Chapter Two

2.1 Literature review (Background)

This chapter discusses fundamentals for the development of the prototypical
weather station. It provides general information about climatic
measurements and educational standards in IRAQ. Open-Source has become
a popular expression, but mostly with regard to software. The principles and
definitions of Open-Source Hardware (OSHW) are closely related to those
of Open-Source Software (OSS) from the Open Source Initiative [4, 5].
Interested people can study, modify, distribute, make and sell designs based
on those of OSHW products [6]. Through open development, people get the
possibility to learn and understand how OSHW works, so that they are able
to control and modify their technology. Machines, devices, or other physical
things produced under the OSHW license must comply to the definitions of
the Open Source Hardware Association [4]. Arduino is a prototyping
platform containing a microcontroller board (MC) as core element, a
programming language and an integrated development environment (IDE)
[7]. OSHW MCs from Arduino are based on ATmega8, ATmega168 and
latest boards on ATmega2560. They can be used to develop interactive
prototypes, which are using input from sensors to control output devices
connected to the same board. The capabilities of the MCs allow several
methods for in- and outputs of signals.

The simplified IDE with a wire-based programming language also allows

beginners to realize complex projects in short time. Documentation of the
IDE and the language reference can be found on the Arduino homepage [8].
All code samples are released into the public domain. Additionally, the
language can be extended with C++ libraries to enable more functionality.
3
All official software tools from Arduino are published under the OSS license
and are platform-independent. The well documented Arduino hard- and
software makes it even possible to rebuild MCs by oneself [9]. However,
pre-assembled Arduino boards are relatively inexpensive compared to other
commercial MC platforms available on the market.

Cloud Based weather monitoring systems are classified based on technology

used as 1) WSN, 2) Satellite, 3) Microcontroller, and 4) Arduino, 5) GSM,
6) Radar, 7) Zigbee, 8) Prediction based system, (9) Sensor Based System,
and (10) Camera Based System.

2.2 Classification of monitoring weather station types

2.2.1 Wireless Sensor Network Based System Wireless Sensor Networks

(WSNs)

Includes various sensors distributed spatially with the capacity of

communication, processing and computing. The data is sensed and
transmitted to the base-station regularly. Here, in real time manner, data is
processed and managed. One proposed framework [2] conquers the above
restriction by organization of WSN base for different climate advance
utilizing virtual sensor and overlay idea. Checking climate information and
giving SaaS and interpersonal organization cataclysm cautions in light of
choice ID3 system and give cloud validation utilizing secure shell. Similar
work [3] gives a conditional summary on WSN with Internet of bothers
based on PARASENSE plan. A good arrangement is made for sending
continuous applications and for conveying it.

4
2.2.2 Satellite Based System Satellite

Information is progressively being utilized as a part of conjunction with

routine meteorological perceptions in the concise investigation and
traditional climate gauge to concentrate data [4].CanSat [5] is a scale
reproduction of the outline, creation and dispatch of a genuine satellite. It is
described by minimal effort of usage. Climate observing is the utilization of
science and innovation to foresee the condition of the climate for a given
area. The CanSat assembled can be dispatched and used to monitor
neighborhood climate for a range, in a sparing way. Authors have explained
on our work on this paper. In this study, the climate satellite is a kind of
satellite that is basically used to screen the climate and atmosphere of the
Earth. Weather satellite pictures are always helpful in checking the volcanic
powder cloud [6].

2.2.3 Microcontroller Based System

The basic point of a work based on microcontroller [7] is to manufacture an

implanted framework to plan an air checking framework which empowers
the saw of climate parameters in an industry. This type of work includes
different sensors like Gas sensors, temperature sensors, and dampness
sensors which were observed with the use of (ARM-LPC1768)
microcontrollers. The following framework utilizes a complex circuit
developed with ARM 9 processor. Embedded C programming is used.
Scheduling is done with the use of JTAG in association with ARM 9
processor.

5
2.3 Climatic Observations

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) developed several

standards for climatic observations [10]. The most important aspects are
selection of sites, installation and calibration of the station and data
interpretation [11]. They are meant as basis for an international exchange of
climatic data and weather observations. National weather services in Iraq
have to build up their weather stations according to those guidelines to keep
their data (inter-)national comparable. However, the WMO standards are
more guidelines than rules because some environments make it impossible
to stick to them [12]. Especially for surface observations in urban areas,
standards cannot completely be met because climatic variables are varying
over very short distances in populated areas [13]. The purpose of an
observation has to be considered when finding appropriate solutions for
measuring climatic values in a city [10].

2.4 Automated Weather Stations

Automated weather stations (AWSs) are meteorological stations, which

perform climatic observations and data transmission automatically [14].
Main advantages compared to human weather observations are, that
measurements, read out by a central data-acquisition unit, are more reliable
and can be performed much more frequently. Sensors of an AWS are
operated by a microprocessor. It allows exact sampling of sensor data and
processing for averaging or filtering of the samples (according to the WMO
standards in [11]). The result will be a series of observations which are
representative over a limited area.

6
Computer Science Educational standards for Computer Science are divided
into content- and process competences like the following [17]:
Content Process

 Information and data  Modeling and implementing

 Algorithms  Establish and evaluate
 Languages and automats  Structuring and networking
 Computer systems  Communicate and cooperate
 Informatics, people and society  Representing and interpreting

The work with the Arduino platform allows enhancement of abilities on both
categories. Obviously, algorithms for processing observations, derived from
sensor samples, are containing the work with different data types and
operators. This as well as methods of hardware communication, which are
part of the project, will also exercise the content competences. Moreover,
pupils have to collaborate to construct and program the station. Furthermore,
evaluating and analyzing the station's data is suitable to exercise process
competences.

Physics
Four areas of competences are defined as required basic knowledge for
Physics in intermediate school [18]:
 Knowledge specific to the subject

 Gathering information/ methods

 Communication
 Evaluation
The fundamentals of meteorology and physic of the atmosphere should be
discussed in Physics school lessons. As this is not part of the original lesson
plans, it can be done as alternative to thermodynamics. It helps to see and
understand natural phenomena according to the first area of competence. A
concept for integrating meteorology in Physics class can be found in [19]. It

7
includes temperature analysis, dynamics in air pressure, types of humidity
and reactions in the atmosphere. Obviously, the main task of the weather
station is to measure climatic variables. In doing so, averaged values have to
be stored on the device. These values are used to provide observations of the
current state of the weather. Sampling procedure and logging functions have
to be coordinated by the MC and have to be as accurate as possible.
Understanding about the sensors is crucial to achieve representative
observations.
Requirement 1: Representative observation has to be stated by the station.
The prototypical Weather Sense Box is the basis for future projects. It
should not be a single, but a long term project which can be extended in
future. Because of that, it should be adaptable to further sensor setups (e.g.
for air quality measurement) so that an investment in the new system is more
profitable for the colleges.

Requirement 2: Reserve resources for further sensor upgrades.

Receiving observations from the sensor readings in highest precision is not
an aim of the Weather Sense Box. Nevertheless, it is important to measure
accurate enough to display the current weather. Therefore, the hardware
setup and the implemented software have to be tested and evaluated to
ensure correctness of the displayed observations.

Requirement 3: Sensor calibration and hardware setup has to be tested and

evaluated.