What is 3D-PAWS?
3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station) is an international initiative that enables the local construction of reliable, low-cost weather stations using 3D printing and commercially available sensors. Developed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the US National Weather Service International Activities Office (NWS IAO), with support from USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), 3D-PAWS addresses the challenges of limited weather observations in remote, rural, and underserved regions.
Goals of the 3D-PAWS initiative:
Expand Weather and Climate Observations: Increase the density of surface weather and environmental monitoring in rural, remote, and underserved regions by enabling the local construction and deployment of reliable, low-cost weather stations
Reduce Weather-Related Risks: Provide timely and accurate weather and hydrometeorological data to support early warning systems, regional decision support, and disaster risk reduction, especially in areas vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms
Empower Local Communities and Build Capacity: Facilitate local ownership, assembly, and maintenance of observation networks, allowing communities, schools, and agencies to sustainably manage their own data collection infrastructure
Promote Open Access and Innovation: Open-source robust designs, documentation, and software to encourage widespread adoption, adaptation, and innovation in environmental sensing and data collection
System Overview
A very high quality 3D-PAWS surface weather station can be manufactured in about a week, at a cost of only $300-500, using locally sourced materials, microsensor technology, low-cost micro-controllers or single board computers, and a 3D printer. 3D-PAWS sensors currently measure pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and visible/infrared/UV light. A range of options are available for data acquisition, data processing, and communications, including Arduino and Raspberry Pi based systems.
3D-printed wind speed anemometer and wind direction vane, tipping bucket rain gauge and radiation shield.
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