[Research] Map current database schema to external standards

[theecrit]

Description

We originally designed the database schema to normalize incoming data enough that we would eventually be able to ingest other data types from other data sources (beyond the current DustTrak files) over time. Since then, some AQ-specific schemas have been released and/or come to our attention.

We want to understand how much effort it would be to align our schema with these, to determine if it's worth updating our own schema.

Advantages:

• Allows for easier ingestion or dissemination of data across projects.
• Creates a bridge to other AQ-oriented communities.

Disadvantages:

• May require refactoring our database.
• May require adjustments to API and front-end calls throughout app.

Evaluation process

1. Map each table/entity and its attributes/rows to the comparable fields in the following schemas:

• [ ] CSA's PPSR
• [ ] OpenAQ's data format standards
• [ ] EDF's data standards and standardized terms

2. Define the specific updates updates that would be required to our system.

3. Decide if the effort is worth the payoff.

4. If so, open issue(s) for new work.