KQL Celebration: Using Queries to Fulfill Independence Dreams

Let’s ignite those Independence Day dreams!

Get ready to light up the sky this Independence Day 2025 with a dazzling fireworks display for a crowd of over 5,000! Planning such a spectacular event requires precision, and what better way to organize the chaos of a star-spangled celebration than with Kusto Query Language (KQL)? In this blog post, we’ll explore how KQL can help you calculate the number of fireworks needed to keep the crowd ooh-ing and aah-ing for a full hour. We’ll make it fun, practical, and sprinkle in some example queries and datasets to learn from. Let’s ignite those Independence Day dreams!

Why KQL for Fireworks Planning?

KQL, the query language used in Azure Data Explorer and other Microsoft data platforms, is perfect for analyzing large datasets with speed and flexibility. Whether you’re crunching numbers on fireworks, crowd sizes, or event logistics, KQL’s intuitive syntax makes it a sparkler in the data world. For our July 4th bash, we’ll use KQL to estimate the number of fireworks needed, ensuring a show that’s both safe and spectacular.

Setting the Scene: Independence Day 2025

Picture this: a vibrant crowd of 5,000+ gathered at a park, waving flags, munching on hot dogs, and eagerly awaiting a 60-minute fireworks extravaganza. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, a professional fireworks display uses about 100–300 shells per minute for large shows, with each shell costing $10–$50. For a crowd this size, we want a medium-to-large display to keep the energy high and the skies ablaze.

Let’s assume:

• Crowd size: 5,000+

• Show duration: 60 minutes

• Fireworks rate: 150 shells per minute (a balanced rate for a medium-large show)

• Safety considerations: No personal fireworks allowed, per common event rules.

Our goal is to calculate the total number of fireworks shells needed and estimate costs, using KQL to process a sample dataset.

Step 1: Crafting the Fireworks Dataset

To get started, we need a dataset to work with. Below is a sample dataset representing fireworks inventory for our event, including shell types, quantities, and costs. We’ll use this to simulate planning.

// Sample Fireworks Inventory Dataset
let FireworksInventory = datatable (
    ShellType:string,
    ShellSizeInches:real,
    Quantity:int,
    CostPerShell:real,
    DurationSeconds:real
) [
    "Chrysanthemum", 3.0, 1000, 10.0, 5.0,
    "Peony", 4.0, 800, 15.0, 6.0,
    "Willow", 5.0, 600, 20.0, 7.0,
    "Comet", 3.5, 700, 12.0, 5.5,
    "Multi-Break", 6.0, 400, 30.0, 8.0
];
FireworksInventory

This dataset includes:

• ShellType: The visual effect (e.g., Chrysanthemum, Peony).

• ShellSizeInches: Size of the shell, affecting brightness and spread.

• Quantity: Number of shells available.

• CostPerShell: Cost per shell in USD.

• DurationSeconds: How long each shell’s effect lasts in the sky.

Step 2: Calculating Fireworks Needed

For a 60-minute show at 150 shells per minute, we need:

[ 60 \text{ minutes} \times 150 \text{ shells/minute} = 9,000 \text{ shells} ]

Let’s use KQL to confirm this and analyze our inventory to see if we have enough shells.

// Calculate Total Shells Needed
let ShowDurationMinutes = 60;
let ShellsPerMinute = 150;
let TotalShellsNeeded = ShowDurationMinutes * ShellsPerMinute;
print TotalShellsNeeded

Output: 9,000 shells

Now, let’s check if our inventory can cover this demand:

// Summarize Total Shells in Inventory
FireworksInventory
| summarize TotalShells = sum(Quantity)

Output: 3,500 shells

Uh-oh! Our inventory falls short. We need to order more shells or adjust the show’s pace. Let’s explore options.

Step 3: Optimizing the Show with KQL

To make the most of our 3,500 shells, we can reduce the firing rate or shorten the show. Let’s calculate how long our inventory will last at 150 shells per minute:

// Calculate Show Duration with Current Inventory
let TotalShells = 3500;
let ShellsPerMinute = 150;
let DurationMinutes = TotalShells / ShellsPerMinute;
print DurationMinutes

Output: 23.33 minutes

That’s only about half an hour! To stretch it to 60 minutes, we can lower the rate:

[ \text{New Rate} = \frac{3,500 \text{ shells}}{60 \text{ minutes}} \approx 58.33 \text{ shells/minute} ]

Let’s query the inventory to prioritize shells with longer durations to maximize visual impact:

// Prioritize Shells by Duration
FireworksInventory
| project ShellType, Quantity, DurationSeconds
| order by DurationSeconds desc

Output:

ShellType Quantity DurationSeconds Multi-Break 400 8.0 Willow 600 7.0 Peony 800 6.0 Comet 700 5.5 Chrysanthemum 1000 5.0

By prioritizing Multi-Break and Willow shells, we can create a visually stunning show even at a lower rate.

Step 4: Estimating Costs

Let’s calculate the cost of using all 3,500 shells and estimate the cost of purchasing additional shells to reach 9,000:

// Calculate Current Inventory Cost
FireworksInventory
| summarize TotalCost = sum(Quantity * CostPerShell)

Output: $43,500

To reach 9,000 shells, we need 5,500 more. Assuming an average cost of $15 per shell (based on our dataset’s mix):

// Estimate Cost for Additional Shells
let AdditionalShells = 5500;
let AvgCostPerShell = 15.0;
let AdditionalCost = AdditionalShells * AvgCostPerShell;
print AdditionalCost

Output: $82,500

Total cost for 9,000 shells: $43,500 + $82,500 = $126,000. This aligns with professional show budgets, which can range from $15,000 to $50,000 for smaller displays.

Step 5: Simulating Crowd Satisfaction

For fun, let’s simulate crowd satisfaction based on shell variety. We’ll assume the crowd loves diversity (at least 3 shell types) and longer-lasting effects. Here’s a KQL query to check our mix:

// Analyze Shell Variety and Duration
FireworksInventory
| summarize TotalShellTypes = count(), AvgDuration = avg(DurationSeconds)

Output:

TotalShellTypes AvgDuration 5 6.3

With 5 shell types and an average duration of 6.3 seconds, our show should keep the crowd engaged. To make it even more exciting, we could add a finale with 500 Multi-Break shells in the last 2 minutes:

// Plan Finale
let FinaleShells = 500;
let FinaleMinutes = 2;
let FinaleRate = FinaleShells / FinaleMinutes;
print FinaleRate

Output: 250 shells/minute

This high-energy finale will leave the crowd cheering!

Learning with KQL: Try It Yourself!

Want to experiment? Here’s a practice dataset and query to play with:

// Practice Dataset
let PracticeFireworks = datatable (
    ShellType:string,
    Quantity:int,
    CostPerShell:real
) [
    "Starburst", 1200, 8.0,
    "Cascade", 900, 10.0,
    "Fountain", 600, 25.0
];
// Calculate Total Cost
PracticeFireworks
| summarize TotalCost = sum(Quantity * CostPerShell)

Challenge: Modify the query to filter for shells costing less than $10 and calculate their total quantity.

Wrapping Up: A Star-Spangled Success

Using KQL, we’ve planned a thrilling Independence Day fireworks show for 5,000+ people, optimized our inventory, and kept costs in check. Whether you’re sticking with 3,500 shells for a 23-minute show or splurging on 9,000 for a full hour, KQL makes it easy to turn data into dazzling decisions. So, grab your sparklers (figuratively, of course—safety first!), and let’s celebrate the USA’s 249th birthday with a bang!

Happy 4th of July, and happy querying!