Sociedad y bienestar

Open data has great potential to transform the way we interact with our cities. As they are available to all citizens, they allow the development of applications and tools that respond to urban challenges such as accessibility, road safety or citizen participation. Facilitating access to this information not only drives innovation, but also contributes to improving the quality of life in urban environments.

This potential becomes even more relevant if we consider the current context. Accelerated urban growth has brought with it new challenges, especially in the area of public health. According to data from the United Nations, it is estimated that by 2050 more than 68% of the world's population will live in cities. Therefore, the design of healthy urban environments is a priority in which open data is consolidated as a key tool: it allows  planning more resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities, putting people's well-being at the center of decisions. In this post, we tell you what healthy urban environments are and how open data can help build and maintain them.

What are Healthy Urban Environments? Uses and examples

Healthy urban environments go beyond simply the absence of pollution or noise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these spaces must actively promote healthy lifestyles, facilitate physical activity, encourage social interaction, and ensure equitable access to basic services. As established in the Ministry of Health's "Guide to Planning Healthy Cities", these environments are characterized by three key elements:

• Cities designed for walking: they must be spaces that prioritize pedestrian and cycling mobility, with safe, accessible and comfortable streets that invite active movement.

• Incorporation of nature: they integrate green areas, blue infrastructure and natural elements that improve air quality, regulate urban temperature and offer spaces for recreation and rest.

• Meeting and coexistence spaces: they have areas that facilitate social interaction, reduce isolation and strengthen the community fabric.

The role of open data in healthy urban environments

In this scenario, open data acts as the nervous system of smart cities, providing valuable information on usage patterns, citizen needs, and public policy effectiveness. Specifically, in the field of healthy urban spaces, data from:

• Analysis of physical activity patterns: data on mobility, use of sports facilities and frequentation of green spaces reveal where and when citizens are most active, identifying opportunities to optimize existing infrastructure.

• Environmental quality monitoring: urban sensors that measure air quality, noise levels, and temperature provide real-time information on the health conditions of different urban areas.

• Accessibility assessment: public transport, pedestrian infrastructure and service distribution allow for the identification of barriers to access and the design of more inclusive solutions.

• Informed citizen participation: open data platforms facilitate participatory processes where citizens can contribute local information and collaborate in decision-making.

The Spanish open data ecosystem has solid platforms that feed healthy urban space projects. For example, the Madrid City Council's Open Data Portal offers real-time information on air quality as well as a complete inventory of green areas. Barcelona also publishes data on air quality, including the locations and characteristics of measuring stations.

These portals not only store information, but structure it in a way that developers, researchers and citizens can create innovative applications and services.

Use Cases: Applications That Reuse Open Data

Several projects demonstrate how open data translates into tangible improvements for urban health. On the one hand, we can highlight some applications or digital tools such as:

• AQI Air Quality Index: uses government data to provide real-time information on air quality in different Spanish cities.

• GV Aire: processes official air quality data to generate citizen alerts and recommendations.

• National Air Quality Index: centralizes information from measurement stations throughout the country.

• Valencia Verde: uses municipal data to show the location and characteristics of parks and gardens in Valencia.

On the other hand, there are initiatives that combine multisectoral open data to offer solutions that improve the interaction between cities and citizens. For example:

• Supermanzanas Program: uses maps showing air quality pollution levels  and traffic data available in open formats such as CSV and GeoPackage from Barcelona Open Data and Barcelona City Council to identify streets where reducing road traffic can maximize health benefits, creating safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.

• The DataActive platform: seeks to establish an international infrastructure in which researchers, public and private sports entities participate. The topics it addresses include land management, urban planning, sustainability, mobility, air quality and environmental justice. It aims to promote more active, healthy and accessible urban environments through the implementation of strategies based on open data and research.

Data availability is complemented by advanced visualization tools. The Madrid Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEM) offers geographic viewers specialized in air quality and the National Geographic Institute (IGN) offers the national street map CartoCiudad with information on all cities in Spain.

Effective governance and innovation ecosystem

However, the effectiveness of these initiatives depends on new governance models that integrate multiple actors. To achieve proper coordination between public administrations at different levels, private companies, third sector organizations and citizens, it is essential to have quality open data.

Open data not only powers specific applications but creates an entire ecosystem of innovation. Independent developers, startups, research centers, and citizen organizations use this data to:

• Develop urban health impact studies.

• Create participatory planning tools.

• Generate early warnings about environmental risks.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of public policies.

• Design personalized services according to the needs of different population groups.

Healthy urban spaces projects based on open data generate multiple tangible benefits:

• Efficiency in public management: data makes it possible to optimize the allocation of resources, prioritize interventions and evaluate their real impact on citizen health.

• Innovation and economic development: the open data ecosystem stimulates the creation of innovative startups and services that improve the quality of urban life, as demonstrated by the multiple applications available in datos.gob.es.

• Transparency and participation: the availability of data facilitates citizen control and strengthens democratic decision-making processes.

• Scientific evidence: Urban health data contributes to the development of evidence-based public policies and the advancement of scientific knowledge.

• Replicability: successful solutions can be adapted and replicated in other cities, accelerating the transformation towards healthier urban environments.

In short, the future of our cities depends on our ability to integrate technology, citizen participation and innovative public policies. The examples analyzed demonstrate that open data is not just information; They are the foundation for building urban environments that actively promote health, equity, and sustainability.

In recent years, open data initiatives have transformed the way in which both public institutions  and private organizations manage and share information. The adoption of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles  has been key to ensuring that data generates a positive impact, maximizing its availability and reuse.

However, in contexts of vulnerability (such as indigenous peoples, cultural minorities or territories at risk) there is a need to incorporate an ethical framework that guarantees that the opening of data does not lead to harm or deepen inequalities. This is where the CARE principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics), proposed by the Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA), come into play, which complement and enrich the FAIR approach.

It is important to note that although CARE principles arise in the context of indigenous communities (to ensure indigenous peoples' effective sovereignty over their data and their right to generate value in accordance with their own values), these can be extrapolated to other different scenarios. In fact, these principles are very useful in any situation where data is collected in territories with some type of social, territorial, environmental or even cultural vulnerability.

This article explores how CARE principles can be integrated into open data initiatives generating social impact based on responsible use that does not harm vulnerable communities.

The CARE principles in detail

The CARE principles help ensure that open data initiatives are not limited to technical aspects, but also incorporate social, cultural and ethical considerations. Specifically, the four CARE principles are as follows:

1. Collective Benefit: data must be used to generate a benefit that is shared fairly between all parties involved. In this way, open data should support the sustainable development, social well-being and cultural strengthening of a vulnerable community, for example, by avoiding practices related to open data that only favour third parties.

2. Authority to Control: vulnerable communities have the right to decide how the data they generate is collected, managed, shared, and reused. This principle recognises data sovereignty and the need to respect one’s own governance systems, rather than imposing external criteria.

3. Responsibility: those who manage and reuse data must act responsibly towards the communities involved, recognizing possible negative impacts and implementing measures to mitigate them. This includes practices such as prior consultation, transparency in the use of data, and the creation of accountability mechanisms.

