Sources of Big Structured Data

Sources of Big Structured Data

Even though most of the data obtained is unstructured, newer sources produced structured data in real-time and in large volumes with the evolution of technology. Sources of structured data could be divided into two categories:-

• Computer or machine-generated
  Data is created without the intervention of humans.
   
• Human-generated
  Data that humans generate while interacting with computers or machines

Some scientific experts also agree there is a third type of structured data source, i.e., a hybrid between human and machine. But in this blog, we will be looking only for the above two.

Machine-generated structured Data

Data is created without the intervention of humans by computers or machines. There are various sources of Machine-generated structured Data. I have discussed some below and their use case.

1. Sensor - Data
   Sensor Data includes all data produced during any communication between sender and receiver. It includes Radio Frequency ID (RFID). RFID uses a tiny computer chip to track items at a distance—for example, tracking shipment tanks from one location to another. Every time information is transmitted from the receiver, it goes into a server and is analyzed. Companies are interested in this Data for their supply chain management and inventory control. Similarly, tags, smart meters, medical devices, and Global Positioning System (GPS) also produced structured data. For example, GPS nowadays is used to understand customer behaviour in new ways.
    
2. Web Log Data
   Whenever a user operates servers, applications, networks, and so on, they capture all kinds of data about user activity like login details, history etc. If combined, this Data amounts to vast volumes of data and could be helpful, such as dealing with service-level agreements or predicting security breaches.
    
3. Point-of-sale Data
   Whenever we go shopping and purchase an item, the cashier swipes the bar code of the purchased product, and hence all data associated with the product is generated and used. To let you understand how big this Data is, think of all the products people are buying across the globe. You can understand how big this data set can be.
    
4. Financial Data
   With the involvement of technology in every sector, most of the data produced in the financial sector are programmatic. They operate on predefined rules, for example, stock market trading. It contains structured data like company symbols and its rupee values. These structured data could be machine or human-generated, but most of it is machine-generated.

Human-generated structured Data

Data that humans generate while interacting with computers or machines. There are various sources of Human-generated structured Data. I have discussed some below and their use case.

1. Input Data
   While filling out an online form or filling out details in an online survey, or logging in to any social media account, users enter data in the form of input to the computers. Data has generated every time humans input details into the computer, e.g. Name, Age, Gender etc. This Data is beneficial in understanding basic customer behaviour.
    
2. Click-Stream Data
   While surfing online, Data is generated every time a user clicks on any link or images, browses through an article etc. This Data helps draw customers' buying patterns, behaviours while purchasing an item, and more.
    
3. Gaming-Related Data
   While playing online computer games, Any move made by the player could be recorded and generate data. This Data helps us to understand how end-users move through a gaming portfolio.

FAQs

1. What is Structured Data?
   Data is said to be structured if it's well structured, i.e., data that can be easily accessed, stored and processed.
    
2. What is the basic difference between structured and unstructured data?
   Unstructured Data doesn't follow any specific format. The form and structure of such data are not known. On the other hand, Structured  Data is Data that can be easily accessed, stored and processed. These data have well-defined columns. Data is stored in a particular order or consistency.
    
3. What is Machine-generated Structured Data?
   Data created without humans' intervention by computers and machines are referred to as Machine-generated Structured Data.

Key Takeaways

In this article, we have discussed Big Structured Data in detail. We have also briefly explained different sources of Big Structured Data.

I hope this article must have helped you improve your learning about Big Data. To get more knowledge about Big Data and Hadoop, practice some quality SQL questions and also visit our blogs on Databases in Coding Ninjas Studio. You can also consider our Online Coding Courses such as the Machine Learning Course to give your career an edge over others.

Till then, all the best for all your future endeavours and Happy Coding.