Intelligent lightning warning system

In developing countries like Sri Lanka, lightning warning systems are rare, and simple low cost methods adopted have not lived up to expectations. It would thus be very advantageous if warnings could be made localized to a specific area. This paper presents a method that is affordable to the ordinary person and informs him of the risk of lightning hazards in advance. The system is simple, yet effective, and produces specific warnings accurately using an effective technology. The lightning threat is assessed by monitoring the static electric field between the thundercloud and the earth using a user made made field mill unit. This triggers an alarm, or a rotating beacon according to the degree of the lightning threat, with the aid of a simple neural network. Intra cloud flashes, which occur in the vicinity of imminent lightning flashes in the region, emits radio frequency signals. By combining this as an additional input to the neural network, more accurate predictions can be made. Test results are also presented on the prototype lightning warning system developed at the University of Moratuwa.