{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T21:15:06Z","timestamp":1760217306851,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,9]],"date-time":"2015-03-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1425859200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JSAN"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sub-Saharan Africa contains the highest number of people affected by droughts. Although this can easily be mitigated through the provision of timely, reliable and relevant weather forecasts, the sparse network of weather stations in most of these countries makes this difficult. Rapid development in wireless sensor networks has resulted in weatherboards capable of capturing weather parameters at the micro-level. Although these weatherboards offer a viable solution to Africa\u2019s drought, the acceptability of such data by meteorologists is only possible if these sensors are calibrated and their field readiness scientifically evaluated. This is the contribution of this paper; we present results of a calibration exercise that was carried out to: (1) measure and correct lag, random and systematic errors; (2) determine if Perspex was an ideal material for building sensor boards\u2019 enclosures; and (3) identify sensor boards\u2019 battery charging and depletion rates. The result is a calibration report detailing actual error and uncertainty values for atmospheric pressure, humidity and temperature sensors, as well as the recharge and discharge curves of the batteries. The results further ruled out the use of Perspex for enclosing the sensor boards. These experiments pave the way for the design and implementation of a sensor-based weather monitoring system (SenseWeather) that was piloted in two regions in Kenya.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jsan4010030","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,9]],"date-time":"2015-03-09T11:47:19Z","timestamp":1425901639000},"page":"30-49","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["A Calibration Report for Wireless Sensor-Based Weatherboards"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Muthoni","family":"Masinde","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Central University of Technology\u2014Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein 9300,  Republic of South Africa"}]},{"given":"Antoine","family":"Bagula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, Republic of South Africa"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Armstrong, S., Mark, C., Randolph, K., and Dan, M. (2013). World Disasters Report\u2014Focus on Hunger and Malnutrition, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Patt\n              A.G.\n            \n            \n              Jordan\n              W.\n            \n          \n          Applying Climate Information in Africa; An Assessment of Current Knowledge\n          Available online:http:\/\/www.iiasa.ac.at\/Publications\/Documents\/XO-07-006.pdf\n          (accessed on 2 February 2015)\n\t\t  \n\t\t  Written in Support of NOAA, Boston University and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Finlay, A., and Adera, E. (2012). Application of ICTs for Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector: Developing Country Experiences and Emerging Research Priorities. APC, IDRC, CRDI, Association for Progressive Communication (APC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Abdoulie, J., John, Z., and Alpha, K. (2006). Climate Information for Development Needs: An Action Plan for Africa\u2014Report and Implementation Strategy, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"EAC, S. Enhancing Capacities of the Meteorological Services in Support of Sustainable Development in the East African Community Region Focusing on Data Processing and Forecasting Systems. Available online:http:\/\/www.eac.int."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1080\/19474199.2012.683444","article-title":"ITIKI: Bridge between African indigenous knowledge and modern science of drought prediction","volume":"7","author":"Masinde","year":"2012","journal-title":"Knowl. Manag. Dev. J."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Libelium, Comunicaciones Distribuidas, S.L. Agriculture Board Technical Guide. Available online:http:\/\/www.libelium.com."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Plummer, N., Terry, A., and Jos\u00e9, A.L. (2003). Guidelines on Climate Observation Networks and Systems, World Meteorological Organization."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Manual on the Global Observing System: Volume I (Annex V to the WMO Technical Regulations), World Meteorological Organisation."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Jarraud, M. (2008). Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation (WMO-No. 8), World Meteorological Organisation."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"103","article-title":"On Absolute Measurement","volume":"77","author":"Eisenhart","year":"1953","journal-title":"The Sci. Mon."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.6028\/jres.106.014","article-title":"A careful consideration of the calibration concept","volume":"106","author":"Phillips","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Res. National Inst. Stand. Technol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Masinde, M. (2015). An innovative drought early warning system for sub-Saharan Africa: Integrating modern and indigenous approaches. Afr. J. Sci. Technol. Innov. Dev., 7.","DOI":"10.1080\/20421338.2014.971558"},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"(2014). Guidelines for National Meteorological Services in the Establishment of National Climate Services, World Meteorological Organisation."}],"container-title":["Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2224-2708\/4\/1\/30\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T20:43:15Z","timestamp":1760215395000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2224-2708\/4\/1\/30"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,9]]},"references-count":14,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,3]]}},"alternative-id":["jsan4010030"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jsan4010030","relation":{},"ISSN":["2224-2708"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2224-2708"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,9]]}}}