Trail & Outdoor Recreation Hub - Database Schema

Overview

The Trail Hub database is designed to power a community-driven platform where outdoor enthusiasts can discover, share, and explore hiking trails together. Think of it as a social network meets GPS tracker meets trail guidebook - all rolled into one.

Database Schema Diagram

Entity Relationship Diagram showing all tables and their relationships

What This Database Does

The database structure supports six core features that make the Trail Hub special:

1. Trail Management - Store detailed trail information including GPS routes, difficulty levels, and elevation data
2. User Reviews - Let hikers share their experiences with ratings, trail conditions, and helpful tips
3. Points of Interest - Mark important spots like viewpoints, water sources, and campsites along trails
4. Photo Sharing - Upload and geotag photos to create visual trail guides
5. Hazard Reporting - Keep the community safe with real-time alerts about trail conditions
6. Trip Planning - Organize group hikes and connect with other outdoor enthusiasts

Technology Stack

I am using PostgreSQL with the PostGIS extension for spatial data. This means I can store actual GPS trails and perform geographic queries like "find all trails within 10 miles of me" or "which viewpoints are along this trail?"

Design Philosophy

The schema follows a few key principles:

• Keep it simple - I am focusing on essential features for the MVP
• Community first - Users can contribute trails, reviews, photos, and updates
• Safety matters - Hazard reporting and trail conditions are prominently featured
• Real-world ready - All spatial data uses standard GPS coordinates (WGS84/SRID 4326)

Database Tables

Core Tables

users

The heart of our community - everyone from casual day hikers to hardcore mountaineers

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key - unique identifier for each user
username	varchar(80)	Unique username for login (required, indexed for fast lookups)
email	varchar(120)	Email address (required, unique, indexed)
password_hash	varchar(255)	Securely hashed password (never store plain text!)
first_name	varchar(50)	User's first name (optional)
last_name	varchar(50)	User's last name (optional)
bio	text	Tell us about your hiking experience (optional)
avatar_url	varchar(500)	Profile picture stored in AWS S3
hiking_level	varchar(20)	Self-reported skill: beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert (defaults to beginner)
is_active	boolean	Is the account active? (defaults to true)
is_admin	boolean	Admin privileges for content moderation (defaults to false)
created_at	timestamp	When they joined our community
updated_at	timestamp	Last profile update

trails

The stars of the show - from easy nature walks to challenging summit attempts

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key - unique trail identifier
name	varchar(200)	Trail name like "Eagle Peak Trail" (required, indexed for search)
description	text	What makes this trail special? Wildlife, views, history, etc.
difficulty	varchar(20)	How tough is it? easy, moderate, hard, or expert (required)
length_km	float	Total distance in kilometers (required)
elevation_gain_m	float	Total climb in meters - helps gauge difficulty
geometry	geometry	The actual GPS trail route (PostGIS LINESTRING, required)
region	varchar(100)	General area like "Yosemite" or "Rocky Mountains"
parking_info	text	Where to park, fees, and tips
created_by	integer	User who added this trail (foreign key to users)
avg_rating	float	Average star rating (calculated from reviews, starts at 0)
total_reviews	integer	Number of reviews
created_at	timestamp	When the trail was added (indexed for "newest trails")
updated_at	timestamp	Last modification date

reviews

Real experiences from real hikers - the good, the muddy, and the breathtaking

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key
trail_id	integer	Which trail is being reviewed (foreign key, indexed)
user_id	integer	Who wrote this review (foreign key, indexed)
rating	integer	Star rating from 1 (awful) to 5 (amazing) - required
title	varchar(200)	Review headline like "Perfect Fall Hike!"
content	text	The full review story (required)
hiked_date	date	When they actually hiked it
weather_condition	varchar(50)	What was the weather? sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowy
trail_condition	varchar(50)	Trail status: excellent, good, muddy, icy, or poor
crowd_level	varchar(20)	How busy was it? empty, light, moderate, or crowded
helpful_count	integer	How many people found this helpful (starts at 0)
is_verified_hike	boolean	GPS verified they were actually there (defaults to false)
created_at	timestamp	When review was written (indexed for sorting)
updated_at	timestamp	Last edit timestamp

points_of_interest

The highlights along the way - because the journey matters as much as the destination

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key
trail_id	integer	Which trail this POI belongs to (foreign key, indexed)
name	varchar(200)	POI name like "Eagle's Nest Viewpoint" (required)
description	text	What's special about this spot?
type	varchar(50)	What kind of POI: viewpoint, waterfall, campsite, water_source, parking, warning, or junction (required)
location	geometry	Exact GPS coordinates (PostGIS POINT, required)
latitude	float	Latitude for quick access (required)
longitude	float	Longitude for quick access (required)
elevation_m	float	How high up is it?
distance_from_start_km	float	How far from the trailhead?
amenities	json	For campsites: {"toilets": true, "fire_rings": false, "bear_boxes": true}
seasonal_info	text	Notes like "Water source dries up in late summer"
is_verified	boolean	Has this been confirmed? (defaults to false)
created_by	integer	User who added this POI (foreign key)
created_at	timestamp	When it was added
updated_at	timestamp	Last update

photos

A picture's worth a thousand elevation gains - visual inspiration and trail documentation