4. Ethics: the ethical dimension requires that the openness and re-use of data respects the human rights, cultural values and dignity of communities. It is not only a matter of complying with the law, but of going further, applying ethical principles through a code of ethics.

Together, these four principles provide a guide to managing open data more fairly and responsibly, respecting the sovereignty and interests of the communities to which that data relates.

CARE and FAIR: complementary principles for open data that transcend

The CARE and FAIR principles are not opposite, but operate on different and complementary levels:

1. FAIR focuses on making data consumption technically easier.

2. CARE introduces the social and ethical dimension (including cultural considerations of specific vulnerable communities).

The FAIR principles focus on the technical and operational dimensions of data. In other words, data that comply with these principles are easily locatable, available without unnecessary barriers and with unique identifiers, use standards to ensure interoperability, and can be used in different contexts for purposes other than those originally intended.

However, the FAIR principles do not directly address issues of social justice, sovereignty or ethics. In particular, these principles do not contemplate that data may represent knowledge, resources or identities of communities that have historically suffered exclusion or exploitation or of communities related to territories with unique environmental, social or cultural values. To do this, the CARE principles, which complement the FAIR principles, can be used, adding an ethical and community governance foundation to any open data initiative.

In this way, an open data strategy that aspires to be socially just and sustainable must articulate both principles. FAIR without CARE risks making collective rights invisible by promoting unethical data reuse. On the other hand, CARE without FAIR can limit the potential for interoperability and reuse, making the data useless to generate a positive benefit in a vulnerable community or territory.

An illustrative example is found in the management of data on biodiversity in a protected natural area. While the FAIR principles ensure that data can be integrated with various tools to be widely reused (e.g., in scientific research), the CARE principles remind us that data on species and the territories in which they live can have direct implications for communities who live in (or near) that protected natural area. For example, making public the exact points where endangered species are found in a protected natural area could facilitate their illegal exploitation rather than their conservation, which requires careful definition of how, when and under what conditions this data is shared.

Let's now see how in this example the CARE principles could be met:

• First, biodiversity data should be used to protect ecosystems and strengthen local communities, generating benefits in the form of conservation, sustainable tourism or environmental education, rather than favoring isolated private interests (i.e., collective benefit principle).

• Second, communities living near or dependent on the protected natural area have the right to decide how sensitive data is managed, for example, by requiring that the location of certain species not be published openly or published in an aggregated manner (i.e., principle of authority).

• On the other hand, the people in charge of the management of these protected areas of the park must act responsibly, establishing protocols to avoid collateral damage (such as poaching) and ensuring that the data is used in a way that is consistent with conservation objectives (i.e. the principle of responsibility).

• Finally, the openness of this data must be guided by ethical principles, prioritizing the protection of biodiversity and the rights of local communities over economic (or even academic) interests that may put ecosystems or the populations that depend on them at risk (principle of ethics).

Notably, several international initiatives, such as Indigenous Environmental Data Justice related to the International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Movement and the Research Data Alliance (RDA) through the Care Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, are already promoting the joint adoption of CARE and FAIR as the foundation for more equitable data initiatives.

Conclusions

Ensuring the FAIR principles is essential for open data to generate value through its reuse. However, open data initiatives must be accompanied by a firm commitment to social justice, the sovereignty of vulnerable communities, and ethics. Only the integration of the CARE principles together with the FAIR will make it possible to promote truly fair, equitable, inclusive and responsible open data practices. 

Jose Norberto Mazón, Professor of Computer Languages and Systems at the University of Alicante. The contents and views reflected in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.

Femicide, defined as the gender-based murder of women, remains one of the most extreme forms of violence. In 2023, it is estimated that approximately 85,000 women and girls were murdered in the world and of these, 60% died at the hands of intimate partners or family members, which is equivalent to 140 victims per day in their immediate environment. According to the United Nations (UN), femicide occurs in a context of inequality, discrimination and asymmetrical power relations between men and women.

However, the above figures are an estimate, since obtaining data on this subject is not easy and involves a series of challenges. In this article we are going to comment on these challenges, and present examples and good practices of citizen associations that work to promote their quality and quantity.

Challenges in collecting data on femicides

The international comparison of femicide mainly faces two major issues: the absence of a common definition and the lack of standardization.

1. Absence of a common definition

There are important legal and conceptual differences between countries in terms of the definition of femicide. In Latin America, many countries have incorporated femicide as a specific crime, although with substantial variations in the legal criteria and in the breadth of the definition. In contrast, in Europe there is still no homogeneous definition of femicide, as underlined by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). In many cases, gender-based killings of women are recorded as general homicides or domestic violence, making the phenomenon invisible and making international comparison difficult.

This absence of a common legal and conceptual definition prevents direct comparison of figures as well as regional analysis.  In addition, the lack of methodological homogeneity causes femicide figures to be diluted among those of general homicides, underestimating the real magnitude of the problem and making it difficult to design effective public policies.

In this sense, an international effort is needed to standardize definitions. In this way, it will be possible to measure the true scope of the problem and combat it effectively.

2. Lack of standardization

The lack of standardization in data collection and publication generates profound differences in the availability, openness, and quality of information between countries. As in many other areas, open and standardized data on femicides could help to understand the phenomenon and facilitate the implementation of effective public policies. However, today there is disparity in data collection and publication.

Currently, the availability of data on femicide is uneven between countries. We find cases in which the data refer to different periods, or that present variations due to the different methodologies, definitions and sources:

• There are countries that offer data accessible through government platforms and/or official observatories. In these cases, the data come from public bodies such as ministries, national statistical institutes, gender-based violence observatories and supreme courts, which guarantees greater reliability and continuity in the publication of statistics, although their coverage and methodology vary widely.
• In other cases, the data are partial or come from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), independent observatories, journalistic and academic networks. These agencies usually resort to newspaper counts or media monitoring to complete institutional data. Multilateral organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC),  UN Women and European data journalism networks try to harmonize and compare figures, although they recognize the limitations derived from the diversity of definitions and methodologies.

This lack of a unified system generates the need for a triangulation of information and produces discrepancies in the reported figures. In addition, it makes it difficult to obtain a more complete view of the phenomenon.

Therefore, standardization in data collection is necessary  to provide reliable and comparable data to know the real magnitude of the problem, evaluate the effectiveness of public policies or design effective prevention strategies.

To these challenges, we should add:

• Lack of technological infrastructure: disconnected judicial and police systems generate duplication or omissions.
• Irregular updates: very few publish quarterly data, essential for preventive policies.

Examples of citizen initiatives that collect data on femicide

In order to respond to global problems, citizen and academic initiatives have emerged that build alternative databases, making gender violence visible. To this end, feminist organizations and activists have adopted technological tools to track femicides.

One example is the Data Against Feminicide (DAF), which equips activists with email alert systems based on machine learning algorithms. The platform develops machine learning algorithms that help scan more than 50,000 daily news sources in multiple languages to identify potential cases of femicide, prioritizing activists' regions of interest and allowing them to add local sources. Unlike generic systems, DAF's approach is collaborative: participants train algorithms, review results, and correct biases, including identifying transfemicides or interpreting biased language in the media. Thus, technology does not replace human analysis, but reduces the workload and allows efforts to be focused on the verification and contextualization of cases.

