The Open Database of Buildings (ODB)

Detailed information for April 2025

The Open Database of Buildings (ODB) is a centralized and harmonized repository of building data made available under the Open Government License - Canada. This exploratory initiative aims at enhancing the use and harmonization of open building data from government sources for the purpose of contributing to the creation of a complete, comprehensive and open database of buildings in Canada.

Data release - April 15, 2025

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Open Database of Buildings (ODB) is a collection of open data on buildings made available under the Open Government License - Canada. The ODB brings together 530 datasets originating from 107 government sources of open data. The database aims to enhance access to a harmonized collection of building features across Canada.

The inputs for the ODB are datasets provided by municipal, regional, provincial, and federal sources available through open government portals under various types of open data licenses. The current version of the database (version 3.0) contains approximately 14.4 million records and includes provinces and territories where open building features were found during the collection period (from November 2024 to April 2025).

Individual datasets sourced from their respective open data portals were processed and harmonized into the ODB. Within the original datasets, each data provider attached a different set of variables to their building features, and in some cases provided building details across numerous datasets which were combined into a unified building record. Only variables that could be calculated and standardized for each building feature across all data providers were retained. To see the full list of variables provided by a given data provider, please visit their open data portals which are linked in the metadata document that accompanies the ODB.

Reference period: The reference period for these data varies. For more information on the reference period of a specific dataset, please consult the open data portal for that data provider directly.

Collection period: November 2024 to April 2025

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The goal of the ODB is to create a centralized and harmonized repository of buildings available from open data government sources across Canada. As work on ODB progresses, definitions and thresholds will evolve. Users are reminded that unedited data can always be obtained directly from the open data portals of the various data providers.

Instrument design

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Sampling

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Individual building datasets were downloaded from their respective government open data portals.

Error detection

Footprints smaller than 1 m2 were removed as they were deemed too small to be of interest for most users.

Imputation

No imputation was done

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

Validation of the underlying datasets was not undertaken, since data provided by municipalities were collected as is.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data accuracy

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.