using real time web for map api

I plan to do a master thesis on a map api showing performances of a simulated network of wind turbines located across a map(maybe using snmp polling mibs ,ems etc). I was planning on doing a case study on the different web services/apis like REST, soap, JSON-rpc, OSLC etc that could be tested and determine which would best suite this system. But i was wondering if i should instead be looking at Real time web protocols. the system only needs to update in near real time, but immediate updates wouldn't be a bad thing of course. Is using real time web alot more expensive/difficult to use, or should just using web API's/services that i have mentioned above be suffice for a college project?

Any help would be very much appreciated!!!