Although transparency and open data are a first step, citizen projects such as those supported by the DAF operate with additional criteria that enrich the results:

1. Data with memory: each record includes name, personal history and community context.
2. Radical transparency: they use open-source methodologies and tools.
3. Restorative justice: data feeds advocacy campaigns and accompaniment to families.

The DAF also highlights the need to protect and care for the people who collect this data, given the emotional impact of their work. Thus, the human and ethical dimension of work is also made visible with data on femicide.

Another example is Feminicidio Uruguay, which has documented cases since 2001 through press monitoring and collaboration with the Coordinator of Feminisms. Their key findings include that  78% of the aggressors were known to the victim; that 42% of femicides occurred in the home, and that only  15% of the victims had made a previous complaint. This project inspired the creation of the National Registry of Femicides of the Argentine Justice, which since 2017 has published annual open data with details of victims, aggressors and context of the cases.

In addition to country initiatives, we also find supranational initiatives that seek to unify data in various regions. Initiatives such as the Regional Femicide Data Standard (ILDA) seek to overcome these barriers by:

• Unified collection protocols.
• Collaborative technical training platforms.
• Intergovernmental partnerships for legal validation.

The case of Spain

In view of this international situation, Spain is presented as a pioneering case in the field. Since 2022, all types of femicides have been officially counted, not only those committed by partners or ex-partners, but also family, sexual, social and vicarious ones. The main Spanish portal for statistical data on femicide is the statistical portal of the Government Delegation against Gender Violence, available on a dedicated website . This space brings together official data on femicides and gender-based violence, allowing information to be consulted, cross-referenced and downloaded in different formats, and is the institutional reference for the monitoring and analysis of these crimes in Spain. This new methodology responds to compliance with the Istanbul Convention and seeks to reflect the totality of extreme violence against women.

Collaboration with civil society and experts has been key to defining typologies and improving the quality and openness of the data. Citizen access is widespread, and data is disseminated in reports, datasets, and public bulletins.

Conclusion

In short, the opening and standardization of data on femicide are not only technical tools, but also acts of justice and collective memory. Where States work with civil society, data is more complete, transparent and useful for prevention and accountability. However, the persistence of gaps and disparate methodologies in many countries continue to hinder an effective global response to femicide. Overcoming these challenges requires strengthening international collaboration, adopting common standards, and ensuring the participation of those who document and accompany victims. Only in this way can data transform outrage into action and contribute to eradicating one of the most extreme forms of gender-based violence.

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Content created by Miren Gutiérrez, PhD and researcher at the University of Deusto, expert in data activism, data justice, data literacy, and gender disinformation. The content and views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.

Cities account for more than two-thirds of Europe's population and consume around 80% of energy. In this context, climate change is having a particularly severe impact on urban environments, not only because of their density, but also because of their construction characteristics, their energy metabolism and the scarcity of vegetation in many consolidated areas. One of the most visible and worrying effects is the phenomenon known as urban heat island (UHI).

Heat islands occur when the temperature in urban areas is significantly higher than in nearby rural or peri-urban areas, especially at night. This thermal differential can easily exceed five degrees Celsius under certain conditions. The consequences of this phenomenon go beyond thermal discomfort: it directly affects health, air quality, energy consumption, urban biodiversity and social equity.

In recent years, the availability of open data—especially geospatial data—has made it possible to characterize, map, and analyze urban heat islands with unprecedented accuracy. This article explores how this data can be used to design urban solutions adapted to climate change, with heat island mitigation as its focus.

What are urban heat islands and why do they occur?

Figure 1. Illustrative element on heat islands.

 

To intervene effectively in heat islands, it is necessary to know where, when and how they occur. Unlike other natural hazards, the heat island effect is not visible to the naked eye, and its intensity varies depending on the time of day, time of year, and specific weather conditions. It therefore requires a solid and dynamic knowledge base, which can only be built through the integration of diverse, up-to-date and territorialized data.

At this point, open geospatial data is a critical tool. Through satellite images, urban maps, meteorological data, cadastral cartography and other publicly accessible sets, it is possible to build urban thermal models, identify critical areas, estimate differential exposures and evaluate the impact of the measures adopted.

The main categories of data that allow us to address the phenomenon of heat islands from a territorial and interdisciplinary perspective are detailed below.

Types of geoespatial data applicable to the study of the phenomenon

1. Earth observation satellite data

Thermal sensors on satellites  such as Landsat 8/9 (NASA/USGS) or Sentinel-3 (Copernicus) make it possible to generate urban surface temperature maps with resolutions ranging from 30 to 1,000 metres. Although these images have spatial and temporal limitations, they are sufficient to detect patterns and trends, especially if combined with time series.

This data, accessible through platforms such as the Copernicus Open Access Hub or the USGS EarthExplorer, is essential for comparative studies between cities or for observing the temporal evolution of the same area.

2. Urban weather data

The network of AEMET stations, together with other automatic stations managed by autonomous communities or city councils, allows the evolution of air temperatures in different urban points to be analysed. In some cases, there are also citizen sensors or networks of sensors distributed in the urban space that allow real-time heat maps to be generated with high resolution.

3. Urban mapping and digital terrain models

Digital surface models (DSM), digital terrain models (DTM) and mappings derived from LIDAR allow the study of urban morphology, building density, street orientation, terrain slope and other factors that affect natural ventilation and heat accumulation. In Spain, this data is accessible through the National Center for Geographic Information (CNIG).

4. Land cover and land use databases

Databases such as Corine Land Cover of the Copernicus Programme, or land use maps at the regional level make it possible to distinguish between urbanised areas, green areas, impermeable surfaces and bodies of water. This information is key to calculating the degree of artificialization of an area and its relationship with the heat balance.

5. Inventories of urban trees and green spaces

Some municipalities publish on their open data portals the detailed inventory of urban trees, parks and gardens. These georeferenced data make it possible to analyse the effect of vegetation on thermal comfort, as well as to plan new plantations or green corridors.

6. Socioeconomic and vulnerability data

Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), together with the social information systems of autonomous communities and city councils, make it possible to identify the most vulnerable neighbourhoods from a social and economic point of view. Its cross-referencing with thermal data allows a climate justice dimension to be incorporated into decision-making.

Practical applications: how open data is used to act

Once the relevant data has been gathered and integrated, multiple analysis strategies can be applied to support public policies and urban projects with sustainability and equity criteria. Some of the main applications are described below.

·        Heat zone mapping and vulnerability maps: Using thermal imagery, weather data, and urban layers together, heat island intensity maps can be generated at the neighborhood or block level. If these maps are combined with social, demographic and public health indicators, it is possible to build thermal vulnerability maps, which prioritize intervention in areas where high temperatures and high levels of social risk intersect. These maps allow, for example:

·        Identify priority neighborhoods for urban greening.

·        Plan evacuation routes or shaded areas during heat waves.

·        Determine the optimal location of climate refuges.

·        Assessing the impact of nature-based solutions: Open data also makes it possible to monitor the effects of certain urban actions. For example, using time series of satellite images or temperature sensors, it is possible to assess how the creation of a park or the planting of trees on a street has modified the surface temperature. This ex-post evaluation approach  allows justifying public investments, adjusting designs and scaling effective solutions to other areas with similar conditions.

