diff --git a/src/utils/observation-chart.js b/src/utils/observation-chart.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e2f3870
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/observation-chart.js
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import React, {Fragment, useState, useEffect} from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+// define the properties of this component
+ObservationChart.propTypes = {
+  dataUrl: PropTypes.string
+};
+
+/**
+ * converts CSV data to json format
+ *
+ * @param csvData
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function csvToJSON(csvData) {
+    // ensure that there is csv data to convert
+    if (csvData !== "") {
+        // split on carriage returns
+        const lines = csvData.split("\n");
+
+        // init the result
+        const ret_val = [];
+
+        // get the first line (data header)
+        const dataHeader = lines[0].split(",");
+
+        // loop through the rest of the data
+        for (let i = 1; i < lines.length; i++) {
+            // split the line on commas
+            const currentLine = lines[i].split(",");
+
+            // init the converted data
+            const jsonObj = {};
+
+            // loop through the data and get name/vale pairs in json format
+            for (let j = 0; j < dataHeader.length; j++) {
+                // save the data
+                jsonObj[dataHeader[j]] = currentLine[j];
+            }
+
+            // add the data to the return
+            ret_val.push(jsonObj);
+        }
+
+        // TODO: return the data as a json string (for now)
+        return JSON.stringify(ret_val); // Returns JSON string
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * renders the observations as a chart
+ *
+ * @param dataUrl
+ * @returns {JSX.Element}
+ * @constructor
+ */
+export default function ObservationChart(dataUrl) {
+    // store the items in state
+    const [stationObs, setStationObs] = useState("");
+
+    // get the data
+    useEffect( () => {
+        const fetchData = () => {
+            return fetch(dataUrl.dataUrl)
+                .then(res => {
+                    return res.text();
+                })
+                .then(data => {
+                    setStationObs(csvToJSON(data));
+                    console.log(JSON.stringify(data));
+                })
+                .catch(err => {
+                    console.log(err);
+                });
+        };
+
+        fetchData().then();
+    }, [dataUrl]);
+
+    // render the chart.
+    return (
+        <Fragment>
+            {stationObs}
+        </Fragment>
+    );
+};
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