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10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2011) | Viewed by 395801

Special Issue Editors

Department of Earth and Environment, AHC-5-390, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, USA
Interests: remote sensing; watershed modeling; climate change impact; sediment dynamics; river basin management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-3598, USA
Interests: chemical sensor development; preparation of new polymeric materials for chemical sensing; fluorescent indicators for metal ions; molecularly imprinted polymers
Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Interests: nanosensors; carbon nanotubes and graphene; nanoparticles; nanotoxicology; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220, https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/) has reached a milestone: it is now 10 years since our journal was launched. In celebration of this occassion, the Sensors editorial team have decided to publish a special issue called "10 Years of Sensors - A Decade of Publishing". We would like to invite you to contribute a comprehensive review article or an original research paper for peer-review and possible publication. The details for this special issue can be found at:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/celebrate/.

The purpose of this special issue is to publish a set of articles that typify the very best insightful and influential investigations or theories. We would like to include articles that will form the new benchmark against which other articles are measured; this benchmark is, of course, a moving target as Sensors continues to advance to new frontiers. We expect these articles to be widely read and highly influential within the field.

There is no restriction on the subject areas for this special issue. Sensors readers and authors are encouraged to send their very best work to be showcased. The key criteria for manuscript acceptance will be novelty and the potential breadth and contribution to the field. Manuscripts with empirical content are also welcome, as long as they are invigorative to other scholars.

Prof. Dr. Craig A. Grimes
Prof. Dr. W. Rudolf Seitz
Dr. Assefa M. Melesse
Dr. Alexander Star
Guest Editors

Published Papers (31 papers)

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1184 KiB  
Article
Application of Composite Dictionary Multi-Atom Matching in Gear Fault Diagnosis
by Lingli Cui, Chenhui Kang, Huaqing Wang and Peng Chen
Sensors 2011, 11(6), 5981-6002; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110605981 - 03 Jun 2011
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8707
Abstract
The sparse decomposition based on matching pursuit is an adaptive sparse expression method for signals. This paper proposes an idea concerning a composite dictionary multi-atom matching decomposition and reconstruction algorithm, and the introduction of threshold de-noising in the reconstruction algorithm. Based on the [...] Read more.
The sparse decomposition based on matching pursuit is an adaptive sparse expression method for signals. This paper proposes an idea concerning a composite dictionary multi-atom matching decomposition and reconstruction algorithm, and the introduction of threshold de-noising in the reconstruction algorithm. Based on the structural characteristics of gear fault signals, a composite dictionary combining the impulse time-frequency dictionary and the Fourier dictionary was constituted, and a genetic algorithm was applied to search for the best matching atom. The analysis results of gear fault simulation signals indicated the effectiveness of the hard threshold, and the impulse or harmonic characteristic components could be separately extracted. Meanwhile, the robustness of the composite dictionary multi-atom matching algorithm at different noise levels was investigated. Aiming at the effects of data lengths on the calculation efficiency of the algorithm, an improved segmented decomposition and reconstruction algorithm was proposed, and the calculation efficiency of the decomposition algorithm was significantly enhanced. In addition it is shown that the multi-atom matching algorithm was superior to the single-atom matching algorithm in both calculation efficiency and algorithm robustness. Finally, the above algorithm was applied to gear fault engineering signals, and achieved good results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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809 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Acacia Koa Forest Health across Environmental Gradients in Hawai‘i Using Fine Resolution Remote Sensing and GIS
by Rodolfo Martinez Morales, Travis Idol and James B. Friday
Sensors 2011, 11(6), 5677-5694; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110605677 - 27 May 2011
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 10029
Abstract
Koa (Acacia koa) forests are found across broad environmental gradients in the Hawai‘ian Islands. Previous studies have identified koa forest health problems and dieback at the plot level, but landscape level patterns remain unstudied. The availability of high-resolution satellite images from [...] Read more.
