Linked Data is an approach to representing and publishing information – applying the principles of the web to the challenge of integrating and using data. This is a graph based data structure that supports supports multiple uses of the data including emerging AI and data science tools.
Linked data is an approach to
representing and publishing information
Linked Data applies the principles of the web to the challenge of integrating and using data.
If data is uploaded to the web as a document, any data within the document is less accessible – people can’t take that data and analyse or re-present it. They can’t combine it with other data to provide new services or discover new insights. Applying the principles of the web means more than simply putting a file on a website.
We identify facts in the data by giving each element an individual identity or web address (URI). That data can then be published so that standard web client software can fetch the data, can discover onward links to related information and can combine data from multiple sources.
Linked Data doesn’t just connect datasets, but links individual pieces of information or statements such as people, places and organisations.
How can linked data help?
New insights
Linking data improves the usefulness and value of information, leading to new insights
Multiple representations
Information can be modelled to capture detailed relationships in data and shared in multiple ways
Greater transparency
Each bit of data is individually addressed – meaning it can be annotated and explained in context
Up to date
Linking data means that the current data is always used, enabling you to make up to date, informed decisions
Developing a data strategy
Linked Data matters because it doesn’t just connect datasets, but links individual pieces of information or statements such as people, places and organisations. We identify facts in the data by giving each element an individual identity or web address (URI). That data can then be published so that standard web client software can fetch the data, can discover onward links to related information and can combine data from multiple sources.
Linked data is the cornerstone of tomorrow’s data landscape, propelling the advancement of AI and data science. By connecting and interlinking diverse data sources, it serves as the catalyst for groundbreaking insights and discoveries. In a world where data is the new currency, linked data is the key that unlocks its true potential.
With linked data, we bridge the gaps between disparate datasets, making them interoperable and discoverable, while adhering to the FAIR data principles. This interconnected web of data not only empowers AI systems to make informed decisions but also fuels data science with a rich tapestry of information.
In the age of AI and data science, linked data acts as a unifying force, empowering organisations to leverage their data assets to their fullest extent. It fosters collaboration, accelerates research, and enhances the reusability of data, transcending organisational boundaries.
Why linked data matters
1. Enhanced Data Integration – AI systems rely on vast, structured datasets. Linked data connects disparate sources, improving data quality and consistency.
2. Semantic Understanding & Context Awareness – Unlike traditional databases, linked data incorporates meaning, helping AI models understand relationships between entities.
3. Better AI Training Datasets – Knowledge graphs built with linked data improve AI-driven search, recommendations, and automation.
4. Explainability & Trustworthiness in AI – AI decisions become more transparent when built on well-structured, standardized linked data.
5. Interoperability Across Industries – Healthcare, finance, and government use linked data to ensure AI systems can communicate seamlessly across platforms.
Publishing Data
Linked Data offers a powerful way to make data available across organisational boundaries.
Our Data Sharing Platform provides a cost-effective, flexible approach to publishing data on the web and exploiting the benefits of linked data. A resilient, scalable and cloud-based solution for publishing data, we host data for a wide range of our public and private sector clients.
We can provide a solution to fit your needs as a fully hosted and managed enterprise solution, or installed locally on your own infrastructure, backed up by our comprehensive range of consultancy services.
Get in touch to find out more about Linked Data and what it could do for you. We can help you evaluate whether the technology is relevant to your problem, train you in its use and help you build and maintain a complete Linked Data solution.