India Advances Urban Forecasting with 3D Printed Weather Stations

Why the development matters

India Advances Urban Forecasting with 3D Printed Weather Stations: India has achieved a significant technological milestone with the development of 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations (AWS). These stations are designed to strengthen last-mile weather observations, particularly in densely populated urban areas. The initiative reflects India’s growing focus on indigenous scientific innovation.

The first set of these stations will be installed in Delhi from February 2026, marking the beginning of a new phase in city-level weather monitoring. Dense data availability is crucial for accurate short-term forecasts and extreme weather warnings.

Role of Indian scientific institutions

The project has been developed by scientists led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. IITM functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and plays a central role in India’s atmospheric and climate research ecosystem.

Static GK fact: IITM was established in 1962 and serves as a premier research institute for monsoon dynamics, climate variability, and weather modelling in India.

Features of the new weather stations

The newly developed Automatic Weather Stations are fully manufactured within India using 3D-printing technology. This approach allows faster production cycles and region-specific customization.

Each station automatically records temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall. The data is transmitted in real time without the need for manual observation. The stations are also solar-powered, reducing operational and maintenance costs significantly.

Mission Mausam as the umbrella programme

The initiative is part of Mission Mausam, a national weather modernisation programme. The mission has a financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore and aims to upgrade India’s observation, forecasting, and climate service infrastructure.

Urban meteorology forms a critical pillar of the mission. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are prioritised due to increasing climate-related risks such as heatwaves, intense rainfall, and urban flooding.

Importance of 3D printing in meteorology

The adoption of 3D printing introduces flexibility and efficiency in scientific equipment manufacturing. Complex components can be produced with high precision and at lower cost. This reduces dependency on imported weather instruments.

The technology supports the Make in India initiative by promoting domestic capability and self-reliance. Faster scaling also helps bridge observational data gaps across remote and urban regions alike.

Static GK Tip: 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing, where objects are created layer by layer from digital models.

Accuracy and validation measures

Data accuracy remains a top priority in weather monitoring. Earlier experiences with damaged or poorly calibrated sensors highlighted the need for strict validation protocols. The new AWS units will initially be co-located with manual observatories.

This parallel operation allows scientists to cross-check readings before full operational deployment. Regular calibration and maintenance schedules are built into the implementation framework to ensure long-term reliability.

Understanding Automatic Weather Stations

An Automatic Weather Station is a system that collects meteorological data using electronic sensors without human intervention. Such stations are essential for high-frequency data generation, numerical weather prediction models, and disaster preparedness.

Static GK fact: India’s national meteorological service, the India Meteorological Department, was established in 1875 and operates one of the largest observation networks in the world.

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India Advances Urban Forecasting with 3D Printed Weather Stations: