Public sector taxonomies and the
Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary Project
Sheila Apicella
Cathy Day
Lindsay Ould
Three main taxonomies:
• GCL (Government Category List)
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/schemasstandards/gcl.asp
• LGCL (Local Government Category List)
http://www.esd.org.uk/standards/lgcl/
• seamlessUK taxonomy
http://www.seamlessuk.info/
Page 2
One vocabulary will reduce the confusion for public sector
organisations (1)
The single vocabulary supports citizens,
customers and staff by offering easier, more
efficient access to information by:
• consistent indexing, categorisation and retrieval
• interoperability across data sets from multiple
organisations
• the ability to offer the same information across a
variety of delivery channels
Page 3
One vocabulary will reduce the confusion for public sector
organisations (2)
• It will provide the mandatory encoding scheme for the
eGMS’s Subject element.
• It will support the delivery of the Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister Priority Outcome R3 “Community
Information.”
• One vocabulary will reduce the overheads, costs and
workload required to implement a controlled vocabulary
within content management systems, search systems and
automatic metadata creation systems.
• One vocabulary will offer a strategic advantage in linking
e-enabled services to the Government's Directgov portal
(www.direct.gov.uk).
Page 4
Enables links to external websites
Page 5
Enables new policies to thrive
Page 6
Is there a Business Case for using IPSV?
• Information is a valuable asset, • Annual efficiency savings
like buildings, finance and • Service improvement
people – it should be valued • Strategic benefits
• Managing your intellectual • CPA
capital will show business
benefits • PSTOs
• Quick, accurate response to • National Strategy
information requests cuts down • FOI
handling time • Reduces risk
• Greater depth of information for
evaluation enables more
informed decisions
• Gives customers greater
confidence – first time resolution
Page 7
LAWs Benefits
LAWs in Support of Meeting Government Targets
CPA Framework Priority Service Outcomes Efficiency Programme National Strategy
•Corporate Assessment Schools Transactions Transforming Services
Ambition Community Information Corporate Services Renewing Local Democracy
Prioritisation Democratic Renewal Procurement Promoting Economic
Vitality
Capacity Local Environment Policy Funding and
Regulation Bridging the Digital Divide –
Performance Management E-Procurement
e-Inclusion
•Achievement and Payments Productive Time
Efficiency
Investment
Libraries, Sports & Leisure
“Liveability”/
Safer & Stronger
Transport Environmental Quality
Communities
Benefits BVPI 157
Sustainable
Communities and Support for Vulnerable People
transport
Supporting New Ways of
Healthier Working Key
Communities (not
Accessibility of Services
districts) High Benefit Medium Benefit
High Take-up of Web-based
Children and Young
Transactional Services
People (not districts)
Making it Easy to do Business Lower Benefit N/A
Use of Resources
with the Council
Page 8
LAWs Benefits
LAWs Benefits Matrix
Yes Cost Reduction & Efficiency Savings Service Improvement/ Added Value
• Avoidance of licence fees for Content Mgt System • Avoidance of licence fees for commercial alternatives
to LGOL-Net and Formbuilder products and cost of
• Avoidance of cost to maintain individual category
connectors to individual applications
lists
• Reduction in man-hours required to develop
transactional services for web-site through use of
starter kit.
• Organisational Development guideline can save
Financial
organisational structure consultancy and HR
effort
Service Improvement/ Added Value Strategic & Intangible Benefits
• Increased availability of on-line services • LGCL provides consistent model for all channels,
enabling delivery of local services through a variety of
• Category List improves ease of finding items on
portals e.g. DirectGov
website
• APLAWS+ is shaping the market, encouraging suppliers
to tailor more products for local authorities. LGOL-Net
also simplifies procurement of middleware
• Community Engagement Modules enable use of
No on-line facilities to support community activity
• Accessibility guide aids compliance to DDA.
Yes No
Quantifiable
Page 9
So……what does IPSV look like?
• 16 top level terms
• 2700 preferred terms
• 4200 non-preferred terms
• ISO 2788 compliant
• No distinction between categories &
keywords
• Poly-hierarchical
• Not a navigation structure
• An abridged view available for central
government use
Page 10
IPSV home page
http://www.esd.org.uk/standards/ipsv/
Page 11
Word version of IPSV
Page 12
IPSV XML
Page 13
Top level – interactive tree
Page 14
Interactive Viewer
Page 15
IPSV Discussion Forum
Page 16
Progress to date (1)
• Very positive feedback being received
• Sustainability model in progress / editorial policies
agreed
• Construction now complete / version 1 released
www.esd.org.uk/standards/ipsv
• Consultation forums still running at
http://www.esd-toolkit.org/integratedforums/
• Papers available on eSB Custodian site
http://www.localegov-standards.gov.uk/custodian
Page 17
Progress to date (2)
• A-Z published in conjunction with
ENCORE project
• Suggested Navigation Structure
published in conjunction with LB Brent
• Further comments collated /
documentation finalised April – May
• Editor to be appointed
• Continued maintenance to take place
• Further extensions to be considered
(e.g. Internal Activities)
Page 18
How should you use / implement the IPSV?
