Design of a tropical rain - Disaster alarm system: A new approach based on wireless sensor networks and acoustic rain rate measurements

• Main Authors: Libatique, Nathaniel Joseph C, Tangonan, Gregory L, Gustilo, R, Seah, W.K.G, Pineda, Cesar S, Guico, Maria Leonora, Abrajano, Gemalyn, Ching, R.H.N, Zamora, J.L.F, Espinosa, A, Valera, A.C, Lamac, R, Dy, H, Pusta, J, Trono, Edgar Marko, Gimpaya, A, San Luis, J.R, Gonzales, S.J, Lotho, A.T
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2009
• Subjects: Rain; Alarm systems; Wireless sensor networks; Acoustic measurements; Acoustic sensors; Acoustic testing; Hazards; Disaster management; Spine; Wireless networks; Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/ecce-faculty-pubs/52; https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5168663
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This paper discusses the design of a broadband wireless network infrastructure which itself is a rain measurement platform for applications such as disaster alarm and sudden hazard decision management systems. A sensor testbed is setup which consists of a hybrid broadband wireless network in conjunction with real-time acoustic rain rate point sensors and complementary rain gauges. The testbed simulates the commercial deployment of a line-of-sight wireless backbone (implemented via a 26 GHz line of sight link) and broadband wireless access network at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. Combined wireless signal fade, acoustic power and tipping bucket rain rate measurements over a several month span indicate the feasibility of using rain-induced attenuation and fade durations to trigger imminent-hazard alerts.