Overview of station assembly, power options, framing, and the step-by-step build sections for 3D-PAWS.
3D-PAWS setup with a soil moisture sensor deployed in the Dominican Republic.
Building the 3D-PAWS
The image above shows the current design of the 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station (3D-PAWS). A typical configuration includes the following sensors:
3-cup anemometer (wind speed)
Wind vane (wind direction)
Tipping bucket rain gauge (precipitation)
Temperature and relative humidity sensor
Atmospheric pressure sensor
Depending on the monitoring objectives, additional sensors can be added or existing sensors can be omitted.
Station Structure
The 3D-PAWS system is designed to be modular and adaptable, allowing it to be installed on a variety of mounting structures.
The current reference design uses PVC pipe framing, which is inexpensive, lightweight, and widely available. However, stations can also be constructed using:
aluminum framing
metal pipe
wood structures
The choice of structure typically depends on the deployment environment, available materials, and long-term durability requirements.
Electronics and Power
The data logger is housed in a waterproof enclosure mounted on the station frame.
Power for the system can be supplied using:
Commercial power (5V input), or
Solar power with battery storage
When using solar power, the required battery capacity and solar panel size depend on the deployment location and expected solar availability.
Assembly Instructions
The following sections provide step-by-step instructions for assembling the 3D-PAWS instruments and station components.
