Against the backdrop of intensified global climate change, precise precipitation monitoring has become increasingly important for flood control and drought relief, water resource management, and meteorological research. Rainfall monitoring equipment, as the fundamental tool for collecting precipitation data, has evolved from traditional mechanical rain gauges to intelligent sensor systems integrating Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies. This article will comprehensively introduce the technical features and diversified application scenarios of rain gauges and rainfall sensors, and analyze the current application status of global gas monitoring technology. Special attention will be paid to the development trends in the field of gas monitoring in countries such as China and the United States, presenting the latest progress and future trends of precipitation monitoring technology to readers.
The technological evolution and core features of rainfall monitoring equipment
Precipitation, as a key link in the water cycle, its precise measurement is of great significance for meteorological forecasting, hydrological research and disaster early warning. Rainfall monitoring equipment, after a century of development, has formed a complete technical spectrum from traditional mechanical devices to high-tech intelligent sensors, meeting the monitoring needs in different scenarios. The current mainstream rainfall monitoring equipment mainly includes traditional rain gauges, tipping bucket rain gauges and the emerging piezoelectric rain sensors, etc. Each of them has its own characteristics and shows obvious differentiated features in terms of accuracy, reliability and applicable environments.
The traditional rain gauge represents the most fundamental method of precipitation measurement. Its design is simple yet effective. Standard rain gauges are usually made of stainless steel, with a water-holding diameter of Ф200±0.6mm. They can measure rainfall with an intensity of ≤4mm/min, with a resolution of 0.2mm (corresponding to 6.28ml of water volume). Under indoor static test conditions, their accuracy can reach ±4%. This mechanical device does not require an external power supply and operates based on pure physical principles. It features high reliability and easy maintenance. The appearance design of the rain gauge is also quite meticulous. The rain outlet is made of stainless steel sheet through overall stamping and drawing, with a high degree of smoothness, which can effectively reduce the error caused by water retention. The horizontal adjustment bubble set inside helps users adjust the equipment to the best working state. Although traditional rain gauges have limitations in terms of automation and functional scalability, the authority of their measurement data makes them still the benchmark equipment for meteorological and hydrological departments to conduct business observations and comparisons to this day.
The tipping bucket rain gauge sensor has achieved a leap in automated measurement and data output on the basis of the traditional rain gauge cylinder. This type of sensor converts precipitation into an electrical signal through a carefully designed double tipping bucket mechanism – when one of the buckets receives water to a predetermined value (usually 0.1mm or 0.2mm precipitation), it overturns by itself due to gravity, and at the same time generates a pulse signal 710 through the magnetic steel and reed switch mechanism. The FF-YL rain gauge sensor produced by Hebei Feimeng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. is a typical representative. This device adopts the tipping bucket component formed by injection molding of engineering plastics. The support system is well manufactured and has a small frictional resistance moment. Therefore, it is sensitive to flipping and has stable performance. The tipping bucket rain gauge sensor has good linearity and strong anti-interference ability. Moreover, the funnel is designed with mesh holes to prevent leaves and other debris from blocking the rainwater from flowing down, which greatly improves the working reliability in outdoor environments. The TE525MM series tipping bucket rain gauge of Campbell Scientific Company in the United States has improved the measurement accuracy of each bucket to 0.1mm. Moreover, the influence of strong wind on the measurement accuracy can be reduced by selecting a windscreen, or a wireless interface can be equipped to achieve remote data transmission 10.
