Data Services In Oakland CA At NW Database Services

What Is Unstructured Data?

Unstructured data, also known as “big data” or “raw data”, is data that doesn’t have a predetermined format or model. It is usually large in volume, heavy in text, and stored in its native format, known as data lakes. Unstructured data is difficult to secure and requires large amounts of storage space. It’s also much more difficult for computers and humans to understand because it isn’t stored in relational database.

Unstructured data can be in many formats. Images, audio, video and spreadsheets are just a few examples of unstructured data. Structured versus unstructured data can be seen in real life as the date and the time of an email (structured) and the content of the email (unstructured). The first is easier to understand, store in databases, and extract meaning from. Although the latter can be also parsed, it is more difficult to make sense of than just storing it in an orderly manner.

It is impossible to analyze unstructured data if there aren’t clear parameters or encoding. Normally, it takes several rounds of data manipulation and parsing (commonly using Machine Learning algorithms). It may require additional skills depending on the data. Data cleaning is required to remove errors and ‘noise from data. Natural language processing is also needed in order to extract semantics from written texts. Computer vision is used to make sense of images and videos. Sometimes, even after these tasks are completed, it takes a lot more work to make the data meaningful.

Unstructured data can be considered quantitative because it is often text-heavy and not numeric. It may contain numbers, but these are used to classify information. The majority of enterprise data is unstructured. Here is where the real work begins.

What Is Semi-Structured Data?

Semi-structured data is a growing trend that should be noted alongside unstructured and structured data. Semi-structured data is not like unstructured data. They are not compatible with the tabular format of relational databases. It does however contain markers that distinguish the different components of the data. It is semi-structured because it contains an inherent hierarchy.

Semi-structured data has become more common in the digital age. It is often generated by online apps, object-oriented database, email clients, and file format like JSON (designed for human-readable).

It is much easier to work with semi-structured data than unstructured data, which is the main point. This saves time in organizing and parsing large amounts of unstructured data. The creation of new models is much easier with the tagged elements. They also reduce the chance of errors when translating data between formats.

Northwest Database Services has 34+ years experience with all types of data services, including mail presorts, NCOA, and data deduplication. If your database systems are not returning poor data, it is definitely time for you to consult with a data services specialist. We have experience with large and small data sets. Often, data requires extensive manipulation to remove corrupt data and restore the database to proper functionality. Call us at (360)841-8168 for a consultation and get the process of data cleaning started as soon as possible.

NW Database Services
404 Insel Rd
Woodland WA 98674
(360)841-8168

Oakland is one of the largest cities in the East Bay region of the SFB area and a major west coast port city. Oakland and San Francisco are just 20 minutes apart from each other, but they are quite different from each other. Oakland has a rich history, taste, and its very own social movements. It is a great place to settle down in, surrounded by natural beauty. The city is also known for its prominence in business as it is seeing a high level of growth. People are moving here from the surrounding areas due to its luxury housing options and improved infrastructure.

History

The Costanoan Indians inhabited Oakland for centuries due to the abundance of water in the area. In the early 1770s, the Spanish explored the area and were the first white men to visit the area. After the area of California was taken over by the United States after the Mexican War. After it became a state, mineral mining became quite common, which turned into gold mining when it was discovered in 1848. People started to settle down here, and it led to the formation of a local government. The town was announced as a city in 1854. Being close to San Francisco, Oakland flourished with local businesses. As time went by, Oakland became a major port in the country.

Climate

Oakland has a sunny and warm climate with low humidity. You can expect warm and dry summers along with cool and wet winters. During the summers, the warmest month is September, with an average temperature between 74°F and 54°F. January is the coolest month, with an average temperature ranging between 58°F and 44°F.

Demographics

Oakland is proud of its local community and the diversity within its community. 29% of the total population are Caucasian, 27% are Hispanic, and 24% are African-Americans, while Asians comprise 14% of the total population. The city offers a refreshing urban-suburban feel which is quite different from the neighboring cities. A lot of young professionals and families with kids prefer to live in Oakland because of its liberal and progressive community.

Transportation

Oakland is a big city, and plenty of local transportation options are available to get you around the city. The AC Transit buses and BART trains can take you anywhere within the city or to nearby areas. You can also use any of the ride-sharing apps to go anywhere in Oakland where the buses and the trains do not ply. Many people prefer to bike as Oakland is a very bikeable city with plenty of bike lanes. Another great way to get to places is whizzing on a scooter. With such unique and easy transportation available in Oakland, getting around the city could not be any easier.

Top Businesses

Oakland’s economy is strong and thriving, with excellent job opportunities in different fields. Oakland port is the fifth busiest port by cargo volume in the US, and most jobs are directly and indirectly related to marine cargo transport directly and indirectly. Other major corporations that are based out of Oakland include Ask.com, Matson, and Clorox. Other top employers in the area include Dreyer’s Ice Cream, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, Almeda County, the City of Oakland, and the Oakland Unified School district.

Oakland CA Map