·        Urban modelling and climate simulations: three-dimensional urban models, built from open LIDAR data or cadastral mapping, make it possible to simulate the thermal behaviour of a neighbourhood or city under different climatic and urban scenarios. These simulations, combined with tools such as ENVI-met or Urban Weather Generator, are essential to support decision-making in urban planning.

Existing studies and analysis on urban heat islands: what has been done and what we can learn

During the last decade, multiple studies have been carried out in Spain and Europe that show how open data, especially geospatial data, allow the phenomenon of urban heat islands to be characterised and analysed. These works are fundamental not only because of their specific results, but also because they illustrate replicable and scalable methodologies. Some of the most relevant are described below.

Polytechnic University of Madrid study on surface temperature in Madrid

A team from the Department of Topographic Engineering and Cartography of the UPM analysed the evolution of surface temperature in the municipality of Madrid using thermal images from the Landsat 8 satellite in the summer period. The study focused on detecting spatial changes in warmer areas and relating them to land use, urban vegetation and building density.

Figure 2. Illustrative image. Source: generated with AI

Methodology:

Remote sensing techniques were applied to extract the surface temperature from the TIRS thermal channel of the Landsat. Subsequently, a statistical analysis of correlation between thermal values and variables such as NDVI (vegetation index), type of land cover (CORINE data) and urban morphology was carried out.

Main results:

Areas with higher building density, such as the central and southern neighborhoods, showed higher surface temperatures. The presence of urban parks reduced the temperature of their immediate surroundings by 3 to 5 °C. It was confirmed that the heat island effect intensifies at night, especially during persistent heat waves.

This type of analysis is especially useful for designing urban greening strategies and for justifying interventions in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Barcelona Climate Vulnerability Atlas

Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with experts in public health and urban geography, developed a Climate Vulnerability Atlas which includes detailed maps of heat exposure, population sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The objective was to guide municipal policies against climate change, especially in the field of health and social services.

Figure 3. Image containing fence, exterior, buildings and grass. Source: generated with AI

Methodology:

The atlas was developed by combining open and administrative data at the census tract level. Three dimensions were analysed: exposure (air temperature and surface data), sensitivity (advanced age, density, morbidity) and adaptive capacity (access to green areas, quality of housing, facilities). The indicators were normalized and combined through multi-criteria spatial analysis to generate a climate vulnerability index. The result made it possible to locate the neighbourhoods most at risk from extreme heat and to guide municipal measures.

Main results:

Based on the atlas, the network of "climate shelters" was designed, which includes libraries, civic centers, schools and conditioned parks, activated during episodes of extreme heat. The selection of these spaces was based directly on the atlas data.

Multitemporal analysis of the heat island effect in Seville

Researchers from the University of Seville used satellite data from Sentinel-3 and Landsat 8 to study the evolution of the heat island phenomenon in the city between 2015 and 2022. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of certain urban actions – such as the "Green your neighbourhood" plan – and to anticipate the effects of climate change on the city.

Methodology:

Thermal imaging and NDVI data were used to calculate temperature differences between urban areas and surrounding rural areas. Supervised classification techniques were also applied to identify land uses and their evolution. Open data from tree inventories and urban shade maps were used to interpret the results.

Main results:

Specific renaturation actions have a very positive local impact, but their effect on the city as a whole is limited if they are not integrated into a metropolitan-scale strategy. The study concluded that a continuous network of vegetation and bodies of water is more effective than isolated actions.

European comparison of the Urban Heat Island Atlas (Copernicus) project

Although it is not a Spanish study, the viewer developed by Copernicus for the European Urban Atlas programme offers a comparative analysis between European cities.

Methodology:

The viewer integrates Sentinel-3 thermal imagery, land cover data, and urban mapping to assess the severity of the heat island effect.

Figure 4. Illustration: Infographic showing the main factors causing the urban heat island effect (UHI). Urban areas retain heat due to tall buildings, impermeable surfaces and heat-retaining materials, while green areas are cooler Source: Urban heat islands.

Main results:

This type of tool allows smaller cities to have a first approximation of the phenomenon without the need to develop their own models. As it is based on open and free data, the viewer allows direct consultations by technicians and citizens.

Current limitations and challenges

Despite progress in opening up data, there are still significant challenges:

• Territorial inequality: not all cities have the same quality and quantity of data.

• Irregular update: Some sets are released on a one-off basis and are not updated regularly.

• Low granularity: Data is often aggregated by districts or census tracts, making street-scale interventions difficult.

• Lack of technical capacities: Many local governments do not have staff specialized in geospatial analysis.

• Little connection with citizens: the knowledge generated from data does not always translate into visible or understandable actions for the population.

Conclusion: building climate resilience from geoespatial data

Urban heat islands are not a new phenomenon, but in the context of climate change they take on a critical dimension. Cities that do not plan based on data will be increasingly exposed to episodes of extreme heat, with unequal impacts among their populations.

Open data—and in particular geospatial data—offers a strategic opportunity to transform this threat into a lever for change. With them we can identify, anticipate, intervene and evaluate. But for this to happen, it is essential to:

·        Consolidate accessible, up-to-date and quality data infrastructures.

·        To promote collaboration between levels of government, research centres and citizens.

·        Train municipal technicians in the use of geospatial tools.

·        Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and climate sensitivity.

Data does not replace politics, but it allows it to be founded, improved and made more equitable. In a global warming scenario, having open geospatial data is a key tool to make our cities more livable and better prepared for the future.

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Content prepared by Mayte Toscano, Senior Consultant in Data Economy Technologies. The contents and points of view reflected in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a thing of the future: it is here and can become an ally in our daily lives. From making tasks easier for us at work, such as writing emails or summarizing documents, to helping us organize a trip, learn a new language, or plan our weekly menus, AI adapts to our routines to make our lives easier. You don't have to be tech-savvy to take advantage of it; while today's tools are very accessible, understanding their capabilities and knowing how to ask the right questions will maximize their usefulness.

AI Passive and Active Subjects

The applications of artificial intelligence in everyday life are transforming our daily lives. AI already covers multiple fields of our routines. Virtual assistants, such as Siri or Alexa, are among the most well-known tools that incorporate artificial intelligence, and are used to answer questions, schedule appointments, or control devices.

Many people use tools or applications with artificial intelligence on a daily basis, even if it operates imperceptibly to the user and does not require their intervention. Google Maps, for example, uses AI to optimize routes in real time, predict traffic conditions, suggest alternative routes or estimate the time of arrival. Spotify applies it to personalize playlists or suggest songs, and Netflix to make recommendations and tailor the content shown to each user.

But it is also possible to be an active user of artificial intelligence using tools that interact directly with the models. Thus, we can ask questions, generate texts, summarize documents or plan tasks. AI is no longer a hidden mechanism but a kind of digital co-pilot that assists us in our day-to-day lives. ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini are tools that allow us to use AI without having to be experts. This makes it easier for us to automate daily tasks, freeing up time to spend on other activities.

