NovaStar Data / Tools / Overview
NovaStar data web services provide access to NovaStar data via the internet using a URL-based application programming interface (API). However, efficiently viewing, accessing, and processing the data can be challenging due to the complexity of data, software, and workflow processes.
The following table provides a list of tools that can be used with data web services depending on requirements. Desktop tools and web applications provide a user interface. Command line tools are run on the command line without a user interface and support automation, including creating products that can be integrated with web applications. More information is provided on separate pages for each tool.
Tools Used with NovaStar Data Web Services
| Tool | App Type | Main Uses | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIS | Desktop and web | Geographic Information Systems (GIS). | GIS applications can consume data web services spatial data products. |
| curl | Command line | Automate data retrieval. | The command line curl software can automate retrieving data from web services URL and save to a file. |
| Data Web Services UI | Web | Interactively view and download data | The data web services UI web application provides basic data viewing, data navigation, and download features. For example, use to interactively access historical time series data. The UI uses web services to access data. |
| JavaScript / TypeScript / NodeJS | Web | Many | Web application software can access web services and can process and display information. TriLynx does not currently provide a JavaScript library for accessing web services. |
| NovaStar Administrator | Web | Edit data and maintain the data collection system | The data web services are read-only. The Administrator web application is used to interactively add, modify, and delete data in the NovaStar database. Data web services uses data maintained by the Administrator. |
| NovaStar Operator | Web | View data for situational awareness of current conditions to support emergency management | The Operator web application provides integrated map, dashboard, summary table, and other views to provide context for real-time decision-making. The Operator uses data web services to access data. |
nsdataws-cli |
Command line | Automate web service requests, in particular time series queries. | The script provides a command line tool to automate basic data requests, for example to call from a scheduler. |
| Python | Desktop and command line | Many | Python software can access web services and can process and display information. TriLynx does not currently provide Python tools for accessing web services. |
| TSTool | Desktop and command line | Interactively view time series and other data, and automate data processing and product generation. | TSTool provides extensive features to automate data access, processing, and creation of time series information products such as graphs and quality control reports. TSTool can access data from multiple sources such as water agencies. |
| URL Builder | Web | Build web services URLs | Helpful for testing and evaluating web services. The resulting URLs can be used in ad hoc fashion and guide implementation of other tools. |