Media Release
Udupi, Oct 14: Students of Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal, have developed ‘Smart WeatherNet’, a weather monitoring system designed to provide real-time information on local weather conditions, soil parameters and air quality.
The first weather station under the initiative was inaugurated at the SMVITM campus on October 11 by Sri Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swamiji of Sri Sode Vadiraja Matha. Dr Venkappayya Desai, director of IIT Dharwad, and Dr Rangaswamy, vice-chancellor of Davangere University, were present.
The system was developed by students Manikanta C H, Aditya Thunga K, Manish Kumar, Madan, Prathvish Kumar and Shashank S, with guidance from Dr Nagaraj Bhat, principal of SMVITM; Dr Sachin Bhat, dean (Research and Consultancy); and Dr David John Saldanha, assistant professor in the department of electronics and communication engineering.
Affordable technology for local weather monitoring
Conventional weather stations are expensive to establish, limiting their availability in many locations. Smart WeatherNet aims to address this challenge by developing relatively low-cost stations that can be installed across different areas to record location-specific weather conditions.
The system can monitor rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric pressure. It is also designed to collect agricultural data, including soil moisture, soil temperature, pH and soil conductivity, along with information on air pollutants.
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology enables the geographical location of each station to be identified, allowing the collected data to be linked to specific locations.
Plans for a weather station network across Udupi district
The initiative aims to establish additional weather stations across Udupi district, covering coastal, urban, rural and agricultural areas. Data from these stations would be integrated into a single platform, enabling comparisons of weather conditions across different locations.
The network is expected to help researchers understand local climatic variations, identify region-specific environmental characteristics and conduct studies based on long-term weather data.
Scope for AI-based weather forecasting
Data collected over an extended period could help analyse local weather patterns and seasonal variations. The information can also be combined with data from other weather sources for scientific research.
In future phases, the initiative could explore the development of weather forecasting models using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), with the aim of evaluating their effectiveness in improving local forecasts.
Promoting student innovation and research
Students were involved in various stages of the project, including identifying the problem, conducting technical studies, designing the system and developing the data collection mechanism. The project has provided them with an opportunity to apply classroom learning to a practical challenge.
The initiative also emphasises reliable data collection, information transmission and secure data storage, encouraging students to strengthen their technical skills and pursue research-oriented projects.
Benefits for agriculture and environmental studies
Reliable local weather and environmental data could support agricultural planning, water resource management and environmental research. The information may also help farmers, researchers and public institutions better understand local conditions and make decisions suited to regional needs.
Weather data available online
The public can access information collected through Smart WeatherNet at https://sode-edu.in/smvitm/weathernet/.
The online platform aims to make local weather information accessible to students, researchers, farmers, environmental enthusiasts and government institutions for academic activities, research and greater awareness of environmental conditions.