A Comparative Study of Databases for Storing Sensor Data

Abstract: More than 800 Zettabytes of data is predicted to be generated per year by the Internet of Things by 2021. Storing this data necessitates highly scalable databases. Many different data storage solutions exist that specialize in specific use cases, and designing a system to accept arbitrary sensor data while remaining scalable presents a challenge.The problem was approached through a comparative study of six common databases, inspecting documented features and evaluations, followed by the construction of a prototype system. Elasticsearch was found to be the best suited data storage system for the specific use case presented in this report, and a flexible prototype system was designed. No single database was determined to be best suited for sensor data in general, but with more specific requirements and knowledge of future use, a decision could be made.