Data Modeling: Derived Data

Derived data is data created from collected data. Something like dew-point is a calculation based on temperature and humidity. This is a loose term, as almost every electronic sensor is derived data. A temperature sensor reports in Celsius, but the actual sensor is reading a voltage or resistance. Internally to the sensor there is some logic that is doing a conversion of the voltage to the temperature.

For practical purposes, source data is the data recorded from the sensor, and derived data is source data that has been post-processed after the data is collected from the sensor..

Critical to any data is the ability to validate where it came from and how it was processed.. The "participant" information on source data allows one to check the device information to know the details. Derived data should list the participant as "Derived" and explain the sources and formula or process in the meta-data or other documentation.