Data collection and estimation using an internet of things

A thing-sourcing project request including requirements for a thing-sourcing task that requires data input by a thing-sourcing device is received from a requestor device. A determination is made if real-time data is needed in order to complete the thing-sourcing task. In response to determining that real-time data is not needed, a determination is made if a similar thing-sourcing task has been previously completed. If not, the method determines if the thing-sourcing task can be completed using pre-existing data. If so, a data archive is searched for relevant pre-existing data that can be used to complete the thing-sourcing task. The thing-sourcing task is completed using the relevant pre-existing data, and a response to the thing-sourcing project request is transmitted to the requestor device.