AI in Home and Personal Life

Virtual assistants respond to voice commands and inform us what time it is, the weather or play the music we want to listen to. But their possibilities go much further, as they are able to learn from our habits to anticipate our needs. They can control different devices that we have in the home in a centralized way, such as heating, air conditioning, lights or security devices. It is also possible to configure custom actions that are triggered via a voice command. For example, a "good morning" routine that turns on the lights, informs us of the weather forecast and the traffic conditions.

When we have lost the manual of one of the appliances or electronic devices we have at home, artificial intelligence is a good ally. By sending a photo of the device, you will help us interpret the instructions, set it up, or troubleshoot basic issues.

If you want to go further, AI can do some everyday tasks for you. Through these tools we can plan our weekly menus, indicating needs or preferences, such as dishes suitable for celiacs or vegetarians, prepare the shopping list and obtain the recipes. It can also help us choose between the dishes on a restaurant's menu taking into account our preferences and dietary restrictions, such as allergies or intolerances. Through a simple photo of the menu, the AI will offer us personalized suggestions.

Physical exercise is another area of our personal lives in which these digital co-pilots are very valuable. We may ask you, for example, to create exercise routines adapted to different physical conditions, goals and available equipment.

Planning a vacation is another of the most interesting features of these digital assistants. If we provide them with a destination, a number of days, interests, and even a budget, we will have a complete plan for our next trip.

Applications of AI in studies

AI is profoundly transforming the way we study, offering tools that personalize learning. Helping the little ones in the house with their schoolwork, learning a language or acquiring new skills for our professional development are just some of the possibilities.

There are platforms that generate personalized content in just a few minutes and didactic material made from open data that can be used both in the classroom and at home to review. Among university students or high school students, some of the most popular options are applications that summarize or make outlines from longer texts. It is even possible to generate a podcast from a file, which can help us understand and become familiar with a topic while playing sports or cooking.

But we can also create our applications to study or even simulate exams. Without having programming knowledge, it is possible to generate an application to learn multiplication tables, irregular verbs in English or whatever we can think of.

How to Use AI in Work and Personal Finance

In the professional field, artificial intelligence offers tools that increase productivity. In fact, it is estimated that in Spain 78% of workers already use AI tools in the workplace. By automating processes, we save time to focus on higher-value tasks. These digital assistants summarize long documents, generate specialized reports in a field, compose emails, or take notes in meetings.

Some platforms already incorporate the transcription of meetings in real time, something that can be very useful if we do not master the language. Microsoft Teams, for example, offers useful options through Copilot from the "Summary" tab of the meeting itself, such as transcription, a summary or the possibility of adding notes.

The management of personal finances has also evolved thanks to applications that use AI, allowing you to control expenses and manage a budget. But we can also create our own personal financial advisor using an AI tool, such as ChatGPT. By providing you with insights into income, fixed expenses, variables, and savings goals, it analyzes the data and creates personalized financial plans.

Prompts and creation of useful applications for everyday life

We have seen the great possibilities that artificial intelligence offers us as a co-pilot in our day-to-day lives. But to make it a good digital assistant, we must know how to ask it and give it precise instructions.

A prompt is a basic instruction or request that is made to an AI model to guide it, with the aim of providing us with a coherent and quality response. Good prompting is the key to getting the most out of AI. It is essential to ask well and provide the necessary information.

To write  effective prompts we have to be clear, specific, and avoid ambiguities. We must indicate what the objective is, that is, what we want the AI to do: summarize, translate, generate an image, etc. It is also key to provide it with context, explaining who it is aimed at or why we need it, as well as how we expect the response to be. This can include the tone of the message, the formatting, the fonts used to generate it, etc.

Here are some tips for creating  effective prompts:

• Use short, direct and concrete sentences. The clearer the request, the more accurate the answer. Avoid expressions such as "please" or "thank you", as they only add unnecessary noise and consume more resources. Instead, use words like "must," "do," "include," or "list." To reinforce the request, you can capitalize those words. These expressions are especially useful for fine-tuning a first response from the model that doesn't meet your expectations.
• It indicates the audience to which it is addressed. Specify whether the answer is aimed at an expert audience, inexperienced audience, children, adolescents, adults, etc. When we want a simple answer, we can, for example, ask the AI to explain it to us as if we were ten years old.
• Use delimiters. Separate the instructions using a symbol, such as slashes (//) or quotation marks to help the model understand the instruction better. For example, if you want it to do a translation, it uses delimiters to separate the command ("Translate into English") from the phrase it is supposed to translate.
• Indicates the function that the model should adopt. Specifies the role that the model should assume to generate the response. Telling them whether they should act like an expert in finance or nutrition, for example, will help generate more specialized answers as they will adapt both the content and the tone.
• Break down entire requests into simple requests. If you're going to make a complex request that requires an  excessively long prompt, it's a good idea to break it down into simpler steps. If you need detailed explanations, use expressions like "Think by step" to give you a more structured answer.
• Use examples. Include examples  of what you're looking for in the prompt to guide the model to the answer.
• Provide positive instructions. Instead of asking them not to do or include something, state the request in the affirmative. For example, instead of "Don't use long sentences," say, "Use short, concise sentences." Positive instructions avoid ambiguities and make it easier for the AI to understand what it needs to do. This happens because negative prompts put extra effort on the model, as it has to deduce what the opposite action is.
• Offer tips or penalties. This serves to reinforce desired behaviors and restrict inappropriate responses. For example, "If you use vague or ambiguous phrases, you will lose 100 euros."
• Ask them to ask you what they need. If we instruct you to ask us for additional information we reduce the possibility of hallucinations, as we are improving the context of our request.
• Request that they respond like a human. If the texts seem too artificial or mechanical, specify in the prompt that the response is more natural or that it seems to be crafted by a human.
• Provides the start of the answer. This simple trick is very useful in guiding the model towards the response we expect.
• Define the fonts to use. If we narrow down the type of information you should use to generate the answer, we will get more refined answers. It asks, for example, that it only use data after a specific year.
• Request that it mimic a style. We can provide you with an example to make your response consistent with the style of the reference or ask you to follow the style of a famous author.

While it is possible to generate functional code for simple tasks and applications without programming knowledge, it is important to note that developing more complex or robust solutions at a professional level still requires programming and software development expertise. To create, for example, an application that helps us manage our pending tasks, we ask AI tools to generate the code, explaining in detail what we want it to do, how we expect it to behave, and what it should look like. From these instructions, the tool will generate the code and guide us to test, modify and implement it. We can ask you how and where to run it for free and ask for help making improvements.

As we've seen, the potential of these digital assistants is enormous, but their true power lies in large part in how we communicate with them. Clear  and well-structured prompts are the key to getting accurate answers without needing to be tech-savvy. AI not only helps us automate routine tasks, but it expands our capabilities, allowing us to do more in less time. These tools are redefining our day-to-day lives, making it more efficient and leaving us time for other things. And best of all: it is now within our reach.

The European Union is at the forefront of the development of safe, ethical and people-centred artificial intelligence (AI). Through a robust regulatory framework, based on human rights and fundamental values, the EU is building an AI ecosystem that simultaneously benefits citizens, businesses and public administrations.  As part of its commitment to the proper development of this technology, the European Commission has proposed a set of actions to promote its excellence.

