Weather Observation
Camera imagery provides visual context for atmospheric conditions and changing visibility at each observing site.
What is the Weather Cameras Database?
The Weather Cameras Database is an evolving resource developed at the University of North Dakota. It provides centralized access to imagery from a network of atmospheric cameras deployed at UND and regional observing sites. The cameras provide visual information about sky conditions, visibility, fog, haze, precipitation, and other weather phenomena that may be difficult to characterize using conventional observations alone.
Why the Camera Network is Used
Fog & Visibility Research
Continuous imagery supports research on fog, low visibility, haze, cloud evolution, and other visibility-reducing weather.
Research & Data Development
Camera observations can be paired with meteorological measurements and used in image-processing, machine-learning, and atmospheric research workflows.
Camera Network
The network includes several camera systems deployed at UND and regional atmospheric observing locations.
UND Sky Cameras
East-, west-, and southwest-facing sky cameras provide views from the Clifford Hall roof on the UND campus.
MetTrailer Deeplens Camera
The Deeplens camera is associated with the Meteorological Observational Trailer and provides continuous imagery from the MetTrailer deployment site.
Gorman Field Raspberry Pi Camera
A Raspberry Pi camera deployed at Gorman Field provides visual observations from the UND UAS test environment near Emerado, North Dakota.
TIMMS Camera Sites
TIMMS camera systems provide additional observations from sites including UND Clifford Hall and the Glacial Ridge atmospheric field site.
UND Atmospheric Camera Observations
The camera network is designed to complement traditional meteorological observations with continuous visual information. Each image provides a time-stamped view of atmospheric conditions at a specific location.
What is observed?
Sky condition, cloud cover, horizon visibility,
fog, haze, precipitation, and changes in local
atmospheric conditions.
How are the images used?
Images can be compared with meteorological
observations and used in field studies,
visibility analysis, image processing,
and research datasets.
What does the dashboard provide?
The live dashboard reports the latest available
image, image age, camera operating status,
and geographic location for monitored cameras.
Project Background
Development of the camera database began in 2021 as part of broader efforts to improve fog detection, support atmospheric field campaigns, and provide supplemental observations for weather and visibility research. Continuous sky and horizon imagery provides an additional observational perspective for studying visibility-reducing conditions such as fog, haze, and precipitation.
