Among the many things we do in our studio, there’s one project that holds a particularly special place in our hearts. Not only because it’s fun, but because it’s something we’re committed to for the long run: our weather stations.
One day we’ll dive deeper into the ideas behind this project. It has everything to do with ArchiHUB Nature, and so far we’ve only scratched the surface of what we ultimately hope to build. But for now, let’s embrace our inner geeks and talk about the sensors and the ecosystem we’re putting together.
So, where did we begin?
We started by imagining a simple weather station: something that could connect to multiple sensors, record their measurements, send that data to an ArchiHUB installation, and eventually help us make sense of it all.
At first, it sounded straightforward. There are only so many sensors, right? You look at the list and think, How hard could it be?
Well… let’s just say it wasn’t quite that simple.
Without getting into every technical detail, we quickly realized there was a lot to optimize and an entire ecosystem that had to work seamlessly together. We ended up designing a modular PCB that lets us connect different types of sensors with ease, optimizing the ESP32 firmware for low-power operation and Bluetooth communication, creating a weatherproof enclosure capable of surviving harsh outdoor conditions, and building Android and iOS apps that not only visualize the collected data but also generate meaningful insights from it.
And that’s just the beginning.
What we have today is a compact weather station featuring custom-designed PCBs and a custom 3D-printed enclosure. It can measure temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, and airborne particulate matter.
We’re currently working on a new indoor version that replaces the wind sensor (for obvious reasons) with a CO₂ sensor and adds one feature we’re particularly excited about: a beautiful e-ink display that lets you see the readings at a glance.
So… what are we planning to do with all of this, you may ask?
Recently, we launched ArchiHUB Nature, an interactive platform where data managed in ArchiHUB is brought to life through maps. Nature is at the heart of everything you’ll find there. For now, it features our growing archive of bird and insect photography, but we’re already adding new capabilities, including wind visualizations and migration maps for different animal species.
Eventually, once we have several weather stations deployed and operating reliably, we’ll be able to visualize their historical data as well. By preserving and connecting these observations over time, we’re not just collecting measurements, we’re weaving a narrative about the places we inhabit and the living world that surrounds them.
There’s still a long road ahead, but we’re making steady progress. We hope you’ll come along for the journey as we continue to explore, build, and learn.