Open Data Blend
Open Data Blend
Open Data Blend (opens new window)is a set of open data services that aim to make large and complex UK open data easier to analyse. We source the raw open data, transform it into dimensional models (opens new window)(also referred to as ‘star schemas’), cleanse and enrich it, add metadata to support its reuse, and make this processed data openly available as compressed CSV, Apache ORC, and Apache Parquet data files. In summary, we provide analysis-ready open data with an emphasis on quality over quantity. We are excited to tell you more about Open Data Blend and how it uses Frictionless Data specifications to make this data easier to understand and use.
There are two core data services: Open Data Blend Datasets and Open Data Blend Analytics. Open Data Blend Datasets has a user interface (UI) called the Open Data Blend Dataset UI (opens new window)and a bulk data API called the Open Data Blend Dataset API (opens new window). Open Data blend Analytics (opens new window)is an interactive analytical query service that can be used from popular BI tools like Excel, Power BI Desktop, and Tableau Desktop.
Maximise Productivity
We provide data services to make analytics teams 100x more productive compared to working with raw open data sources directly.
Slash Costs
Minimise the hidden costs and friction associated with using raw open datasets in your analytic workloads. Enable your analytics team to deliver more right now.
Use Freely
All our datasets are openly licensed and free to use for any lawful purpose. From start-ups to the largest companies, you have the same freedoms.
Query Interactively
Copy our datasets to your data lake and query them with SQL from Amazon Athena, Azure Synapse Analytics, Databricks, Google BigQuery, and more.
Integrate Effortlessly
Our simple integrations enable your analytics team to weave our datasets into their existing workflows.
Get Insights
Empower your data analysts with a fast self-service BI model and actionable BI reports. That means insights on-demand.
#Why Open Data Blend Was Created
The idea behind Open Data Blend was born at Nimble Learn (opens new window)in 2014 after several pain points were experienced when working with large and complex UK open datasets. One of these pain points was that a significant effort, and access to large computational resources, was needed to prepare the data for analysis in a reasonable timeframe. Another pain point was that the lookups and data dictionaries would often be buried in unstructured sources like Word documents, PDF files, and web pages.
#Our Frictionless Data Journey
At Nimble Learn, we have over six years’ experience working with the Frictionless Data specifications. We have delivered two other Frictionless Data projects to date: Data Package M and Data Package Connector.
Data Package M (opens new window)is a Power Query M library that simplifies the loading of Tabular Data Packages into Excel or Power BI.
You can read the Frictionless Data case study for Data Package M here (opens new window).
Data Package Connector (opens new window)is a Power BI custom connector (opens new window)that enables one or more tables from Data Packages, that implement the Table Schema specification, to be loaded directly into Power BI through the ‘Get Data’ experience.
The Frictionless Data case study for Data Package Connector can be read here (opens new window).
#How Open Data Blend Uses Frictionless Data
During over six years of extensive research and development into open data publishing, we reviewed and evaluated several open standards that could be used as a base for our open data API. After carefully weighing the pros and cons of each, we chose to adopt the Frictionless Data specifications because they were lightweight, simple, robust, and highly scalable. We also wanted our users to benefit from the growing ecosystem of Frictionless Data tools (opens new window)that make Frictionless Data even more accessible.
The Open Data Blend Dataset UI and the Open Data Blend Dataset API are both powered by Frictionless Data. When you visit the Open Data Blend Datasets (opens new window)page, all of the information that you see nicely presented is coming from a data package that conforms to the Data Package Catalog pattern (opens new window). Clicking on one of the datasets takes you to a dedicated dataset page that is driven by extended Data Package metadata (opens new window). The ‘Get metadata’ button at the top of each dataset page reveals the contents of the underlying datapackage.json file.
So far, we have implemented and extended the following Frictionless Data specifications and patterns:
Data Package(opens new window)
Table Schema(opens new window)
Data Catalogue pattern(opens new window)
Compressed resources pattern(opens new window)
You can see how deeply ingrained the Frictionless Data specifications are just by skimming through the Open Data Blend Dataset API reference documentation (opens new window).
#How Open Data Blend Helps
Each Open Data Blend dataset is presented with helpful metadata. The data is modelled and enriched to enable effective data analysis. The columns that contain descriptive values are carefully combined into dimension tables (opens new window)and those that contain measurable facts are grouped into fact tables (opens new window). Modelling the data in this way makes it easier to understand and analyze.
Pricing
Cost-effective plans that scale
Commercial
£689
£30 per additional user
£0.01 per additional query
Included
£0.30 per additional download
Premium
£139
ODbL
£30 per additional user
£0.01 per additional query
Add-on available
£0.30 per additional download
Standard
£49
ODbL
£30 per additional user
£0.01 per additional query
Add-on available
£0.30 per additional download
Basic
£0
ODbL
No additional users
No additional queries
Not available
No additional downloads
