In 2023, I developed a universal scraping and logging system that allows seamless integration into virtually any environment – from robust enterprise applications to standard web platforms, including popular content management systems such as WordPress.
The core idea behind this solution stems from the need for automated retrieval and storage of information from publicly available sources, and, when authorized, from non-public sources as well. Thanks to its modular architecture, the system can be adapted to a wide range of scenarios without requiring complex modifications to existing infrastructure.
Practical Applications
This mechanism opens the door to a broad spectrum of use cases:
- Weather trend analysis – regularly downloading meteorological data from public APIs or web sources, storing it, and subsequently evaluating long-term patterns.
- Public transport vehicle tracking – collecting real-time data on the location of buses, trams, or trains, and displaying them on maps for passengers or internal logistics.
- Passenger information systems – integrating live data on delays, route changes, or service disruptions, and distributing this information instantly.
- Specialized enthusiast projects – automating the tracking of specific trains or vehicles, archiving movement history, and creating engaging visualizations based on the collected data.
Technical Advantages
- Modularity – each data source can be defined as a separate module, which can be added or removed at will.
- Platform independence – can operate as a standalone solution or as an integrated part of other systems, including CMS platforms like WordPress.
- Advanced logging – storage of historical data with options for export, filtering, and analysis.
- Flexible integration – support for both structured data from APIs and unstructured web content that requires scraping.
Benefits for Users and Projects
Thanks to its universal and open design, this solution can quickly adapt to new data sources, accommodate changing formats, and expand functionality with minimal effort. For businesses, this translates into lower development and maintenance costs; for non-profit projects or enthusiast communities, it offers an easy way to obtain and archive data that would otherwise remain inaccessible.
The result is a tool that combines technical robustness, flexibility, and practical usability – whether for business analytics, public information services, or purely enthusiast-driven projects.
