Identification of Actors – Weather Station 

In software engineering and system design, identifying actors is one of the first and most crucial steps when developing a system. Actors are entities (either users or external systems) that interact with the system in some way to perform tasks or receive data. Below are the primary actors identified for a Weather Station system, along with their roles and responsibilities.

1. Administrator

The Administrator is a technical user who is responsible for the setup, maintenance, configuration, and monitoring of the Weather Station system.

• Responsible for configuring the sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, wind speed).
• Can initiate sensor calibration routines and perform hardware diagnostics.
• Has the authority to manage user accounts, access control, and system updates.
• Monitors system health, checks logs, and resolves technical issues that may impact data collection.

2. End User / Observer

The End User is a non-technical user such as a meteorologist, researcher, farmer, or general public user who wants to view weather data.

• Can access real-time weather updates (e.g., temperature, rainfall) via a user interface like a dashboard, mobile app, or website.
• May download reports or graphs for specific time periods such as daily, weekly, or monthly summaries.
• May receive alerts or notifications in case of critical weather changes.
• Does not have permission to configure the system or modify data sources.

3. Sensor Device (External System Actor)

Although not a human user, Sensor Devices act as automated external systems that provide critical input to the Weather Station.

• Sends raw weather data (e.g., temperature, pressure) to the central processing unit.
• Operates at a fixed frequency and transmits data without manual intervention.
• May include smart sensors capable of self-calibration and diagnostics.
• Considered an autonomous actor because it interacts directly with the system without human mediation.

4. Data Consumer (Third-Party Application or API)

A Data Consumer refers to an external system, service, or organization that uses weather data from the station through an API or data export.

• Could include mobile weather apps, climate research platforms, or disaster management systems.
• Interacts with the Weather Station’s data service layer or API to retrieve historical or live data.
• Requires access permissions, API keys, and usage monitoring to ensure secure integration.
• May use the data for predictions, analysis, or to feed other automated systems like irrigation controllers.

5. Maintenance Technician (Optional Actor)

A Maintenance Technician is a field engineer or technical personnel who physically checks and services the weather station hardware.

• Visits the physical site to repair sensors, adjust mounting, replace batteries, or upgrade firmware.
• Works closely with the Administrator to carry out routine maintenance.
• May use a handheld device or diagnostic tool to interact with the system locally.
• Not involved in data processing or reporting but essential for system reliability.

Summary Table of Actors