Calibration and validation of low cost IoT weather sensors for localized microclimate monitoring in Uganda.
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2026-09-15
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The current weather monitoring infrastructure in Uganda is sparsely distributed, and data collection is mainly manual with limited connection to GTS. This study focuses on the design, calibration, and validation of low-cost, IoT-based weather sensors interfaced with an ESP32-S3 microcontroller. The sensors measure key environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, pressure and wind direction and transmit readings to a cloud-based web server via the ThingSpeak IoT platform. The system aims to provide sustainable, real-time weather data that can enhance localized microclimate modelling in Uganda. Data were collected at 15-second intervals from June to July 2026 and validated against the co-located Trans-African Hydro Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) reference station measurements. A comprehensive data preprocessing pipeline was implemented in MATLAB, following the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM) Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). The pipeline performs column standardization, outlier detection using the Interquartile Range (IQR) method, missing-value filling, temporal alignment, and systematic uncertainty quantification. Error propagation analysis was carried out for all derived meteorological quantities, including heat index and dew point temperature. The system integrates renewable energy principles, a solar panel and battery pack with IoT technology for off-grid, real-time monitoring, making it suitable for resource-limited environments. Results demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost IoT sensors for localized microclimate monitoring and highlight the importance of rigorous calibration and uncertainty analysis for scientific and agricultural applications in Uganda.
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Opio, G. M. (2026). Calibration and validation of low cost IoT weather sensors for localized microclimate monitoring in Uganda. [Unpublished dissertation]. Busitema University.