The piezoelectric rain gauge sensor represents the highest level of current rain monitoring technology. It completely discards mechanical moving parts and uses PVDF piezoelectric film as the rain-sensing device. It measures precipitation by analyzing the kinetic energy signal generated by the impact of raindrops. The FT-Y1 piezoelectric rain sensor developed by Shandong Fengtu Internet of Things Technology Co., Ltd. is a typical product of this technology. It uses an embedded AI neural network to distinguish raindrop signals and can effectively avoid false triggers caused by interferences such as sand, dust, and vibration 25. This sensor has many revolutionary advantages: an integrated design with no exposed components and the ability to filter out environmental interference signals; The measurement range is wide (0-4mm/min), and the resolution is as high as 0.01mm. The sampling frequency is fast (<1 second), and it can monitor the rainfall duration accurately to the second. And it adopts an arc-shaped contact surface design, does not store rainwater, and truly achieves maintenance-free. The operating temperature range of piezoelectric sensors is extremely wide (-40 to 85℃), with a power consumption of only 0.12W. Data communication is achieved through the RS485 interface and MODBUS protocol, making it highly suitable for building a distributed intelligent monitoring network.
Table: Performance Comparison of Mainstream Rainfall Monitoring Equipment
Equipment type, working principle, advantages and disadvantages, typical precision, applicable scenarios
The traditional rain gauge directly collects rainwater for measurement, featuring a simple structure, high reliability, no need for power supply and manual reading, and a single function of ±4% meteorological reference stations and manual observation points
The tipping bucket rain gauge’s tipping bucket mechanism converts rainfall into electrical signals for automatic measurement. The data is easy to transmit. Mechanical components may wear out and require regular maintenance. ±3%(2mm/min rain intensity) automatic weather station, hydrological monitoring points
The piezoelectric rain gauge sensor generates electrical signals from the kinetic energy of raindrops for analysis. It has no moving parts, high resolution, relatively high anti-interference cost, and requires a signal processing algorithm of ≤±4% for traffic meteorology, automatic stations in the field, and smart cities
In addition to ground-based fixed monitoring equipment, precipitation measurement technology is also developing towards space-based and air-based remote sensing monitoring. Ground-based rain radar infers precipitation intensity by emitting electromagnetic waves and analyzing the scattered echoes of cloud and rain particles. It can achieve large-scale continuous monitoring, but is greatly affected by terrain occlusion and urban buildings. Satellite remote sensing technology “overlooks” Earth’s precipitation from space. Among them, passive microwave remote sensing uses the interference of precipitation particles on background radiation for inversion, while active microwave remote sensing (such as the DPR radar of the GPM satellite) directly emits signals and receives echoes, and calculates the precipitation intensity 49 through the Z-R relationship (Z=aR^b). Although remote sensing technology has a wide coverage, its accuracy still depends on the calibration of ground rain gauge data. For example, the assessment in the Laoha River Basin of China shows that the deviation between the satellite precipitation product 3B42V6 and ground observations is 21%, while the deviation of the real-time product 3B42RT is as high as 81%.
The selection of rainfall monitoring equipment needs to comprehensively consider factors such as measurement accuracy, environmental adaptability, maintenance requirements and cost. Traditional rain gauges are suitable as reference equipment for data verification. The tipping bucket rain gauge strikes a balance between cost and performance and is a standard configuration in automatic weather stations. Piezoelectric sensors, with their outstanding environmental adaptability and intelligent level, are gradually expanding their application in the field of special monitoring. With the development of Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies, a multi-technology integrated monitoring network will become the future trend, achieving a comprehensive precipitation monitoring system that combines points and surfaces and integrates air and ground.
Diversified application scenarios of rainfall monitoring equipment
Precipitation data, as a fundamental meteorological and hydrological parameter, has expanded its application fields from traditional meteorological observation to multiple aspects such as urban flood control, agricultural production, and traffic management, forming an all-round application pattern covering important industries of the national economy. With the advancement of monitoring technology and the improvement of data analysis capabilities, rainfall monitoring equipment is playing a key role in more scenarios, providing scientific basis for human society to address climate change and water resource challenges.
