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Analysis: Use NREL instead of Esri for Charging Station layer? #80

Closed NicoledeGreef closed 1 year ago

NicoledeGreef commented 1 year ago

Open in MURAL image CleanBC JIRA to GH Integration - CITZ – BCDS – Data Systems and Services

michaelpnelson commented 1 year ago

Copied from our JIRA issue:

Instead of using the Esri-managed layer, we could instead use the source of the Esri data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Their data can be viewed in this station locator: Alternative Fuels Data Center: Alternative Fueling Station Locator

NREL has an API for finding charging stations ( https://developer.nrel.gov/docs/transportation/alt-fuel-stations-v1/all/ ) that can return several formats including GeoJSON, but it requires using an API key (API Key Usage | NREL: Developer Network ) This worked though ... https://developer.nrel.gov/api/alt-fuel-stations/v1.geojson?api_key=DEMO_KEY&access=public&fuel_type=ELEC&country=CA&state=BC

Proof of concept using captured JSON: Comparing main...nrel_layer · bcgov/smk-clean-bc

I’ve also confirmed I can use the API directly with the demo key, though we would want to get an API key of our own.

It looks like the points are identical.

Outcome

Using NREL data directly is a feasible alternative to using Esri’s hosted copy of the data. An API key is required for NREL’s API; if Clean BC chooses to use their data, we would ask them to acquire and maintain the key.

michaelpnelson commented 1 year ago

Hi @bethbyoung ! I wanted to mention something before our meeting next week. We did some analysis and found we can use NREL data directly for EV stations in Canada instead of Esri's layer, which we noticed isn't always updated accurately. If this sounds good to you, we suggest you get an API key for us to use in the app. There's more context and links in the previous comment on this issue, and the signup page is https://developer.nrel.gov/signup/.

bethbyoung commented 1 year ago

Hi Michael,

Here is my API key for the NREL data: on232zJ8pxzqnErmjt4JN4WckYBuTA0u5kYvh9yH

Thanks, Beth

michaelpnelson commented 1 year ago

Thanks, @bethbyoung ! I'll get this integrated soon and replace the Esri layer with the NREL layer ... possibly in time for tomorrow's meeting but most likely not.