PROBLEM The system we built, whilst working, has to be considered a first-generation solution which insufficiently scales and so limits how much good we can do. It is inflexible with regard to processing and storing the data into an adequate data warehouse. It provides no easy option to incorporate new metrics and charts into the dashboard. There is thus a need to reimagine and upgrade how the data is stored, processed, and reported. Please help.
GOAL The project team is asked to build a number of automated solutions which: provides safe signup/login and authentication via Google Firebase handles and stores survey data (i.e., integer, float, string) into Google BigQuery queries, analyses, reports and visualise data into a customisable dashboard (these three main task areas may be split up into sub-teams with 2-3 students each)
Please enlarge this schematic draft: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Zi-jnLRxNKZCUZVZEwKeuBzsBcCidfKXcSdGnIbv0ZY
APPROACH You will develop the processes that handle and process the data. Our philosophy is to use state-of-the-art, serverless, scaleable, and well documented native cloud frameworks (typically within the Google ecosystem as it is powerful and supports multiple languages), plus JS, HTML5, CSS3. Importantly, you do not need to develop everything yourself. For instance, you are not asked to re-invent another survey tool but build a handler for survey data generated by Qualtrics and LimeSurvey (systems we use that generate integer, float, string data) for automated storage into Google BigQuery. You are also not asked to build a dashboard from scratch but utilise an existing theme (like this example: http://eliteadmin.themedesigner.in/demos/bt4/horizontal-navbar/index2.html). Ultimately, you are asked to implement the required processes that handle user login and data query (SQL). It is assumed that the respective systems are linked through existing APIs and Web Services, if available. Alternatively, your contribution will be new code realised via e.g., Node JS or Google Apps Script: a JavaScript cloud scripting language that provides easy ways to automate tasks across Google products and third party services and build web applications. It's universal, serverless and collaborative, and integrates well with the above.
BENEFIT Your solution has the power to reach more than 10,000 organisations and 1,000,000 people in Australia. Not-for-Profit organisations will be empowered to better perform and do more good.
CONTACT Dr Ramon Wenzel operates at the nexus of people science, analytics, and tech.
Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering The University of Western Australia Last modified: 20 July 2020 Modified By: Michael Wise |