A neural-network based intelligent weather station

Accurate measurements of global solar radiation and atmospheric temperature and relative humidity, as well as the availability of the predictions of their evolution over time, are important for different areas of applications, such as agriculture, renewable energy and energy management, or thermal comfort in buildings. For this reason, an intelligent, light-weight, self-powered and portable sensor was developed, using a nearest-neighbors algorithm and artificial neural network models as the time-series predictor mechanisms. The hardware and software design of the implemented prototype are described, as well as the forecasting performance related to three atmospheric variables, over a prediction horizon of 48-steps-ahead.