A free European data conference is being held from October 11-13, on the opportunities and challenges presented by Open Data in the environmental field.

Melodies-txt-logoFollowing three years of research and innovation, the MELODIES* project has developed eight new environmental services based on Open Data, in different environmental sectors. They will be unveiling the techniques and solutions they have developed to combat the challenges of using environmental Open Data in Europe and demonstrating the services.

The event is aimed at:

  • Data managers – who will learn more about handling Open Data and Linked Data in the environmental sector
  • Policymakers – who will learn about the positive impacts of Open Data on innovation in Europe and internationally
  • Software developers and application builders – who will learn about new tools for storing, manipulating and visualising geospatial Open Data and Linked Data
  • Scientists – who will learn about the opportunities for collaboration that Linked Open Data provides.

The MELODIES team is a consortium of 16 academic and industrial partners from eight European countries, coordinated by the IEA’s CTO, Dr Jon Blower, at the University of Reading, and funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme.

The event takes place at the Bedford Hotel and Congress Centre in Brussels, and runs over three themed days with keynote speakers including:

  • Barbara Ryan, Secretariat Director of the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Ed Parsons, Geospatial Technologist of Google, co-chair of the W3C/OGC Spatial Data on the Web Working Group.
  • Emma Truswell, Deputy Head of Advisory, Open Data Institute
  • Luis-Daniel Ibáñez, Open Call Manager, Open Data Incubator (ODINE)
  • In addition to the keynote talks, the programme includes:

    • Hands-on technical tutorial sessions for software developers and data managers.
    • Panel discussion
    • Presentations and demonstrations of services enabled by Open Data
    • Networking opportunities with the speakers, service developers and the MELODIES team

    Dr Blower commented: “This event not only marks the end of the MELODIES project, it is also a great opportunity for wider discussion and networking about the exciting field of Open Data. We have put together a programme that will be interesting to a wide audience in the field.”

    Each day of the event has a different theme, so you may choose to only attend part of the event, depending on your interests; see the full programme for more details. The three-day event is free, the registration deadline is September 9, 2016.

    To register and for full details of the event visit The IEA Website