In this regard, a pioneering piece of legislation that establishes a comprehensive legal framework stands out: the AI Act.  It classifies artificial intelligence models according to their level of risk and establishes specific obligations for providers regarding data and data governance. In parallel, the Coordinated Plan on AI updated in 2021 sets out a roadmap to boost investment, harmonise policies and encourage the uptake of AI across the EU.

 Spain is aligned with Europe in this area and therefore has a strategy to accelerate its development and expansion.. In addition, the transposition of the AI law has recently been approved, with the preliminary draft law for an ethical, inclusive and beneficial use of artificial intelligence.

European projects transforming key sectors

In this context, the EU is funding numerous projects that use artificial intelligence technologies to solve challenges in various fields. Below, we highlight some of the most innovative ones, some of which have already been completed and some of which are underway:

Agriculture and food sustainability

Projects currently underway:

• ANTARES: develops smart sensor technologies and big data to help farmers produce more food in a sustainable way, benefiting society, farm incomes and the environment.

Examples of other completed projects:

• Pantheon: developed a control and data acquisition system, equivalent to industrial SCADA, for precision farming in large hazelnut orchards, increasing production, reducing chemical inputs and simplifying management.

• Trimbot2020: researched robotics and vision technologies to create the first outdoor gardening robot, capable of navigating varied terrain and trimming rose bushes, hedges and topiary.

Industry and manufacturing

Projects currently underway:

• SERENA: applies AI techniques to predict maintenance needs of industrial equipment, reducing costs and time, and improving the productivity of production processes..

• SecondHands: has developed a robot capable of proactively assisting maintenance technicians by recognising human activity and anticipating their needs, increasing efficiency and productivity in industrial environments.

Examples of other completed projects:

• QU4LITY: combined data and AI to increase manufacturing sustainability, providing a data-shared, SME-friendly, standardised and transformative zero-defect manufacturing model.

• KYKLOS 4.0: explored how cyber-physical systems, product lifecycle management, augmented reality and AI can transform circular manufacturing through seven large-scale pilot projects.

Transport and mobility

Projects currently underway

• VI-DAS: A project by a Spanish company working on advanced driver assistance systems and navigation aids, combining traffic understanding with consideration of the driver's physical, mental and behavioural state to improve road safety.

• PILOTING: adapts, integrates and demonstrates robotic solutions in an integrated platform for the inspection and maintenance of refineries, bridges and tunnels.. One of its focuses is on boosting production and access to inspection data.

Examples of other completed projects:

• FABULOS: has developed and tested a local public transport system using autonomous minibuses, demonstrating its viability and promoting the introduction of robotic technologies in public infrastructure.

Social impact research

Projects currently underway:

• HUMAINT: provides a multidisciplinary understanding of the current state and future evolution of machine intelligence and its potential impact on human behaviour, focusing on cognitive and socio-emotional capabilities.

• AI Watch: monitors industrial, technological and research capacity, policy initiatives in Member States, AI adoption and technical developments, and their impact on the economy, society and public services.

Examples of other completed projects:

• TECHNEQUALITY: examined the potential social consequences of the digital age, looking at how AI and robots affect work and how automation may impact various social groups differently.

Health and well-being

Projects currently underway:

• DeepHealth: develops advanced tools for medical image processing and predictive modelling, facilitating the daily work of healthcare personnel without the need to combine multiple tools..

• BigO: collects and analyses anonymised data on child behaviour patterns and their environment to extract evidence on local factors involved in childhood obesity.

Examples of other completed projects:

• PRIMAGE: has created a cloud-based platform to support decision making for malignant solid tumours, offering predictive tools for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring, using imaging biomarkers and simulation of tumour growth..

• SelfBACK: provided personalised support to patients with low back pain through a mobile app, using sensor-collected data to tailor recommendations to each user.

• EYE-RISK: developed tools that predict the likelihood of developing age-related eye diseases and measures to reduce this risk, including a diagnostic panel to assess genetic predisposition.

• Solve-RD: improved diagnosis of rare diseases by pooling patient data and advanced genetic methods.

The future of AI in Europe

These examples, both past and present, are very interesting use cases of the development of artificial intelligence in Europe. However, the EU's commitment to AI is also forward-looking. And it is reflected in an ambitious investment plan: the Commission plans to invest EUR 1 billion per year in AI, from the Digital Europe and Horizon Europe programmes, with the aim of attracting more than EUR 20 billion of total AI investment per year during this decade..

The development of an ethical, transparent and people-centred IA is already an EU objective that goes beyond the legal framework. With a hands-on approach, the European Union funds projects that not only drive technological innovation, but also address key societal challenges, from health to climate change, building a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for all European citizens.

We live in an increasingly digitalised world where we work, study, inform ourselves and socialise through technologies. In this world, where technology and connectivity have become fundamental pillars of society, digital rights emerge as an essential component to guarantee freedom, privacy and equality in this new online facet of our lives.

Therefore, digital rights are nothing more than the extension of the fundamental rights and freedoms we already benefit from to the virtual environment. In this article we will explore what these rights are, why they are important and what are some of the benchmark initiatives in this area.

What are digital rights and why are they important?

As stated by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, during the Internet Governance Forum in 2018:

"Humanity must be at the centre of technological evolution. Technology should not use people; we should use technology for the benefit of all".

Technology should be used to improve our lives, not to dominate them. For this to be possible, as has been the case with other transformative technologies in the past, we need to establish policies that prevent as far as possible the emergence of unintended effects or malicious uses. Therefore, digital rights seek to facilitate a humanist digital transformation, where technological innovation is accompanied by protection for people, through a set of guarantees and freedoms that allow citizens to exercise their fundamental rights also in the digital environment. These include, for example:

• Freedom of expression: for uncensored communication and exchange of ideas.
• Right to privacy and data protection: guaranteeing privacy and control over personal information.
• Access to information and transparency: ensuring that everyone has equal access to digital data and services.
• Online security: seeks to protect users from fraud, cyber-attacks and other risks in the digital world.

In a digital environment, where information circulates rapidly and technologies are constantly evolving, guaranteeing these rights is crucial to maintaining the integrity of our interactions, the way we access and consume information, and our participation in public life.

An international framework for digital rights

As technology advances, the concept of digital rights has become increasingly important globally in recent decades. While there is no single global charter of digital rights, there are many global and regional initiatives that point in the same direction: the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Originally, this declaration did not even mention the Internet, as it was proclaimed in 1948 and did not exist at that time, but today its principles are considered fully applicable to the digital world. Indeed, the international community agrees that the same rights that we proclaim for the offline world must also be respected online - "what is illegal offline must also be illegal online".

Furthermore, the United Nations has stressed that internet access is becoming a basic enabler of other rights, so connectivity should also be considered a new human right of the 21st century.

European and international benchmarking initiatives

In recent years, several initiatives have emerged with the aim of adapting and protecting fundamental rights also in the digital environment. For example, Europe has been a pioneer in establishing an explicit framework of digital principles. In January 2023, the European Union proclaimed the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade, a document that reflects the European vision of a people-centred technological transformation and sets out a common framework for safeguarding citizens' freedom, security and privacy in the digital age. This declaration, together with other international initiatives, underlines the need to harmonise traditional rights with the challenges and opportunities of the digital environment.

