Details of the Object table and JSON output of pollen current conditions API of Meersens

In this article, I will provide a clear understanding of the object table and JSON output of Meersens pollen current conditions API. As a programmer, it is essential to have a strong grasp of these concepts in order to efficiently extract and process the relevant information from the API. The object table presents the data in a tabular format with each row representing a single instance, whereas JSON output stores data in a key-value pair format. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the differences and similarities between these two data structures and how to use them to extract information from the Meersens pollen current conditions API.

API Object and Description Table

1. found: A boolean value indicating whether at least one pollutant value has been found.

2. datetime: An ISO_8601 UTC datetime indicating the time the data refers to.

3. index: A pollen index object containing the following properties:

   • index_type: A unique identifier of the returned pollen index.

   • index_name: The name of the returned pollen index.

   • qualification: A textual representation of the pollen index.

   • description: A textual assessment of the pollen index.

   • icon: The associated icon for the pollen level (if any, otherwise null).

   • color: A hexadecimal color code representing the pollen level.

   • value: The pollen level value (for numeric indexes only, otherwise null).

   • main_pollutants: An array of main pollutants identifiers.

4. pollutants: A dictionary of available pollutants at the requested point containing the following properties for each pollutant:

   • shortcode: A textual shortcode for the pollutant.

   • name: The full name of the pollutant.

   • unit: The unit in which the pollutant value is returned.

   • found: A boolean value indicating whether the pollutant value has been found.

   • value: The value of the pollutant in the specified unit.

   • avg_value: A measure of confidence in the pollutant value.

   • confidence: Pollutant specific index information.

   • index: A unique identifier of the returned pollen index.

The information in the table is useful for anyone who needs to access current pollen and pollutant data. The found object allows the user to quickly determine whether there is any data available for the requested location and time. The datetime object provides the date and time for the data, which is important for ensuring that the data is up-to-date and relevant. The index object provides detailed information about the pollen index, including the type, name, and level, which can be used to determine the potential impact of pollen on individuals with allergies or respiratory issues. The pollutants dictionary provides information about the different pollutants present in the air, including their names, values, and levels of confidence, which is important for anyone who needs to monitor air quality for health or environmental reasons. Overall, the information in the table is highly useful for researchers, healthcare professionals, and anyone else who needs to access current pollen and pollutant data for a specific location and time.

JSON explained

The given JSON output is a data structure that provides information on air quality and its impact on health. The "found" parameter indicates whether or not the data was found for the given date and time. The "datetime" parameter provides the date and time when the air quality data was recorded. The "index" object provides information on the air quality index type, name, color, value, and main pollutants. The "pollutants" object contains information on various pollutants, including their name, unit, value, and air quality index information. The "health_recommendations" object provides recommendations for different groups of people on how to avoid the adverse effects of poor air quality on their health. Overall, this JSON output provides comprehensive information on air quality and its impact on human health, which can be useful for public health officials, researchers, and the general public to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

{
"found": true,
"datetime": "2021-11-08T21:00:00.000Z",
"index": {
"index_type": "meersens",
"index_name": "Meersens",
"qualification": "Degraded",
"icon": null,
"color": "#adc704",
"value": 34.13,
"main_pollutants": [
"ragweed"
]
},
"pollutants": {
"ragweed": {
"shortcode": "Rag.",
"name": "Ragweed",
"unit": "grains/m³",
"found": true,
"value": 4.1,
"confidence": 4.5,
"index": {
"index_type": "meersens",
"index_name": "Meersens",
"qualification": "Good",
"icon": null,
"color": "#05b3a4",
"description": "Ragweed pollen has a very high allergenic power, the main cause of hay fever. Low risk of allergy to this concentration",
"value": 14.28
}
},
"birch_tree": {...},
"olive_tree": {...},
"alder_tree": {...},
"mugwort": {...},
"grasses": {...}
},
"health_recommendations": {
"all": "Degraded pollen can cause irritation of the respiratory tract and cause respiratory discomfort.",
"family": "Children with an immature respiratory system are more impacted by poor pollen. Outdoor activities can be maintained as long as there is no respiratory or cardiac discomfort.",
"sport": "Physical activities cause an increase in respiratory rate which leads to increased exposure to pollutants and potentially to symptoms resulting from them.",
"pregnancy": "Exposure to pollutants can affect the fetus and pregnancy (lower birth weight, preterm delivery ...)",
"respiratory": "Air pollution can worsen respiratory pathologies such as asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis ...",
"elderly": "With age, the respiratory system can become weakened and pollution can exacerbate respiratory problems",
"cardiovascular": "Air pollution has been implicated in the development or aggravation of cardiovascular disease"
}
}

Final words

We covered a range of topics related to data and information. We discussed the differences between data and information, how data can be used to make decisions, and the importance of data quality. We also explored some common data formats, such as tables and JSON, and how to interpret the information they contain. Overall, we learned that data and information play crucial roles in many aspects of our lives, from business to health and beyond, and that it is important to understand how to collect, analyze, and interpret them effectively in order to make informed decisions.

Source

You can request access to the Meersens pollen current conditions API through the third party data marketplace of Worldindata. To gain access to this API, you will need to create an account on the Worldindata data marketplace website and navigate to the page for the Meersens pollen current conditions API. From there, you can follow the instructions to request access and obtain an API key, which will allow you to access the data.