Spatial Data / Overview
Spatial data layers are used to create maps and perform spatial analysis. The following sections are available in this documentation:
Spatial Data Background
Spatial data is typically associated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which manage spatial data, create maps, and perform spatial data analysis.
TODO smalers 2016-12-28 need to decide how much to explain here
Spatial Data in NovaStar
The primary spatial data in NovaStar is coordinates for stations, at which measurements are recorded. Stations can be physical stations, such as a weather station or stream gage, or synthetic stations such as basin or hardware devices. Station data are available from NovaStar through simple data format exports such as comma-separated-value (CSV), XML, or JSON. Geospatial formats such as GeoJSON and shapefiles are also available via the NovaStar REST web services.
Other spatial data that are relevant to NovaStar include background map layers, stream features, floodplain boundaries, gridded precipitation, etc. These layers are typically collected from public sources or flood management organizations when configuring a system and are referenced as static data layers.
TODO smalers 2016-12-28 need to provide more specific information for how to access spatial data and show examples.
Using GeoJSON Layer with GIS
GeoJSON files are particularly useful spatial data formats because they consist of a single file (compared to shapefiles, for example), are text, and can be accessed with a URL. The following sections illustrate how to use GeoJSON data layers from NovaStar with common software.
GeoJSON and ArcGIS
TODO smalers 2016-12-28 need to fill in
GeoJSON and QGIS
Quantum GIS (QGIS) is free and open source GIS software that can be used to create maps and analyze spatial data.
- If necessary, install QGIS software using instructions from the Open Water Foundation.
- Add GeoJSON file created by NovaStar using a URL or local file. See the above documentation for explanation for how to add a GeoJSON layer in QGIS. The source of the data must be published by the organization that uses NovaStar.
TODO smalers 2016-12-28 need to standardize how NovaStar system data resources will be published on the web so people can find.