The Declaration, jointly agreed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, defines a set of fundamental principles that should guide Europe's digital age (you can see a summary in this infographic):

• Focused on people and their rights: Technology must serve people and respect their rights and dignity, not the other way around.
• Solidarity and inclusion: promoting digital inclusion of all social groups, bridging the digital divide.
• Freedom of choice: ensure fair and safe online environments, where users have real choice and where net neutrality is respected.
• Participation in the digital public space: to encourage citizens to participate actively in democratic life at all levels, and to have control over their data.
• Safety and security: increase trust in digital interactions through greater security, privacy and user control, especially protecting minors.
• Sustainability: orienting the digital future towards sustainability, considering the environmental impact of technology.

The European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles therefore sets out a clear roadmap for the European Union's digital laws and policies, guiding its digital transformation process. While this European Declaration does not itself create laws, it does establish a joint political commitment and a roadmap of values. Furthermore, it makes clear that Europe aims to promote these principles as a global standard.

In addition, the European Commission monitors implementation in all Member States and publishes an annual monitoring report, in conjunction with the State of the Digital Decade Report, to assess progress and stay on track. Furthermore, the Declaration serves as a reference in the EU's international relations, promoting a global digital transformation centred on people and human rights.

Outside Europe, several nations have also developed their own digital rights charters, such as the Ibero-American Charter of Principles and Rights in Digital Environments, and there are also international forums such as the Internet Governance Forum which regularly discusses how to protect human rights in cyberspace. The global trend is therefore to recognise that the digital age requires adapting and strengthening existing legal protections, not by creating "new" fundamental rights out of thin air, but by translating existing ones to the new environment.

Spain's Digital Bill of Rights

In line with all these international initiatives, Spain has also taken a decisive step by proposing its own Charter of Digital Rights. This ambitious project aims to define a set of specific principles and guarantees to ensure that all citizens enjoy adequate protection in the digital environment. Its goals include:

• Define privacy and security standards that respond to the needs of citizens in the digital age.
• Encourage transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors.
• To promote digital inclusion, ensuring equitable access to technologies and information.

In short, this national initiative represents an effort to adapt regulations and public policies to the challenges of the digital world, strengthening citizens' confidence in the use of new technologies. Moreover, since it was published as early as July 2021, it has also contributed to subsequent reflection processes at European level, including the European Declaration mentioned above.

The Spanish Digital Bill of Rights is structured in six broad categories covering the areas of greatest risk and uncertainty in the digital world:

1. Freedom rights: includes classic freedoms in their digital dimension, such as freedom of expression and information on the Internet, ideological freedom in networks, the right to secrecy of digital communications, as well as the right to pseudonymity.
2. Equality rights: aimed at avoiding any form of discrimination in the digital environment, including equal access to technology (digital inclusion of the elderly, people with disabilities or in rural areas), and preventing bias or unequal treatment in algorithmic systems.
3. Participation rights and shaping of public space: this refers to ensuring citizen and democratic participation through digital media. It includes electoral rights in online environments, protection from disinformation and the promotion of diverse and respectful online public debate.
4. Rights in the work and business environment: encompasses the digital rights of workers and entrepreneurs. A concrete example here is the right to digital disconnection of the worker. It also includes the protection of employee privacy from digital surveillance systems at work and guarantees in teleworking, among others.
5. Digital rights in specific environments: this addresses particular areas that pose their own challenges, for example the rights of children and adolescents in the digital environment (protection from harmful content, parental control, right to digital education); digital inheritance (what happens to our data and accounts on the Internet after our death); digital identity (being able to manage and protect our online identity); or rights in the emerging world of artificial intelligence, the metaverse and neurotechnologies.
6. Effectiveness and safeguards: this last category focuses on how to ensure that all these rightsare actually fulfilled. The Charter seeks to ensure that people have clear ways to complain in case of violations of their digital rights and that the authorities have the tools to enforce their rights on the internet.

As the government pointed out in its presentation, the aim is to "reinforce and extend citizens' rights, generate certainty in this new digital reality and increase people's confidence in the face of technological disruption". In other words, no new fundamental rights are created, but emerging areas (such as artificial intelligence or digital identity) are recognised where it is necessary to clarify how existing rights are applied and guaranteed.

The Digital Rights Observatory

The creation of a Digital Rights Observatory in Spain has recently been announced, a strategic tool aimed at continuously monitoring, promoting and evaluating the state and evolution of these rights in the country with the objective of contributing to making them effective. The Observatory is conceived as an open, inclusive and participatory space to bring digital rights closer to citizens, and its main functions include:

• To push for the implementation of the Digital Bill of Rights, so that the ideas initially set out in 2021 do not remain theoretical, but are translated into concrete actions, laws and effective policies.
• To monitor compliance with the regulations and recommendations set out in the Digital Bill of Rights.
• Fighting inequality and discrimination online, helping to reduce digital divides so that technological transformation does not leave vulnerable groups behind.
• Identify areas for improvement and propose measures for the protection of rights in the digital environment.
• Detect whether the current legal framework is lagging behind in the face of new challenges from disruptive technologies such as advanced artificial intelligence that pose risks not covered by current laws.
• Encourage transparency and dialogue between government, institutions and civil society to adapt policies to technological change.

Announced in February 2025, the Observatory is part of the Digital Rights Programme, a public-private initiative led by the Government, with the participation of four ministries, and financed by the European NextGenerationEU funds within the Recovery Plan. This programme involves the collaboration of experts in the field, public institutions, technology companies, universities and civil society organisations. In total more than 150 entities and 360 professionals have been involved in its development.

This Observatory is therefore emerging as an essential resource to ensure that the protection of digital rights is kept up to date and responds effectively to the emerging challenges of the digital age.

Conclusion

Digital rights are a fundamental pillar of 21st century societyand their consolidation is a complex task that requires the coordination of initiatives at international, European and national levels. Initiatives such as the European Digital Rights Declaration and other global efforts have laid the groundwork, but it is the implementation of specific measures such as the Spanish Digital Rights Charter and the new Digital Rights Observatory that will make the difference in ensuring a free, safe and equitable digital environment for all.

In short, the protection of digital rights is not only a legislative necessity, but an indispensable condition for the full exercise of citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world. Active participation and engagement of both citizens and institutions will be key to building a fair and sustainable digital future. If we can realise these rights, the Internet and new technologies will continue to be synonymous with opportunity and freedom, not threat. After all, digital rights are simply our old rights adapted to modern times, and protecting them is the same as protecting ourselves in this new digital age.

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Content prepared by Carlos Iglesias, Open data Researcher and consultant, World Wide Web Foundation. The contents and views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.

March is approaching and with it a new edition of the Open Data Day. It is an annual worldwide celebration that has been organised for 12 years, promoted by the Open Knowledge Foundation through the Open Knowledge Network. It aims to promote the use of open data in all countries and cultures.

This year's central theme is "Open data to address the polycrisis". The term polycrisis refers to a situation where different risks exist in the same time period. This theme aims to focus on open data as a tool to address, through its reuse, global challenges such as poverty and multiple inequalities, violence and conflict, climate risks and natural disasters.

