Fiji strengthens weather warnings with new 3D-printed stations

Remote communities in Fiji are set to receive improved early warnings for cyclones and floods with the introduction of 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations (3D-PAWS). This initiative follows a week-long workshop that trained Fiji Meteorological Service staff to build, deploy, and maintain the low-cost technology.

The project, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response and the U.S. National Weather Service, aims to expand weather data collection and strengthen forecasting capabilities nationwide. Nine stations have already been deployed, and plans are in motion to install an additional 40.

According to U.S. Embassy Suva Chargé d’Affaires Kelly Busby, these stations measure crucial weather conditions like temperature, rainfall, wind speed, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. The collected data will bolster accurate forecasting, agricultural monitoring, public health efforts, and disaster preparedness.

Busby highlighted the cost-effectiveness of this American technology, noting that Pacific nations can now establish weather station networks for under $500 per station, a significant reduction from the thousands previously required. The system utilizes locally sourced materials, 3D printers, and U.S.-made micro-sensor technology, allowing for local repairs by printing replacement parts. This innovation is expected to help close the information gap in sparsely observed areas of the Pacific, thereby strengthening the tracking of tropical cyclones and other hazards.

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With this innovative American technology, Pacific nations can build out a weather station network in about a week at less than 500 US dollars for each station, something that used to cost thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars.