Leading Broadcaster Adopts Linked Data
Case Study: Talis Consultants Guide Leading Broadcaster in Widespread Linked Data Adoption
At a Glance
- Talis consultants work in situ with BBC staff to develop Linked Data
- Talis Linked Data Platform allows risk-free experimentation with a new approach
Talis, a pioneering Semantic Web business, had a strong track record for guiding organisations successfully through a process of Linked Data adoption, with activities such as training and in situ consultancy. The Talis Consulting team had already helped to make the web content of several partner organisations more connected and meaningful with the Linked Data approach, linking their websites to external datastores to create a broader and richer experience.
In the first of a series of workshops at the BBC, Talis introduced the concept of Linked Data. “We explained that Linked Data is a practical approach to building the Semantic Web, which allows us to create connections between disparate sets of data”, says Tom Heath, Talis’ Lead Researcher. “We took them through basic Linked Data technologies such as RDF – the standard for representing objects and relationships in the data, and SPARQL, which allows us to explore the data.”
Unlocking the real value with core data
On the first project, the Talis team loaded the broadcaster’s programme and music data onto the Talis Linked Data platform. “We find that by starting at the core data of any organisation,” explains Talis Programme Manager Leigh Dodds, “we can reach out into other areas and weave data. It’s much more effective than choosing niche data just because there’s an enthusiast in that area. That might be good for grassroots support, but to unlock the real value, you’ve got to grasp your core data. ”
Wildlife Finder
A BBC Earth project had been set up to develop an exploratory interface called Wildlife Finder. Leigh Dodds worked with the corporation to develop an ontology , or vocabulary, to underpin the data model. To make the application compatible with external data such as zoological research data, Dodds recounts, “we incorporated specialist terminology into a broader vocabulary suitable for mass audiences, as well as creating a developer guide for staff.”
The outcome was a user interface for exploring wildlife information which pulled together content from diverse sources such as Wikipedia and Animal Diversity Web.
Training and mentoring
In the next phase of work, Talis consultants delivered around 12 training courses, instilling the core skills of Linked Data, RDF and SPARQL to over 100 staff-members in total. Gradually, Talis became more involved in mentoring activities, and spent one day reviewing the World Cup 2010 ontology developed in-house, providing validation and advice.
Panorama and Public Sector Pay
With only two weeks to go before a Panorama programme on the highest earners in the UK’s public sector, Talis were called in to convert data – from sources as diverse as spreadsheets and public accounts – and help to build an interactive application allowing people to interrogate data pertaining to public sector employees earning over £100,000 per annum.
Talis worked with the News Specials development team to a very tight deadline, delivering a live application on the website to coincide with the broadcast. On the day it was promoted on the front page, hundreds of thousands of people looked at it. Long after the promotion it was still totalling tens of thousands of interactions per month.
A productive and successful relationship
Talis’ Rob Styles concludes: “Talis consultants have worked as experienced partners, helping the organisation develop in-house skills over time. By loading data onto our Platform, organisations do not have to make an onerous investment in infrastructure to experiment with this innovative technology.”
Print this pageWho worked on it?
Work with us
Talis Consulting are a team of expert Consultants who have experience in delivering Linked Data projects; this is imperative when working to help navigate the intricacies and nuances of implementing a successful Linked Data project, without this expertise we aren't able to work to ensure your success.
In support of the Consulting services, Talis also provides a service enabling the hosting of Linked Data, utilising the features of the Talis Platform as a Software as a Service solution.
If you would like to start your Linked Data adoption, please contact us.
