Diseño e implementación de un prototipo para localización de descargas atmosféricas mediante el método de multiestación utilizando tecnología Lorawan.

Abstract

The city of Riobamba and its surrounding areas, which are prone to high electrical storms during rainy seasons, face various consequences, including interruptions in industrial processes, damage to electrical devices, failures in telecommunications towers, and even loss of human lives. Consequently, this thesis aimed to design and implement a prototype for locating atmospheric discharges using the multi-station method utilizing <LORAWAN COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL> technology. The development of the prototype was based on data previously collected in a prior thesis. The <LORAWAN> modules and AS3935 sensors were configured and housed in waterproof plastic boxes and glass jars to protect the electronic components. The prototype was located in Cerro Cacha, Cerro San Francisco, and Riobamba, covering an area of 4126 square kilometers for triangulation. The prototype in Riobamba collects data from the other prototypes as well as its own, which are then sent to the Node-Red server for storage and processing to determine the location of the lightning strike. Tests confirmed the prototype's effectiveness in detecting lightning impacts, providing information about the dates, times, and geographical coordinates with an error margin of 1 km. Recorded impacts occurred in January and February 2024, with four notable events on January 7 during a severe electrical storm, where the lightning strikes were detected in a straight line. This data contributes to forecasting the direction of future lightning strikes. It was concluded that the prototypes are an innovative and accessible tool for locating atmospheric discharges using <LORAWAN COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL> technology. It can benefit electrical companies, telecommunications, airports, and industries, and even save human lives by preventing damage to devices and electronic systems and reducing the financial impact on businesses.