Koa (Acacia koa) forests are found across broad environmental gradients in the Hawai‘ian Islands. Previous studies have identified koa forest health problems and dieback at the plot level, but landscape level patterns remain unstudied. The availability of high-resolution satellite images from the new GeoEye1 satellite offers the opportunity to conduct landscape-level assessments of forest health. The goal of this study was to develop integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) methodologies to characterize the health of koa forests and model the spatial distribution and variability of koa forest dieback patterns across an elevation range of 600–1,000 m asl in the island of Kaua‘i, which correspond to gradients of temperature and rainfall ranging from 17–20 °C mean annual temperature and 750–1,500 mm mean annual precipitation. GeoEye1 satellite imagery of koa stands was analyzed using supervised classification techniques based on the analysis of 0.5-m pixel multispectral bands. There was clear differentiation of native koa forest from areas dominated by introduced tree species and differentiation of healthy koa stands from those exhibiting dieback symptoms. The area ratio of healthy koa to koa dieback corresponded linearly to changes in temperature across the environmental gradient, with koa dieback at higher relative abundance in warmer areas. A landscape-scale map of healthy koa forest and dieback distribution demonstrated both the general trend with elevation and the small-scale heterogeneity that exists within particular elevations. The application of these classification techniques with fine spatial resolution imagery can improve the accuracy of koa forest inventory and mapping across the islands of Hawai‘i. Such findings should also improve ecological restoration, conservation and silviculture of this important native tree species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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383 KiB  
Article
Next Generation AT-Cut Quartz Crystal Sensing Devices
by Vojko Matko
Sensors 2011, 11(5), 4474-4482; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110504474 - 27 Apr 2011
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 8834
Abstract
Generally, AT-cut quartz crystals have a limited scope of use when it comes to high-precision measurement of very small impedance changes due to their nonlinear frequency-temperature characteristics in the range between 0 °C and 50 °C. The new method improving quartz oscillator frequency-temperature [...] Read more.
Generally, AT-cut quartz crystals have a limited scope of use when it comes to high-precision measurement of very small impedance changes due to their nonlinear frequency-temperature characteristics in the range between 0 °C and 50 °C. The new method improving quartz oscillator frequency-temperature characteristic compensation is switching between two impedance loads. By modifying the oscillator circuit with two logic switches and two impedance loads, the oscillator can switch oscillation between two resonance frequencies. The difference in resonance frequencies compensates the frequency-temperature characteristics influence as well as the influence of offset and quartz crystal ageing. The experimental results show that the new approach using the switching method highly improves second-to-second frequency stability from ±0.125 Hz to ±0.00001 Hz and minute-to-minute frequency stability from 0.1 Hz to 0.0001 Hz, which makes the high-precision measurement of aF and fH changes possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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552 KiB  
Article
Intelligent Method for Diagnosing Structural Faults of Rotating Machinery Using Ant Colony Optimization
by Ke Li and Peng Chen
Sensors 2011, 11(4), 4009-4029; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110404009 - 06 Apr 2011
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 8069
Abstract
Structural faults, such as unbalance, misalignment and looseness, etc., often occur in the shafts of rotating machinery. These faults may cause serious machine accidents and lead to great production losses. This paper proposes an intelligent method for diagnosing structural faults of rotating [...] Read more.