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key
uuid	uuid	Unique identifier for S3 storage (auto-generated)
trail_id	integer	Which trail this photo belongs to (foreign key, indexed)
user_id	integer	Who took this amazing shot (foreign key)
poi_id	integer	Linked to a specific POI (optional foreign key)
original_url	varchar(500)	Full-resolution image in S3 (required)
thumbnail_url	varchar(500)	Small preview version
medium_url	varchar(500)	Web-optimized version
caption	text	Photo description or story
latitude	float	GPS latitude from EXIF or manual tagging
longitude	float	GPS longitude from EXIF or manual tagging
location_on_trail	geometry	Exact spot on trail (PostGIS POINT, optional)
taken_at	timestamp	When the photo was taken (from EXIF)
camera_make	varchar(100)	Camera brand (from EXIF)
camera_model	varchar(100)	Camera model (from EXIF)
likes_count	integer	How many likes (starts at 0)
is_featured	boolean	Admin-selected showcase photos (defaults to false)
uploaded_at	timestamp	When uploaded to Trail Hub (indexed for recent photos)

hazards

Keeping everyone safe - because conditions change and the community looks out for each other

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key
trail_id	integer	Which trail has the hazard (foreign key, indexed)
reported_by	integer	User who reported it (foreign key, required)
type	varchar(50)	Type of hazard: fallen_tree, flooding, wildlife, ice, rockfall, trail_damage, or closure (required)
severity	varchar(20)	How serious: low, medium, high, or extreme (required)
title	varchar(200)	Quick summary like "Large tree across trail at mile 2" (required)
description	text	Full details and suggested detours (required)
location	geometry	Exact hazard location (PostGIS POINT, required)
latitude	float	Latitude for quick display (required)
longitude	float	Longitude for quick display (required)
status	varchar(20)	Current status: active, monitoring, or resolved (defaults to active)
resolved_at	timestamp	When the hazard was cleared
resolved_by	integer	User who marked it resolved (foreign key)
resolution_notes	text	How it was resolved
expires_at	timestamp	Auto-expire date for temporary hazards
verified_by_admin	boolean	Admin confirmation for serious hazards (defaults to false)
reported_at	timestamp	When first reported (indexed for recent hazards)
updated_at	timestamp	Last status update

trip_plans

Bringing hikers together - because trails are better with friends

Column Name	Data Type	Details
id	integer	Primary key
trail_id	integer	Which trail we're hiking (foreign key)
organizer_id	integer	Who's organizing this adventure (foreign key)
title	varchar(200)	Trip name like "Sunrise Hike to Eagle Peak" (required)
description	text	What to expect, skill level needed, etc.
planned_date	date	When we're going (required, indexed for upcoming trips)
start_time	time	Meeting time (required)
estimated_end_time	time	When we expect to finish
meeting_point	varchar(200)	Where to meet - might differ from trailhead
meeting_point_location	geometry	GPS coordinates of meeting spot (PostGIS POINT)
meeting_lat	float	Meeting point latitude
meeting_lon	float	Meeting point longitude
max_participants	integer	Group size limit (defaults to 10)
difficulty_level	varchar(20)	Expected pace/difficulty
pace	varchar(20)	How fast we'll go: leisurely, moderate, or fast
requirements	json	What to bring: ["water", "lunch", "hiking boots", "headlamp"]
notes	text	Additional info like "Dog-friendly" or "Photography focus"
status	varchar(20)	Trip status: active, cancelled, or completed (defaults to active)
is_public	boolean	Open to everyone or private group? (defaults to true)
created_at	timestamp	When trip was posted
updated_at	timestamp	Last modification

Relationship Tables

trip_participants

Who's coming on the adventure?

Column Name	Data Type	Details
trip_plan_id	integer	Which trip (composite primary key with user_id)
user_id	integer	Which hiker (composite primary key with trip_plan_id)
status	varchar(20)	Their RSVP: pending, confirmed, or declined (defaults to pending)
joined_at	timestamp	When they signed up

favorite_trails

Your personal trail wishlist and hall of fame

Column Name	Data Type	Details
user_id	integer	Who favorited it (composite primary key)
trail_id	integer	Which trail they love (composite primary key)
favorited_at	timestamp	When they added it to favorites

hazard_photos

Visual documentation of trail hazards

Column Name	Data Type	Details
hazard_id	integer	Which hazard (composite primary key)
photo_id	integer	Which photo shows it (composite primary key)

Key Design Decisions

Why These Relationships?

• One user can create many trails - We're building a community-contributed database
• One trail has many reviews - Multiple perspectives make better trail guides
• One review per user per trail - Prevents spam and ensures authentic experiences
• Photos can link to POIs - "Here's what the viewpoint actually looks like!"
• Hazards have reporters and resolvers - Track who's helping keep trails safe
• Trip plans use many-to-many - Flexible group organization

Performance Considerations

I have added indexes on:

• Search fields (usernames, trail names) for quick lookups
• Foreign keys for efficient joins
• Timestamps for sorting by recent activity
• Spatial data automatically indexed by PostGIS for "near me" queries

Data Integrity

• Unique constraints prevent duplicate usernames and emails
• Foreign keys ensure data consistency (can't review a non-existent trail)
• Not null constraints on critical fields (every trail needs a name and route)
• Application-level validation for ratings (1-5) and status values