How to do it: For very specific, small datasets, design a simple survey using Google Forms. Share it within your immediate network (friends, family, local community groups, social media groups for Mohadevpur/Rajshahi if appropriate).
Time commitment: 2-5 hours (form creation, sharing, collecting initial responses).
Tools: Google Forms, Google Sheets (for data export).
Why it's free & fast: You directly control the data generation and collection dataset process. Good for qualitative or opinion-based data.
Example: Gathering opinions on local food preferences in Mohadevpur to build a basic recommendation system for local restaurants.
How to do it: Search image platforms for images released under Creative Commons or public domain licenses.
Where to find: Flickr (filter by license), Pixabay, Unsplash, Wikimedia Commons.
Time commitment: 4-8 hours (searching, downloading, light organizing).
Tools: Web browser, image viewer, potentially simple Python script for renaming/resizing/thumbnail generation.
Ethical considerations: Always check the license for each image. Ensure it permits your intended use (e.g., for machine learning training).
Example: Building a small dataset of common local flora or fauna found in Rajshahi Division for a simple image classifier.
Leverage Existing Spreadsheets / Manual Entry
How to do it: You might already have data lying around in personal spreadsheets from hobbies, small business records (ensure privacy!), or academic assignments. If not, consider manually inputting a small amount of highly relevant data. This is surprisingly effective for getting a feel for a dataset.
Time commitment: 1-4 hours (locating, cleaning, structuring).
Why it's free & fast: You control the data entirely, ensuring its relevance to your immediate needs.
Example: Analyzing your personal monthly expenses in BDT to build a simple budgeting model or tracking the daily sales of a small local shop for a basic forecasting project.