Structural faults, such as unbalance, misalignment and looseness, etc., often occur in the shafts of rotating machinery. These faults may cause serious machine accidents and lead to great production losses. This paper proposes an intelligent method for diagnosing structural faults of rotating machinery using ant colony optimization (ACO) and relative ratio symptom parameters (RRSPs) in order to detect faults and distinguish fault types at an early stage. New symptom parameters called “relative ratio symptom parameters” are defined for reflecting the features of vibration signals measured in each state. Synthetic detection index (SDI) using statistical theory has also been defined to evaluate the applicability of the RRSPs. The SDI can be used to indicate the fitness of a RRSP for ACO. Lastly, this paper also compares the proposed method with the conventional neural networks (NN) method. Practical examples of fault diagnosis for a centrifugal fan are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The verification results show that the structural faults often occurring in the centrifugal fan, such as unbalance, misalignment and looseness states are effectively identified by the proposed method, while these faults are difficult to detect using conventional neural networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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523 KiB  
Article
An Intelligent Tool for Activity Data Collection
by A. M. Jehad Sarkar
Sensors 2011, 11(4), 3988-4008; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110403988 - 06 Apr 2011
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 8460
Abstract
Activity recognition systems using simple and ubiquitous sensors require a large variety of real-world sensor data for not only evaluating their performance but also training the systems for better functioning. However, a tremendous amount of effort is required to setup an environment for [...] Read more.
Activity recognition systems using simple and ubiquitous sensors require a large variety of real-world sensor data for not only evaluating their performance but also training the systems for better functioning. However, a tremendous amount of effort is required to setup an environment for collecting such data. For example, expertise and resources are needed to design and install the sensors, controllers, network components, and middleware just to perform basic data collections. It is therefore desirable to have a data collection method that is inexpensive, flexible, user-friendly, and capable of providing large and diverse activity datasets. In this paper, we propose an intelligent activity data collection tool which has the ability to provide such datasets inexpensively without physically deploying the testbeds. It can be used as an inexpensive and alternative technique to collect human activity data. The tool provides a set of web interfaces to create a web-based activity data collection environment. It also provides a web-based experience sampling tool to take the user’s activity input. The tool generates an activity log using its activity knowledge and the user-given inputs. The activity knowledge is mined from the web. We have performed two experiments to validate the tool’s performance in producing reliable datasets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1398 KiB  
Article
From Sensor to Observation Web with Environmental Enablers in the Future Internet
by Denis Havlik, Sven Schade, Zoheir A. Sabeur, Paolo Mazzetti, Kym Watson, Arne J. Berre and Jose Lorenzo Mon
Sensors 2011, 11(4), 3874-3907; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110403874 - 30 Mar 2011
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 14320
Abstract
This paper outlines the grand challenges in global sustainability research and the objectives of the FP7 Future Internet PPP program within the Digital Agenda for Europe. Large user communities are generating significant amounts of valuable environmental observations at local and regional scales using [...] Read more.
This paper outlines the grand challenges in global sustainability research and the objectives of the FP7 Future Internet PPP program within the Digital Agenda for Europe. Large user communities are generating significant amounts of valuable environmental observations at local and regional scales using the devices and services of the Future Internet. These communities’ environmental observations represent a wealth of information which is currently hardly used or used only in isolation and therefore in need of integration with other information sources. Indeed, this very integration will lead to a paradigm shift from a mere Sensor Web to an Observation Web with semantically enriched content emanating from sensors, environmental simulations and citizens. The paper also describes the research challenges to realize the Observation Web and the associated environmental enablers for the Future Internet. Such an environmental enabler could for instance be an electronic sensing device, a web-service application, or even a social networking group affording or facilitating the capability of the Future Internet applications to consume, produce, and use environmental observations in cross-domain applications. The term “envirofied” Future Internet is coined to describe this overall target that forms a cornerstone of work in the Environmental Usage Area within the Future Internet PPP program. Relevant trends described in the paper are the usage of ubiquitous sensors (anywhere), the provision and generation of information by citizens, and the convergence of real and virtual realities to convey understanding of environmental observations. The paper addresses the technical challenges in the Environmental Usage Area and the need for designing multi-style service oriented architecture. Key topics are the mapping of requirements to capabilities, providing scalability and robustness with implementing context aware information retrieval. Another essential research topic is handling data fusion and model based computation, and the related propagation of information uncertainty. Approaches to security, standardization and harmonization, all essential for sustainable solutions, are summarized from the perspective of the Environmental Usage Area. The paper concludes with an overview of emerging, high impact applications in the environmental areas concerning land ecosystems (biodiversity), air quality (atmospheric conditions) and water ecosystems (marine asset management). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1793 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Distribution of Tabebuia guayacan (Bignoniaceae) Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery
by Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa, Benoit Rivard, Joseph Wright, Ji-Lu Feng, Peijun Li, Mei Mei Chong and Stephanie A. Bohlman
Sensors 2011, 11(4), 3831-3851; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110403831 - 30 Mar 2011
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 9540
Abstract
Species identification and characterization in tropical environments is an emerging field in tropical remote sensing. Significant efforts are currently aimed at the detection of tree species, of levels of forest successional stages, and the extent of liana occurrence at the top of canopies. [...] Read more.
