NovaStar Data / Points
A NovaStar "point" is used to collect and manage data values that change over time. Conceptually, a point is similar to a sensor where a measurement occurs. However, similar to stations, points can correspond to physical or virtual data collection points. For example, a point can be used to collect and manage data for:
- weather and stream data, and other values measured with sensors
- computer performance (memory, processor load, etc.)
- data collection network performance (lost data, latency, etc.)
- data imported from other systems
- forecasted values
- results of an equation
The term "point identifier" typically means the NovaStar numerical identifier for a point (pointNumId).
Recent enhancements to NovaStar are attempting to move away from using the point identifier
and towards using a combination of station (or location) identifier and data types
(see the Data Types documentation).
Points have data properties such as name and description, which are available in web services, as well as properties needed by the data collection and management system, such as sensor configuration data.
Data collection results in data being stored at a point. Data values at a point consist of the initial derived values:
- raw data value from a sensor, import, calculation, or other source
- scaled data value that uses a "calibration" (see Calibrations documentation)
- up to 5 "rated" values that uses a "rating" (see Ratings documentation)
- NovaScore value indicating a qualitative score for the value
The following are important relationships: