Abstract: Techniques for cloud detection and cloud coverage determination are described herein. The disclosed techniques include detecting a plurality of color clusters among a plurality of data elements of an image, associating at least one of the plurality of color clusters with a cloud based on a characteristic color of the cloud, and determining a number of data elements within the at least one of the plurality of color clusters associated with the cloud. The disclosed techniques also include detecting a location of an object indicative of a cloud in the image based at least in part on training data and a plurality of features extracted from the image, detecting an edge of the object indicative of the cloud at the location, and determining a number of data elements within the edge of the object indicative of the cloud.

Abstract: Techniques for weather information extraction using image data are described herein. In accordance with the present disclosure, economical weather data collection devices may be installed in any places on the earth, and form a dense network of weather data collection devices. Preferably, these weather data collection devices include image capture components that may capture series of sequential images over time (i.e., image streams) from any particular locations. The disclosed techniques include extracting a sky portion from a series of time-sequenced images. The extracted sky portion may be used for determining cloud coverage, a sun track, and so on, thereby enabling to provide accurate weather forecast as well as other weather data mining abilities.