Species identification and characterization in tropical environments is an emerging field in tropical remote sensing. Significant efforts are currently aimed at the detection of tree species, of levels of forest successional stages, and the extent of liana occurrence at the top of canopies. In this paper we describe our use of high resolution imagery from the Quickbird Satellite to estimate the flowering population of Tabebuia guayacan trees at Barro Colorado Island (BCI), in Panama. The imagery was acquired on 29 April 2002 and 21 March 2004. Spectral Angle Mapping via a One-Class Support Vector machine was used to detect the presence of 422 and 557 flowering tress in the April 2002 and March 2004 imagery. Of these, 273 flowering trees are common to both dates. This study presents a new perspective on the effectiveness of high resolution remote sensing for monitoring a phenological response and its use as a tool for potential conservation and management of natural resources in tropical environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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413 KiB  
Article
Implementation of a Synchronized Oscillator Circuit for Fast Sensing and Labeling of Image Objects
by Jacek Kowalski, Michal Strzelecki and Hyongsuk Kim
Sensors 2011, 11(4), 3401-3417; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110403401 - 24 Mar 2011
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 8701
Abstract
We present an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) CMOS chip that implements a synchronized oscillator cellular neural network with a matrix size of 32 × 32 for object sensing and labeling in binary images. Networks of synchronized oscillators are a recently developed tool for [...] Read more.
We present an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) CMOS chip that implements a synchronized oscillator cellular neural network with a matrix size of 32 × 32 for object sensing and labeling in binary images. Networks of synchronized oscillators are a recently developed tool for image segmentation and analysis. Its parallel network operation is based on a “temporary correlation” theory that attempts to describe scene recognition as if performed by the human brain. The synchronized oscillations of neuron groups attract a person’s attention if he or she is focused on a coherent stimulus (image object). For more than one perceived stimulus, these synchronized patterns switch in time between different neuron groups, thus forming temporal maps that code several features of the analyzed scene. In this paper, a new oscillator circuit based on a mathematical model is proposed, and the network architecture and chip functional blocks are presented and discussed. The proposed chip is implemented in AMIS 0.35 mm C035M-D 5M/1P technology. An application of the proposed network chip for the segmentation of insulin-producing pancreatic islets in magnetic resonance liver images is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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725 KiB  
Article
Gyroscope Pivot Bearing Dimension and Surface Defect Detection
by Wenqian Ge, Huijie Zhao and Xudong Li
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 3227-3248; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110303227 - 16 Mar 2011
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 8351
Abstract
Because of the perceived lack of systematic analysis in illumination system design processes and a lack of criteria for design methods in vision detection a method for the design of a task-oriented illumination system is proposed. After detecting the micro-defects of a gyroscope [...] Read more.
