Artificial neural network application in an implemented lightning locating system

Time difference of arrival (TDOA) technique is one of many bases to determine lightning strike location employed in a lightning locating system (LLS). In this technique, at least four measurement sensors are required to correctly locate a lightning strike. Usage of fewer number of sensors will result in non-unique solutions to the generated hyperbolas, and hence wrong lightning strike point. This research aims to correctly determine the strike point even if only three measuring sensors are utilized. An artificial neural network (ANN) based algorithm was developed for a 400 km2 coverage area in Southern Malaysia using time of arrival data collected at the three measuring stations over a certain period. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm is demonstrated to correctly identify the lightning strike coordinates with an average error of 350 m. The algorithm has helped the three-station TDOA-based LLS to successfully locate the lightning strike point with a remarkable accuracy comparable to that of commercial systems. •The differences in the arrival times of lightning discharge are employed to determine the optimum distance to the flash.•The TDOA method requires at least four measurement sensors to avoid false points in the calculations.•Artificial Neural Network engines were trained to find the correct location of a lightning strike using three stations.•TDOA-based LLS equipped with trained ANN engines successfully locates the lightning strike point with a notable accuracy.