DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LOW-LATENCY WEATHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

This research work aims to design and implement a low-latency weather information transmission system in Nigeria to ensure timely delivery of weather updates, especially during critical weather events. The system primarily employs the MQTT protocol for fast, real-time transmission of weather updates from the weather server to internet-based users. The updates are received as push notifications by internet-enabled users and as SMS alerts by non-internet users, ensuring accessibility across diverse network conditions. A Python-based simulation was implemented, consisting of a Publisher (weather server), an MQTT Broker, and multiple Subscribers receiving updates in real time, while SMS alerts were sent through an automated API gateway to users without internet access. Performance evaluation using MATLAB focused on latency, bandwidth usage, and message delivery reliability under different network conditions in Nigeria. Results show that the MQTT-based channel achieved up to 24% lower latency and significantly reduced bandwidth usage compared to HTTP, making it suitable for Nigeria’s low-bandwidth networks. The combined use of push notifications and SMS expanded the system’s reach and improved alert responsiveness. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that MQTT, push notifications, and SMS provide an effective hybrid solution for rapid weather information dissemination. Future work should explore USSD-based delivery for wider accessibility.