Meteorological and hydrological monitoring and disaster early warning
Meteorological and hydrological monitoring is the most traditional and important application field of rainfall equipment. In the national meteorological observation station network, rain gauges and tipping bucket rain gauges constitute the infrastructure for precipitation data collection. These data are not only important input parameters for weather forecasting, but also basic data for climate research. The MESO-scale rain gauge network (MESONET) established in Mumbai has demonstrated the value of a high-density monitoring network – by analyzing the data of the monsoon season from 2020 to 2022, researchers successfully calculated that the average moving speed of heavy rain was 10.3-17.4 kilometers per hour, and the direction was between 253-260 degrees. These findings are of great significance for improving the urban rainstorm forecasting model. In China, the “14th Five-Year Plan for Hydrological Development” clearly states that it is necessary to improve the hydrological monitoring network, increase the density and accuracy of precipitation monitoring, and provide support for flood control and drought relief decision-making.
In the flood early warning system, real-time rainfall monitoring data plays an irreplaceable role. Rainfall sensors are widely used in hydrological automatic monitoring and reporting systems aimed at flood control, water supply dispatching, and water condition management of power stations and reservoirs. When the rainfall intensity exceeds the preset threshold, the system can automatically trigger a warning to remind the downstream areas to make preparations for flood control. For example, the tipping bucket rainfall sensor FF-YL has a three-period rainfall hierarchical alarm function. It can issue different levels of sound, light and voice alarms based on the accumulated rainfall, thus buying precious time for disaster prevention and mitigation. The wireless rainfall monitoring solution of Campbell Scientific Company in the United States realizes real-time data transmission through the CWS900 series interface, greatly improving the monitoring efficiency by 10.
Urban management and transportation applications
The construction of smart cities has brought new application scenarios to rainfall monitoring technology. In the monitoring of urban drainage systems, distributed deployed rainfall sensors can grasp the rainfall intensity in each area in real time. Combined with the drainage network model, they can predict the risk of urban flooding and optimize the dispatching of pumping stations. Piezoelectric rain sensors, with their compact size (such as FT-Y1) and strong environmental adaptability, are particularly suitable for concealed installation in urban environments 25. Flood control departments in megacities like Beijing have begun piloting intelligent rainfall monitoring networks based on the Internet of Things. Through the fusion of multi-sensor data, they aim to achieve precise prediction and rapid response to urban flooding.
In the field of traffic management, rain sensors have become an important component of intelligent transportation systems. Rainfall devices installed along expressways and urban expressways can monitor precipitation intensity in real time. When heavy rainfall is detected, they will automatically trigger variable message signs to issue speed limit warnings or activate the tunnel drainage system. What is even more remarkable is the popularity of car rain sensors – these optical or capacitive sensors, usually hidden behind the front windshield, can automatically adjust the wiper speed according to the amount of rain falling on the glass, greatly enhancing driving safety in rainy weather. The global automotive rain sensor market is mainly dominated by suppliers such as Kostar, Bosch, and Denso. These precision devices represent the cutting-edge level of rain sensing technology.
Agricultural production and ecological research
The development of precision agriculture is inseparable from precipitation monitoring at the field scale. Rainfall data helps farmers optimize irrigation plans, avoiding water waste while ensuring that the water needs of crops are met. The rain sensors (such as stainless steel rain gauges) equipped in agricultural and forestry meteorological stations have the characteristics of strong anti-rust ability and excellent appearance quality, and can work stably in the wild environment for a long time. In hilly and mountainous areas, a distributed deployed rainfall monitoring network can capture spatial differences in precipitation and provide personalized agricultural advice for different plots. Some advanced farms have begun to attempt to link rainfall data with automatic irrigation systems to achieve true intelligent water management.
Ecohydrology research also relies on high-quality precipitation observations. In the study of forest ecosystems, intra-forest rainfall monitoring can analyze the interception effect of the canopy on precipitation. In wetland protection, precipitation data is a key input for water balance calculation; In the field of soil and water conservation, rain intensity information is directly related to the accuracy of soil erosion models 17. Researchers in the Old Ha River Basin of China used ground rain gauge data to evaluate the accuracy of satellite precipitation products such as TRMM and CMORPH, providing a valuable basis for improving remote sensing algorithms. This kind of “space-ground combined” monitoring method is becoming a new paradigm in eco-hydrology research.