If several years ago the activities were limited to a single day, from 2023 we have a week to enjoy various conferences, seminars, workshops, etc. centred on this theme. Specifically, in 2025, Open Data Day activities will take place from 1 to 7 March.

Through its website you can see the various activities that will take place throughout the week all over the world. In this article we review some of those that you can follow from Spain, either because they take place in Spain or because they can be followed online.

Open Data Day 2025: Women Leading Open Data for Equality

Iniciativa Barcelona Open Data is organising a session on the afternoon of 6 March focusing on how open data can help address equality challenges. The event will bring together women experts in data technologies and open data, to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in both the publication and reuse of open data in this field.

The event will start at 17:30 with a welcome and introduction. This will be followed by two panel discussions and an interview:

• Round Table 1. Publishing institutions. Gender-sensitive data strategy to address the feminist agenda.
• DIALOGUE Data lab. Building feminist Tech Data practice.
• Round Table 2. Re-users. Projects based on the use of open data to address the feminist agenda.

The day will end at 19:40 with a cocktail and the opportunity for attendees to discuss the topics discussed and expand their network through networking.

How can you follow the event? This is an in-person event, which will be held at Ca l'Alier, Carrer de Pere IV, 362 (Barcelona).

Registration

Open access scientific and scholarly publishing as a tool to face the 21st century polycrisis: the key role of publishers

Organised by a private individual, Professor Damián Molgaray, this conference looks at the key role of editors in open access scientific and scholarly publishing. The idea is for participants to reflect on how open knowledge is positioned as a fundamental tool to face the challenges of the 21st century polycrisis, with a focus on Latin America.

The event will take place on 4 March at 11:00 in Argentina (15:00 in mainland Spain).

How can you follow the event? This is an online event through Google Meet.

Registration

WhoFundsThem

The organisation mySociety will show the results of its latest project. Over the last few months, a team of volunteers has collected data on the financial interests of the 650 MPs in the UK House of Commons, using sources such as the official Register of Interests, Companies House, MPs' attendance at debates etc. This data, checked and verified with MPs themselves through a 'right of reply' system, has been transformed into an easily accessible format, so that anyone can easily understand it, and will be published on the parliamentary tracking website TheyWorkForYou.

At this event, the project will be presented and the conclusions will be discussed. It takes place on Tuesday 4 at 14:00 London time (15:00 in Spain peninsular).

How can you follow the event? The session can be followed online, but registration is required. The event will be in English.

Registration

Science on the 7th: A conversation on Open Data & Air Quality

El viernes 7 a las 9:00 EST – (15:00 en España peninsular) se podrá seguir online una conferencia sobre datos abiertos y calidad del aire. La sesión reunirá a diversos expertos para debatir los temas de actualidad en materia de calidad del aire y salud mundial, y se examinará la contaminación atmosférica procedente de fuentes clave, como las partículas, el ozono y la contaminación relacionada con el tráfico.

Esta iniciativa está organizada por Health Effects Institute, una corporación sin ánimo de lucro que proporciona datos científicos sobre los efectos de la contaminación atmosférica en la salud.

A conference on open data and air quality will be available online on Friday 7 at 9:00 EST (15:00 in mainland Spain). The session will bring together a range of experts to discuss topical issues in air quality and global health, and will examine air pollution from key sources such as particulate matter, ozone and traffic-related pollution.

This initiative is organised by Health Effects Institute, a non-profit corporation that provides scientific data on the health effects of air pollution.

How can you follow the event? The conference, which will be in English, can be viewed on YouTube. No registration is required.

Watch the event online

Deadline open for new event proposals

The above events are just a few examples of the activities that are part of this global celebration, but, as mentioned above, you can see all the actions on the initiative's website.

In addition, the deadline for registering new events is still open. If you have a proposal, you can register it via this link.

From datos.gob.es we invite you to join this week of celebration, which serves to vindicate the power of open data to generate positive changes in our society. Don't miss it!

Data on older people can play a crucial role in promoting healthy ageing, assisting the development and maintenance of the physical and mental capacities that enable well-being in old age. This open data can be used for the development of policies to better respond to the needs of older people, such as the promotion of home care services or the creation of more accessible and safer urban spaces. They can also be used by researchers to analyse patterns and trends in your health, or by companies and developers devising solutions to improve your quality of life.  Also, such open data enables older people and their families to access relevant information about their health and well-being, empowering them to make informed choices and actively participate in their care. And these are just a few examples of possible uses!

In this article, we are going to explain two projects, linked to the Barcelona Open Data Initiative, which seek to promote the provision of data on the elderly to the public, with the aim of promoting its reuse and achieving benefits such as those mentioned above.

Ranking 50 datasets on healthy ageing

A few months ago, the Barcelona Open Data Initiative, with the support of the Diputació de Barcelona, launched a call through their social networks to identify the fifty best datasets on wellbeing and healthy ageing of older people. Through this collaborative action, to which various users have contributed, a ranking has been drawn up and is now available.

Here are some examples of datasets and the thematic categories to which they belong. All of them are suitable for re-use and offer information of great social value.

• Data related to public support, such as public support for elderly care or home help services..
• Data on services and resources available, such as services for dependent persons (day centre for older people and residence for older people), the inclusive community action resources or the active ageing workshops..
• Data related to aspects about their social situation , such as active older people, loneliness in older people or the gender digital divide.
• Data related to survey and statistics, such as the survey of users of the Telecare Service, lthe statistics on social services for the elderly or the ageing evolution of the population over 65 years of age from 2024-1975.
• Data from studies on the subject, such as the study on the accessibility of public buildings or the study on the satisfaction of users of the Meals on Wheels service..

These are just a few examples, but you can consult the complete list on the website of Iniciativa Open Data Barcelona.

 Open Data Barcelona Initiative has also created in previous years compilations of materials and rankings of datasets on other topics of social interest, such as climate change or municipalities with friendly public spaces..

Data Observatory x Seniors

Barcelona Open Data Initiative and the Democratic Union of Pensioners and Retirees of Spain, with support from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, also presented a few months ago the first Data website of the Data Observatory x Seniors. Its aim is to facilitate the analysis of healthy ageing in Spain, strategic decision-making and public intervention in rural and urban environments, in order to promote the autonomy, dignity and adaptability of older people.

At the moment, you can find it on this website:

• A database where data sets from various sources, such as the National Statistics Institute (INE) or the Ministry of the Interior, arecollected.
• A space where data is displayed in a simple way through interactive graphics, aimed at both private citizens interested in the subject and professionals who want to plan, organise or propose some kind of related service. The visualisations focus on the intervention of older people in the world of associations, segmented by urban and rural municipalities, as well as their involvement in other forms of participation and leisure activities that promote social interaction and well-being in general.

The idea is that the portal will also include training tools and options.

These two projects highlight examples of categories of data and tools that can be made available to citizens in order to understand how older people live and act, with the aim of improving their quality of life. A goal to which we must all contribute, as highlighted by the World Health Organisation with its Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) initiative. In the face of demographic change and the ageing of the population that we are experiencing, it is necessary to join forces to ensure that we can all enjoy an old age with the maximum possible well-being.