Abstract
This paper presents the recent results of the design of a novel acoustic rainfall sensing system that is low-cost, portable, and easily deployable, which makes use of the recorded sound produced by the impact of the raindrops on the sensor surface. The sensor design allows the gathering of acoustic signal power and sending it to a server after a specified time interval, either through SMS or mobile internet connection. It exists in a weather-proof, standard-conformant, standalone system with its own power supply and telemetric capabilities. These acoustic point sensors can gather rainfall data at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Such deployments can show the variations of rainfall intensities in sub-kilometer areas, particularly in the tropical regions. Since it is low-cost, it can also improve the density of rainfall measuring devices in an area. Moreover, the reliability is improved by providing near-real time data, as opposed to tipping buckets with manual data retrieval. The prototype sensor system was placed next to standard rain measuring devices and observed during the rainy season. The paper will discuss the design and deployment of the system, as well as initial results of data analysis and comparison with standard rain measuring devices.
Highlights
Intensities of rain events in tropical regions vary significantly in time and space
Checking of gathered acoustic rain sensor data, and validation of rain events through the records in the tipping buckets data loggers allowed the evaluation of performance of the sensor telemetry system; whereas the validation of tipping bucket logger data was done in reference to weather observation data
The decision to go with the implemented telemetry system stems from the need to come up with a way to integrate more readily available network service in the selected field deployment sites where Internet service through hardwired and wireless broadband access is limited or not present at all
Summary
Gathering precipitation data for these events currently makes use of rainfall estimates in place of gauge observations, even when spatial localization and sub-kilometer rain measurements are significant. For instance, captures precipitation data at 100’s of kilometers which cannot provide the resolution that tipping buckets or automatic weather stations can at sub-kilometer regions. Rain gauges in tropical countries are critical for facilitating the provision of an alarm or warning system for areas where phenomena such as flooding or landslide frequently occur. Placing these sensors at critical points detect if rain rates in high-risk areas - urban and rural, alike - are exceeding threshold levels.
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