Government data made accessible by an API approach using Windows Azure:

Microsoft’s Open Government Data Initiative consists of a generic repository for publicly available government data and a Windows Azure- based read-only data service which exposes the data via Representational State transfer (REST). The data service can be found at http://ogdisdk.cloudapp.net.

Typically, federal, state and local government data is available via download requiring citizen developers to host and maintain the data themselves. By providing this software, Microsoft is highlighting the importance of programmatic access to government data (versus downloading data). When government agencies provide programmatic access to data, people looking to build solutions using that data will benefit from:

• The ability to write programs which access data via web-friendly programming methods without having to download or host the data
• The ability for governments to automatically refresh data without having to buy and maintain servers
• The ability to write applications using any technology via open standards
• Easier access to a broad array of government datasets which will enable them to build new and unique applications

All of the source code that comprises this project will be made publicly available through CodePlex at http://www.codeplex.com/ - Microsoft’s Open source project hosting web site. Application developers are encouraged to use any client technology of their choice. Sample code is provided for Flash, Silverlight, Google Maps, Virtual Earth, PHP, Ruby, etc.

Blog