ICUC12-361, updated on 21 May 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/icuc12-361
12th International Conference on Urban Climate
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
MetObs, to streamline your crowdsourced data processing.
Thomas Vergauwen1,2, Michiel Vieijra2, Andrei Covaci3, Amber Jacobs2, Sara Top2, Wout Dewettinck2, Kobe Vandelanotte1,2, Ian Hellebosch2,4, and Steven Caluwaerts1,2
Thomas Vergauwen et al.
  • 1Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
  • 2Ghent University department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent, Belgium
  • 3Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
  • 4VITO, Mol, Belgium

Data from non-traditional measurement networks, such as crowdsourced meteorological data, present unique and complex challenges in data structure, quality, consistency, lack of metadata, and analysis. Observational campaigns often encounter issues such as missing data due to technical failures, power outages, or communication problems. Furthermore, crowdsourced or low-cost sensor data require rigorous quality control to mitigate errors and biases, leading to additional gaps in the data. Additionally, inconsistent storage formats and temporal resolution complicate the use and combination of datasets across different networks. 

To address these challenges, we developed the MetObs-toolkit, an open-source Python package designed to streamline the processing of observational meteorological data. The MetObs-toolkit facilitates the entire workflow, from raw sensor data to a comprehensive analysis. Common use cases are resampling and synchronization of time series, automated and spatial quality control, Google Earth Engine interaction for additional metadata, gap-filling techniques, and analysis tools. Designed for both students and experienced scientists, MetObs offers accessible tutorials and examples, enabling users to gain insights into their observational data. By providing an open-source standardized approach, MetObs improves data usability, ultimately enhancing the impact of non-traditional observational data efforts.

This presentation will demonstrate how the MetObs-toolkit facilitates the analysis of crowdsourced and non-traditional urban climate data.

How to cite: Vergauwen, T., Vieijra, M., Covaci, A., Jacobs, A., Top, S., Dewettinck, W., Vandelanotte, K., Hellebosch, I., and Caluwaerts, S.: MetObs, to streamline your crowdsourced data processing., 12th International Conference on Urban Climate, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 7–11 Jul 2025, ICUC12-361, https://doi.org/10.5194/icuc12-361, 2025.

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