3 NAPMD Database Infrastructure

3.1 General overview

The National Air Pollution Monitoring Database is a single component within the CARDAT infrastructure. It consists of a schema (air_pollution_monitors) in a larger PostGIS database called PostGIS CAR and sits alongside of other geospatial data that can be used for modelling air pollution and health impact assessments.

PostGIS CAR Database

3.2 Table structure

The tables are structured into three types:

• Hourly data: There are individual hourly data tables by state and year which are incorporated into a single master table for hourly data.
• Daily data: There are individual daily data tables by state and year which are incorporated into a single master table for daily data.
• Station locations: There are individual station location tables by state, which are incorporated into a single master table for station locations.

The image below shows the basic relationship between the major tables.

NAPMD Database Structure

Note that individual station location tables hold additional columns that are not available via the master table.