5 Unconventional Sources of Data for Your Next Project

Image by Editor | Midjourney

Good data helps you make better decisions. It also helps create useful insights. Most people use common sources like surveys or government databases to find their data. However, many other places exist, which are not used as often, but can be very helpful.

In this article, we will share five unconventional sources of data you can use. Each source offers valuable information, and can help make your project stand out. Let’s look at these unique data sources.

1. Social Media

 
Social media is a useful way to find data. People share pictures and videos every day. You can gather data from posts, likes, and comments. This data shows what people talk about and what they like.

For example, you can track trends using hashtags. You can see what topics are popular and what people like. Companies use this information to understand what customers think about their products. Social media helps you understand opinions and trends.

Sample dataset: Social Media Influencers in 2022 (Kaggle)

2. Public Sensors

 
Many cities use sensors to track different things. These sensors monitor traffic, air quality, and noise levels. They collect data in real time. This information is often shared with the public. You can use it for projects on urban planning or the environment.

For example, you can study how traffic affects air pollution. You can see which areas have the most traffic. This data helps city planners make better decisions. Public sensor data gives real-world insights into city life and nature. It helps people understand how their environment changes.

Sample datasets: Swiss Traffic & Public Transport Data (Open Transport Data)

3. Wearable Devices

 
Wearable devices like fitness trackers collect health data. These devices track steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. Many users share their health data through apps or social media. With permission, you can use this data for health or fitness projects.

For example, you can analyze activity levels and sleep habits. This information can help you understand health trends. You can find out how active people are. This data is valuable for health researchers and fitness companies.

Sample dataset: Wearables Dataset (Kaggle)

4. Satellite Imagery

 
Satellite imagery shows the Earth from space. It helps us study changes in the environment. It is also useful for monitoring natural disasters. Organisations like NASA and Google Earth provide free satellite images.

You can use this data for geography, environmental science, or agriculture. For example, you can track deforestation or see how cities expand. Satellite imagery provides insights that other data cannot.

Sample dataset: Satellite Image Classification (Kaggle)

5. Web Scraping

 
Web scraping is a method of collecting data from websites. It can gather information like product reviews or news articles. This data is useful for market research and customer feedback.

For example, you can track how prices change over time. You can also analyze what people like about a product. Web scraping helps you collect lots of data quickly. This can save time and effort for researchers and businesses.

More on web scraping: Mastering Web Scraping with BeautifulSoup (KDnuggets)

Conclusion

 
These sources provide new insights that traditional data may not offer. Social media shows what people think and feel right now. Public sensors give real-time information about cities and the environment. Wearable devices share health and fitness data. Web scraping helps you gather large amounts of online information quickly. Satellite imagery shows how the Earth changes over time.
 
 

Jayita Gulati is a machine learning enthusiast and technical writer driven by her passion for building machine learning models. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Liverpool.