One-Year Field Evaluation of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based Tipping-Bucket Rain Gauge in Central Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38032/jea.2026.02.004Abstract
Accurate and cost-effective rainfall monitoring remains a challenge in regions with sparse station networks. This study developed and tested a low-cost rainfall monitoring device based on an Arduino Mega 2560 coupled with two tipping-bucket rain gauges (WH-SP-RG™ MISOL). The device was deployed for one year (July 2024–June 2025) at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, Mexico, to evaluate its reliability under natural rainfall conditions. Calibration with controlled water applications showed that each tipping event represented 0.288 mm of rainfall, closely matching the manufacturer’s specification of 0.2794 mm per tip. A difference of 8.6% was detected between tips counted manually and those recorded by the Arduino, indicating a slight tendency of the raw Arduino signal to overcount tipping events. Rainfall events were classified into light, moderate, and high intensities, and statistical analyses were conducted using non-parametric methods. Results showed strong agreement between the two gauges, with cumulative totals differing by only 11.8% during the study period. Differences between gauges were minimal for light (1.95%) and moderate rainfall (2.6%), but increased for high-intensity events (7.81%), suggesting greater variability under heavy rainfall conditions. Excluding single-tip events, no significant differences were found between sensors under the same rainfall intensity. Overall, the results demonstrate that low-cost Arduino-based rain gauges, when carefully leveled and calibrated, can provide reliable rainfall measurements consistent with ranges reported in the literature. The prototype operated successfully for an entire year, confirming its potential as a valuable and accessible tool for hydrological monitoring in resource-limited settings.
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The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Abel Quevedo-Nolasco, Graciano Javier Aguado Rodríguez
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