This article includes a description of how should a user proceed when starting a new project, to decide how to send data to the platform. It also includes a description of what type of data can be sent. The article is divided into the following sections:
- What type of data can be sent to the platform?
- How can the data be sent to the platform?
- How to import data manually
- How to import historical data
- How to send data from pulse counters
1. What type of data can be sent to the platform?
Before deciding how the data of your sensors should reach the platform, we believe it would be useful to allocate a bit of your time to understand a few related concepts.
When you insert data into the platform, each inserted variable is treated as a parameter. In case you are new here, maybe you could be interested in learning about:
- What is a parameter in the platform?
- What type of parameters can be introduced?
- Other information related to parameters.
We also believe it might be interesting for you to get used to the terminology used in the platform. As an example, we make a differentiation between gateways/data sources and devices. The gateways or data sources are the ones communicating with the platform, while the devices are the ones measuring the values on the field. In case you feel you are not familiar with all the terms, you can learn more about the platform terminology in this article.
2. How can the data be sent to the platform?
The platform supports multiple data entries in different protocols and formats, through automatic or manual processes initiated by the user.
If you are about to start a new project, you must be wondering how to insert the data from the sensors you already have in the installations. We recommend you to choose data insertion through our open API or through FTP or email protocols. In the next figure, you can see the flow that the data would follow to be inserted in the platform:
Let’s imagine two starting points:
2.1 Starting point 1: Having the data in a cloud solution
In this case, the best option would be to insert data through:
- Our API: Automatic data shipment through our insertion API, where the datalogger or external system performs regularly calls HTTP/S using JSON format with real-time data from the meters. For more information visit the following article.
- FTP/email: Automatic data shipment through FTP/email via .csv files. Every sensor sends data following a different format. This leaves the user with the following flow:
- Check if your sensors follow a format already integrated with the platform.
- Check if you can adapt your sensors’ format to any existent format.
- If you see any option is possible, send an email to your support provider so they can adapt to your sensors' format.
If your data is in a cloud but you are unable to send data through the API nor FTP/email protocols, you could install additional hardware that would be directly integrated to the platform or would accomplish one of the two points just mentioned.
If you would need advice regarding the hardware you need, we could put you in contact with a partner of ours we always recommend.
2.2 Starting point 2: Having installed data sources in your installations
First, check if the hardware has been already integrated with the platform. If not, program the gateway to send data through:
- Our API: Automatic data shipment through our insertion API, where the datalogger or external system performs regularly calls HTTP/S using JSON format with real-time data from the meters. For more information visit the following article.
- FTP/email: Automatic data shipment through FTP/email via .csv files. Every sensor sends data following a different format. This leaves the user with the following flow:
- Check if your sensors follow a format already integrated with the platform.
- Check if you can adapt your sensors’ format to any existent format.
- If you see any option is possible, send an email to your support provider so they can adapt to your sensors' format.
2.3 What happens if none of the options suits you?
If any of the options have convinced you already, you can ask us to fully integrate your equipment to our software. This option would take a bigger amount of time and additional budget, so it is the less recommended option.
Contact your support provider in case you would like to start the integration.
3. How to import data manually
In case you would prefer to insert a specific set of data manually, we offer you several methods to do so. To learn more about it, please check this article.
4. How to import historical data
If you are seeking to import historical data into the platform, you can choose among several methods. In order to learn more about them, please check this article.
5. How to send data from pulse counters
Do you have pulse counters in your installations? To learn how you should prepare them in order to send data to the platform, please check this article.