Special fields and emerging applications
The power and energy industry has also begun to attach importance to the value of rainfall monitoring. Wind farms use rainfall data to assess the risk of blade icing, while hydropower stations optimize their power generation plans based on the precipitation forecast of the basin. The piezoelectric rain gauge sensor FT-Y1 has been applied in the environmental monitoring system of wind farms. Its wide operating temperature range of -40 to 85℃ is particularly suitable for long-term monitoring under harsh climatic conditions.
The aerospace field has special demands for precipitation monitoring. The rainfall monitoring network around the airport runway provides guarantee for aviation safety, while the rocket launch site needs to accurately grasp the precipitation situation to ensure the safety of the launch. Among these key applications, highly reliable tipping bucket rain gauges (such as Campbell TE525MM) are often selected as core sensors. Their ±1% accuracy (under rain intensity of ≤10mm/hr) and the design that can be equipped with windproof rings meet the strict industry standards 10.
The fields of scientific research and education are also expanding the application of rainfall monitoring equipment. Rainfall sensors are used as teaching and experimental equipment in meteorology, hydrology and environmental science majors in colleges and technical secondary schools to help students understand the principle of precipitation measurement. Citizen science projects encourage public participation in precipitation observation and expand the coverage of the monitoring network by using low-cost rain gauges. The GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) education program in the United States vividly demonstrates the principles and applications of remote sensing technology to students through the comparative analysis of satellite and ground rainfall data.
With the development of Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence technologies, rainfall monitoring is evolving from single precipitation measurement to multi-parameter collaborative perception and intelligent decision support. The future rainfall monitoring system will be more closely integrated with other environmental sensors (such as humidity, wind speed, soil moisture, etc.) to form a comprehensive environmental perception network, providing more comprehensive and accurate data support for human society to address climate change and water resource challenges.
Comparison of the current application status of global gas monitoring technology with countries
Gas monitoring technology, like rainfall monitoring, is an important component in the field of environmental perception and plays a key role in global climate change, industrial safety, public health and other aspects. Based on their industrial structures, environmental policies and technological levels, different countries and regions present distinctive development patterns in the research and application of gas monitoring technologies. As a major manufacturing country and a rapidly emerging technological innovation center, China has made remarkable progress in the research and development and application of gas sensors. The United States, relying on its strong technological strength and complete standard system, maintains a leading position in gas monitoring technology and high-value application fields. European countries are promoting the innovation of monitoring technologies with strict environmental protection regulations. Japan and South Korea occupy important positions in the fields of consumer electronics and automotive gas sensors.
The Development and Application of Gas Monitoring Technology in China
China’s gas monitoring technology has shown an accelerating development trend in recent years and has made remarkable progress in multiple fields such as industrial safety, environmental monitoring and medical health. Policy guidance is an important driving force for the rapid expansion of China’s gas monitoring market. The “14th Five-Year Plan for the Safety Production of Hazardous Chemicals” clearly requires chemical industrial parks to establish a full-coverage toxic and harmful gas monitoring and early warning system and promote the construction of an intelligent risk control platform. Under this policy background, domestic gas monitoring equipment has been widely applied in high-risk industries such as petrochemicals and coal mines. For instance, electrochemical toxic gas detectors and infrared combustible gas detectors have become standard configurations for industrial safety.
In the field of environmental monitoring, China has established the world’s largest air quality monitoring network, covering 338 prefecture-level and above cities across the country. This network mainly monitors six parameters, namely SO₂, NO₂, CO, O₃, PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, among which the first four are all gaseous pollutants. Data from the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre shows that as of 2024, there are over 1,400 national-level air quality monitoring stations, all equipped with automatic gas analyzers. Real-time data is made available to the public through the “National Urban Air Quality Real-time Release Platform”. This large-scale and high-density monitoring capacity provides a scientific basis for China’s actions to prevent and control air pollution.
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Post time: Jun-11-2025