and released on GOCC in February.
The Office of the Secretary of the State is encouraging feedback from developers using the Web services. Any developer can implement the Web services into applications and provide feed back to help mature the services. RI looks to improved existing Web services, and find out what other data people would like so new Web services can be created.
The following is a rundown of some of RI's initial Web services:
- Board/Commission Membership
Given a board or commission, this Web service provides a list of members of the entity and details for each member's appointment. The service also provides information about the board/commission including contact information, annual budget and maximum number of members.
- 25 Most Recently Registered Corporations
Lists recently registered corporations.
- Recently Promulgated Regulations
Given a government entity, provides a list of the 25 most recently promulgated regulations for the entity.
- Districts By Postal Address
Given a postal address this Web service provides the Congressional, State Rep, State Senate, Wards district numbers for the address.
- Towns
Given a zip code this Web service provides the town name and, if available, village info for the zip code.
- Entity Details
Given a government entity, provides non-staff details about the entity including contact information.
- RI General Assembly Members
Given a letter from the alphabet, provides a list of senate and house members whose last names start with the given letter.
- RI Municipalities
Given a letter from the alphabet, provides a list of municipalities with names that start with the given letter.
- RI House Members
Provides a list of RI house representatives.
- RI Senate Members
Provides a list of RI senators.
- Positions and Assignments For Entity
Given an entity, provides a staff directory for the entity.
- Municipal Details
Given a Municipal, provides non-staff details of the municipal including contact information.
- Details for Person/Position
Given a person and his position, provides information about the person.
- Work Contact Information for Person/Position
Given a person and his position, provides all contact data for the position held by the person.
Show Relationships Between Lobbyist, Firm and Entity Given a lobbyist's first and last name or the name of an entity, provides data on relationships between lobbyist, firm and entity.
Autor: Nick Mudge
Quelle: Government Technology, 05.07.2005
