Data platforms – open or shared?
By Stuart Norman, CEO Parking Australia
Many of you attended, in person or virtually, the NSW Government Digital Parking Summit. The summit heard from a range of speakers including the NSW Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service, the Hon. Victor Dominello, and the Minister for Transport and Roads, the Hon. Andrew Constance.
A key topic discussed at the summit was that of open data. While a parking open data platform would be a step forward for the parking industry in Australia, it is not the only way. Personally, I was disappointed that alternatives such as shared data where not discussed and explored. As such, Parking Australia will have a session at PACE on shared data versus open data and what this might look like.
Another key area also neglected at the summit was the International Data Parking Standards which are being developed and are likely to become an ISO Standard and in turn, an Australian Standard. International companies are already adopting the standard and as such, it is currently being used here. Parking Australia has invited the Chair of the Alliance for Parking Data Standards, Nigel Williams, to speak on this at PACE 2021.
Nigel is also the Chair of the British Parking Association, who are currently working with the British Government to put in place a national parking platform based on the parking data standards. While Nigel will unfortunately not be able to be with us in person, he will be joining us virtually to discuss these important international developments.
