Dominican Republic to Install 3D Printed Weather Stations

The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), in collaboration with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC), is developing a project for low-cost, 3D-printed, automatic weather stations. The initiative, which has an investment of $250,000, aims to strengthen the country’s early warning systems and expand the hydrometeorological monitoring network in a sustainable and accessible way.

The project, named 3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations), was launched in 2013 and has become an efficient alternative for climate monitoring. The main contribution of 3D-PAWS is its stations, made with 3D printers and commercially available sensors. This makes the equipment low-cost, durable, and easy to maintain. Additionally, it allows local meteorological agencies to print and replace damaged components. Its applications range from regional forecasting to agricultural management and tracking climate-related diseases.

The 3D printed weather station, along with its mockup design. (Credits: 3D-PAWS)

In the Dominican Republic, the project is entering its third phase with the installation of stations in the Yaque del Norte River basin, the country’s most important due to its size and social, economic, and environmental impact. Five Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), four rain gauges, two flow meters, one tide gauge, and soil stations with temperature and humidity sensors will be installed there. The collected data will strengthen the country’s capacity to monitor and respond to extreme events.