• Not started building in the LGCL or haven’t got very far? You can start
to implement IPSV from 1 April 2005.
• The ODPM has agreed that the IPSV is a recognised taxonomy and will
meet the requirements of Local e-Government Priority Outcome R3.
• Authorities that are currently implementing the LGCL as part of R3
should continue to do so. (Further guidance and support around
implementation of metadata and migration to the IPSV after December
2005 will follow.)
• Mappings to IPSV are provided from LGCL and LGSL
• From Summer 2005, e-GMS will recommend IPSV as the mandatory
encoding scheme for subject metadata in place of GCL.
• You should be prepared to migrate to the new list to enable
interoperability across the public sector.
• The date for completion of migration has not yet been fixed. Version 1 of
IPSV (Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary) now available
Page 19
Guidance & Documentation Coming Soon!
• How To Meta Tag
• Maintenance Guide / Editorial Policy
• Tips on Implementing the IPSV
• Tips on Migrating from LGCL / GCL
• Business Case for implementing a
shared standardised vocabulary
across the public sector
• Guidance on using IPSV in esd-
toolkit and how it relates to other lists
Page 20
ENCORE Project demonstrators
• The ENCORE National Project e-Community Workstream
http://www.encore.gov.uk/ is trialling the use of IPSV in its
search, A-Z and semi automatic metatagger demonstrator
• The search system recognises metatags containing IPSV
terms and uses this to improve the ranking of hits
• A basic A-Z of local authority services originally drawn from
the A-Z on the Essex Online Portal
• This A-Z will be added to the IPSV XML schema A-Z field
• IPSV is also presented in full to allow users to browse and
search for content over a wide range of local and national
content
• Very much a work in progress, being demonstrated today on
the ENCORE stand
Page 21
ENCORE A-Z
Page 22
A-Z results for Chelmsford Borough
Page 23
Follow link to local web page
Page 24
IPSV in ENCORE browse interface
Page 25
Hits returned by navigating down the hierarchy
Page 26
Result - Local web page
Page 27
Suggested Navigation Structure
• Based on Brent’s PHS structure
which has received a great deal of
consultation and acclaim
• Is a poly-hierarchical navigation
structure
• Maps to LGSL
• Will be a “tree view” in esd-toolkit
• Can be viewed at
www.esd.org.uk/standards/lgnl
Page 28
Where can you find IPSV and the related
products?
• Version 1 available
www.esd.org.uk/standards/ipsv
• Suggested navigation structure
www.esd.org.uk/standards/lgnl
• Shared esd-toolkit / eSB forums
www.esd-toolkit.org/integratedforums/
• eSB Custodian Website (Search under IPSV)
www.legsb.gov.uk/
• Contact
sheila.apicella@legsb.gov.uk
07769 692989
Page 29
London Borough of Lewisham – Case Study
• Inner London Borough – unitary with
246,000 residents
• Directly elected Mayor
• Microsoft Infrastructure including
Content Management Server and
Sharepoint Portal Server
• Current site is SQL/ASP and HTML
• Content Plus rated in SOCITM 2005
• Site re-launch planned for June 05
• Service focus with supporting
information
Page 30
Implementing IPSV
• Re-launch timing fits in with IPSV
• Risk in using version 1 at this stage
• Service focus allows use of mappings
between lists – can be automated
• Issues for integrated systems –
Sharepoint and CMS
• Requirement for internal facing terms
• Exploitation of taxonomy
• Use of IPSV terms for Navigation
• Search engine configuration issues
Page 31
Next Steps for Lewisham
• Resources required to move to next
version – Management Information
Requirements
• Definition of role to allocate terms –
automation vs skilled staff
• Benchmarking group with SEALEGS
authorities
• Extension of IPSV - Internal terms
and process mapping
• Exploiting taxonomy to allow
integration with Directgov and
London Portal
Page 32
Some unanswered questions and challenges for
discussion
• Can migration be • What other lists are
automated needed to add to the
• How much can “family” of lists
suppliers help LAs • Does Google do it
• Is it possible to help better
each other setting up • What enhancements
optimum searches to esd-toolkit would
• Can suppliers help in help in viewing and
future version getting information
updates about the lists
Page 33