Q1: What is the primary purpose of a Weather Station system in software design?

Answer:

The primary purpose of a Weather Station system is to collect environmental data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall using various sensors. This data is then processed, logged, monitored for anomalies, and used to generate reports and alerts. The system ensures accurate and timely weather information is made available to users like researchers, administrators, and the general public.

Q2: What types of sensors are typically part of the Weather Station, and what do they measure?

Answer:

A Weather Station generally includes the following types of sensors, each responsible for a specific environmental parameter:

• TemperatureSensor – Measures the ambient temperature.
• HumiditySensor – Detects the level of moisture in the air.
• WindSpeedSensor – Calculates the speed of the wind in km/h or m/s.
• RainfallSensor – Measures precipitation levels in mm. These sensors provide real-time data, which is essential for weather tracking and forecasting.

Q3: How does the system handle and store sensor data?

Answer:

The system uses a DataLogger class or module to handle and store data collected by various sensors. Each data point is typically timestamped and tagged with the corresponding sensor type. The logger can store this data locally or in a cloud-based storage system, depending on the architecture. Logged data is later used to generate reports or to analyze historical trends for research and decision-making.

Q4: How are alerts generated in the Weather Station system?

Answer:

Alerts are generated by the AlertSystem component. It continuously monitors sensor data and compares it against predefined threshold values (e.g., high wind speeds or extreme temperatures). If any value crosses the threshold, the system triggers an alert and notifies registered users or systems. This can be implemented using rule-based logic or machine learning models, depending on the system’s complexity.

Q5: What are the key responsibilities of the WeatherStation class?

Answer:

The WeatherStation class acts as the central coordinator of the system. Its primary responsibilities include:

• Managing a collection of sensors
• Collecting and aggregating data from all sensors
• Communicating with the DataLogger to store data
• Generating reports using historical data
• Triggering the AlertSystem when thresholds are exceeded This class encapsulates the main business logic and serves as the interface for other modules and users.

Q6: How is the user managed in the Weather Station system?

Answer:

Users in the Weather Station system are represented by the User class. Each user can:

• Log in to the system
• View current and historical weather data
• Request reports based on selected time periods Users can have roles such as Administrator, Observer, or MaintenanceTechnician. These roles determine the level of access and control a user has in the system.

Q7: What is the role of the MaintenanceTechnician subclass?

Answer:

The MaintenanceTechnician is a specialized subclass of the User class. Technicians have extended privileges that allow them to:

• Calibrate sensors
• Perform hardware checks or replacements
• Resolve alerts related to sensor malfunction This class ensures that the system remains accurate and operational by providing technical support functionalities.

Q8: What design principles are used in the Weather Station system?

Answer:

The Weather Station system applies several key design principles:

• Modularity: Each component (Sensor, Logger, Alert, etc.) has a well-defined role.
• Inheritance: Different sensors inherit from a common Sensor base class.
• Encapsulation: Internal logic and data are hidden within each class, accessible only through defined interfaces.
• Separation of Concerns: Sensor reading, logging, reporting, and alerting are handled by separate modules.

Q9: What are the possible extensions or future enhancements for the system?

Answer:

Possible enhancements to the Weather Station system include:

• Integration with real-time weather APIs for data validation.
• Use of machine learning to predict weather trends.
• Mobile application for remote monitoring.
• Cloud storage integration for scalability.
• SMS/email notifications for critical alerts.
• Solar power or battery backup for remote operation.

Q10: Why is it important for students to learn about systems like the Weather Station?

Answer:

Studying a system like the Weather Station helps students understand the application of software engineering concepts in real-world problems. It covers key areas such as object-oriented programming, sensor integration, data logging, reporting, and alerting. Moreover, it introduces them to design patterns, system architecture, and best practices in building modular, scalable, and maintainable software systems.