Building the Weather Station

CHANGE UPDATE: We have adjusted the design to remove the swivels from the Anemometer, Light Sensor, and Wind Vane to prevent water intrusion and corrosion. Optional swivel rain covers are available.

Building the weather station involves constructing a sturdy frame using PVC pipes, fittings, and 3D printed parts, which provide a lightweight yet durable structure for housing the sensors and electronics. The station is mounted on a steel pole that has been securely set in concrete, ensuring stability and resistance to wind forces. This setup allows for easy installation of sensors like anemometers, rain gauges, and radiation shields, while the PVC frame facilitates cable management and access for maintenance.

Tutorial Videos

This video is part of a playlist that demonstrates building the 3D-PAWS station. You can toggle between videos using the list icon at the top right or by using the "fast forward" button at the bottom left.

Instruction Slides

Installation Checklist

The 3D-PAWS Installation Checklist is a companion document to the installation manual, intended to be used during field deployment. While the manual provides the full step-by-step procedure, this checklist serves as a quick, structured way to confirm that no tools, tasks, measurements, or configuration steps are missed as the station is assembled and brought online.

Technicians should keep the checklist on hand throughout installation and mark off items as they are completed. Using it alongside the manual helps ensure every station is installed consistently, all sensors are properly aligned and functioning, and required site metadata and final system checks are recorded before leaving the site.

Station Metadata

The 3D-PAWS Post-Installation Metadata Form is used to record essential information about each station following installation. It captures key details such as station identity, geographic coordinates, power configuration, communications setup, and sensor placement. This metadata ensures that all 3D-PAWS stations are documented consistently, allowing for reliable data interpretation, troubleshooting, and long-term network management.

Technicians should complete the form immediately after installation, including photographs, alignment notes, and power or communications verification. Accurate metadata supports future maintenance, calibration, and data validation by linking environmental observations to precise site conditions and installation parameters.

Why It Matters

Post-installation metadata is as important as the sensor data itself. Site conditions, instrument heights, alignment, and power/communications details directly affect how observations should be interpreted, compared, and quality-controlled across the network. Without this context, it becomes difficult to distinguish real environmental signals from installation-related biases or later site changes.

This form also supports station traceability and interoperability, including reporting to frameworks like WIS 2.0 through a WMO identifier. Consistent metadata makes each 3D-PAWS station reproducible, easier to maintain over time, and more valuable for shared research and operational datasets.