Grafana

Guide to using Grafana with CHORDS to build dashboards, explore time-series data, and monitor 3D-PAWS observations.

Grafana is an open-source visualization tool that allows users to create dynamic dashboards for real-time data analysis. In the context of CHORDS (Cloud-Hosted Realtime Data Services for the Geosciences), Grafana provides a powerful platform to visualize data streams collected by instruments like 3D-PAWS.

How Grafana Works with CHORDS

1. Integration with CHORDS: Grafana is implemented as a separate web server running as a Docker container within the CHORDS infrastructure. It connects directly to the CHORDS InfluxDB database, enabling responsive and customizable visualizations.

2. Creating Dashboards:

   • Users can configure Grafana to query data from the CHORDS database.

   • Dashboards are built using panels, which graphically represent query results. Panels can display data as time-series graphs, gauges, heatmaps, tables, and more.

   • Grafana offers extensive customization options, such as applying colors based on thresholds or using specific visualization types to suit different datasets.

3. Visualization Process:

   • Access the Grafana interface via the "Visualization" link on the CHORDS portal.

   • Configure queries to fetch data from specific instruments or sites in CHORDS.

   • Design dashboards to display real-time weather data or other geoscience metrics with tools like time navigation and alerts.

Grafana's integration with CHORDS enables scientists to decode complex datasets and monitor geophysical phenomena effectively, making it an essential tool for real-time geoscience research.

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Video for copying a dashboard

Helpful Links for Building Your First Grafana Dashboard and Panels

Here are some helpful resources to guide you as you build your first dashboard and learn more about Grafana’s panel options and visualization features:

• Grafana Docs – Build Your First Dashboard Step-by-step guide to create your first dashboard, add panels, and start visualizing real-time data.

• Grafana Docs – Panels & Visualizations Learn about the various types of panels and visualizations Grafana offers, including customization options.

• Grafana YouTube Channel Official Grafana video content, including tutorials, feature guides, and user stories.

• Grafana YouTube – Visualizations Tutorial A great visual tutorial on using and customizing Grafana visualizations.

These resources can help you get started more quickly and make the most of your 3D-PAWS and CHORDS data using Grafana.