Hey everyone, today I want to share my little experiment with weather balloons for wildfire monitoring. It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve learned a ton along the way. So, let’s dive in!
Getting Started
First off, I got this idea after seeing a news piece about a company called Urban Sky. They’re using these high-altitude balloons to track wildfires. I thought, “Why not try something similar on a smaller scale?” So, I started researching and gathering materials. I found some weather balloons online and ordered a bunch. They were bigger than I expected!
Setting up the Balloon
Next up, I needed to figure out how to get these balloons to carry sensors. I grabbed some basic heat sensors I had lying around from another project. The tricky part was attaching them to the balloon. I used a lot of duct tape and zip ties—my go-to for any DIY project, honestly. I also added a small camera I got for cheap, just to see if I could get some cool aerial shots.
The Launch
The launch day was a bit nerve-wracking. I went to a big open field near my place with a couple of friends to help out. We filled the balloon with helium, which was a bit of a hassle, but we managed. Then, we attached the sensor payload and the camera, making sure everything was secure. And up it went! It was pretty exciting to watch it ascend.
Tracking and Data Collection
Now, I had to track the balloon. I used a simple GPS tracker I attached to the payload. It wasn’t super precise, but it gave me a general idea of where the balloon was. I kept an eye on the data coming from the heat sensors. It was interesting to see the temperature variations as the balloon went higher.
The camera also sent back some images. They weren’t high-resolution like the ones from Urban Sky, but they were good enough to see the landscape below. I even spotted a small controlled burn that a local farmer was doing. It showed up on the heat sensor data too, which was pretty cool.
Challenges and Hiccups
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The wind was a major factor. One time, the balloon drifted way off course,