PROJECT PROPOSAL Title: GSM based Data Acquisition System for lightning incidences and severity in rural Zimbabwe

1. BACKGROUND Acquisition of lightning data in Zimbabwe is currently done through the use of l ightning counters and human observers. Over the years the lightning counters hav e been installed but none are still existent today as many of these have been da maged. Data from human lightning observers comes in late and inaccurate due to i nconsistencies in the collecting process. Data Acquisition Systems (DAS) are playing an important role in industrial and c ommercial fields. DAS provide real time data in many areas at one time, improves efficiency of management and gives more information to analyse. These systems a re based on wired networks such as internet or wireless networks such as GSM (Gl obal System for Mobile communication) or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). The Short Message Service (SMS) is a basic service provided by GSM. SMS costs ar e low and provide a convenient way of data transfer. The above mentioned advanta ges of SMS make it the reason why it is a common feature in GSM based Data Acqui sition Systems . Taking advantage of the SMS and integrating it with proper comp uter software, lightning data taken from a remote location and transmitted over GSM network can be stored on a server computer through the use of a database. Th e stored data can then be presented online upon request by an online user.

1.2.1 we

AIM To design a GSM based Data Acquisition System for lightning activities in Zimbab

1.2.2 Objectives In order to satisfy the above aim, the following objectives are to be met: Design a database that stores the received SMS Design software that saves incoming SMS into the database Design a website which displays the SMS in the database

2 THE PROPOSED DESIGN OF THE GSM BASED DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR LIGHTNING INC IDENCES AND SEVERITY IN RURAL ZIMBABWE fig 1

2.1 THE ABOVE SYSTEM WILL OPERATE AS FOLLOWS 1. All messages are received via a GSM Modem and these messages are then tr ansmitted to the database for storage by software 1. 2. The database stores the incoming messages in relevant fields according t o the sender location (phone number) of the messages. 3. The received messages are then displayed online through a web applicatio n that is connected to the database by software 2. 4. Remote clients can access the database by visiting the web site where th ey can search the messages by year, month or location. 2.11 Database Has table called SMS_IN that stores the receives SMS The columns of the table contains the following o SMS_text (varchar) : the text of the SMS message o Sender_number varchar : the sender number o Sent_dt datetime : the date and time when sender sent the msge Database table in database server is shared between software 1 and modem Once an SMS is received it is automatically archived to its appropriate field The database has an administrator whose privilege is to modify and correct any i rregularities in the achieved data. The database can be managed by either MySQL/Oracle 2.12 Software 1 This is an application that automatically pulls the SMS from the modem and direc ts it to a relevant table in the database. The application continuously checks for any new messages received in the databas e before carrying on with its functionality. Software 1 is an interface between the modem and the database. The application can be programmed in Java, C++ or VB.Net 2.13 Software 2 This application pulls the message from the database to the website once a clien t makes a query It is an interface between the website and the database It can be programmed using Java, MySQL Connector, Glassfish Server, PHP 2.2 METHODOLOGY In order to fulfill the aim and objectives of the project the following methods shall be used: Internet for open source software downloads eg MySQL, Netbeans, Glassfish Server etc discussion forums journals and periodicals Visitations to software developers for motivation and insights to project Supervisor, Cal lab and Computer center for advice and technical su pport Questioners and interviews for collection of views on what kind of data that they would want to search on t he website for views on which areas to be improved on the webpage

2.3 BUDGET COMPONENT COST 1. Computer $ 700.00 2. Modem $ 60.00 3. Simcard $ 2.00 4. Transport $ 50.00 5. Others $ 100.00 TOTAL $912.00 2.4 TIME TABLE DATE ACTIVITY 10 October-14 November 2011 Project proposal 15 November-28 December 2011 Database design 05 January-25 February 2012 Software 1 design 01 March-30 May 2012 Software 2 design June-July 2012 System implementation