Because of the perceived lack of systematic analysis in illumination system design processes and a lack of criteria for design methods in vision detection a method for the design of a task-oriented illumination system is proposed. After detecting the micro-defects of a gyroscope pivot bearing with a high curvature glabrous surface and analyzing the characteristics of the surface detection and reflection model, a complex illumination system with coaxial and ring lights is proposed. The illumination system is then optimized based on the analysis of illuminance uniformity of target regions by simulation and grey scale uniformity and articulation that are calculated from grey imagery. Currently, in order to apply the Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PCNN) method, structural parameters must be tested and adjusted repeatedly. Therefore, this paper proposes the use of a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, in which the maximum between cluster variance rules is used as fitness function with a linearily reduced inertia factor. This algorithm is used to adaptively set PCNN connection coefficients and dynamic threshold, which avoids algorithmic precocity and local oscillations. The proposed method is used for pivot bearing defect image processing. The segmentation results of the maximum entropy and minimum error method and the one described in this paper are compared using buffer region matching, and the experimental results show that the method of this paper is effective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1558 KiB  
Article
Analysis of RFI Identification and Mitigation in CAROLS Radiometer Data Using a Hardware Spectrum Analyser
by Pascal Fanise, Mickaël Pardé, Mehrez Zribi, Monique Dechambre and Christophe Caudoux
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 3037-3050; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110303037 - 07 Mar 2011
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7562
Abstract
A method to identify and mitigate radio frequency interference (RFI) in microwave radiometry based on the use of a spectrum analyzer has been developed. This method has been tested with CAROLS L-band airborne radiometer data that are strongly corrupted by RFI. RFI is [...] Read more.
A method to identify and mitigate radio frequency interference (RFI) in microwave radiometry based on the use of a spectrum analyzer has been developed. This method has been tested with CAROLS L-band airborne radiometer data that are strongly corrupted by RFI. RFI is a major limiting factor in passive microwave remote sensing interpretation. Although the 1.400–1.427 GHz bandwidth is protected, RFI sources close to these frequencies are still capable of corrupting radiometric measurements. In order to reduce the detrimental effects of RFI on brightness temperature measurements, a new spectrum analyzer has been added to the CAROLS radiometer system. A post processing algorithm is proposed, based on selective filters within the useful bandwidth divided into sub-bands. Two discriminant analyses based on the computation of kurtosis and Euclidian distances have been compared evaluated and validated in order to accurately separate the RF interference from natural signals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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629 KiB  
Article
Mapping the Philippines’ Mangrove Forests Using Landsat Imagery
by Jordan B. Long and Chandra Giri
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 2972-2981; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302972 - 07 Mar 2011
Cited by 130 | Viewed by 23905
Abstract
Current, accurate, and reliable information on the areal extent and spatial distribution of mangrove forests in the Philippines is limited. Previous estimates of mangrove extent do not illustrate the spatial distribution for the entire country. This study, part of a global assessment of [...] Read more.
Current, accurate, and reliable information on the areal extent and spatial distribution of mangrove forests in the Philippines is limited. Previous estimates of mangrove extent do not illustrate the spatial distribution for the entire country. This study, part of a global assessment of mangrove dynamics, mapped the spatial distribution and areal extent of the Philippines’ mangroves circa 2000. We used publicly available Landsat data acquired primarily from the Global Land Survey to map the total extent and spatial distribution. ISODATA clustering, an unsupervised classification technique, was applied to 61 Landsat images. Statistical analysis indicates the total area of mangrove forest cover was approximately 256,185 hectares circa 2000 with overall classification accuracy of 96.6% and a kappa coefficient of 0.926. These results differ substantially from most recent estimates of mangrove area in the Philippines. The results of this study may assist the decision making processes for rehabilitation and conservation efforts that are currently needed to protect and restore the Philippines’ degraded mangrove forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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382 KiB  
Article
Wireless Remote Weather Monitoring System Based on MEMS Technologies
by Rong-Hua Ma, Yu-Hsiang Wang and Chia-Yen Lee
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 2715-2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302715 - 01 Mar 2011
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 12285
Abstract
This study proposes a wireless remote weather monitoring system based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and wireless sensor network (WSN) technologies comprising sensors for the measurement of temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction, integrated on a single chip. The sensing signals are transmitted [...] Read more.
This study proposes a wireless remote weather monitoring system based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and wireless sensor network (WSN) technologies comprising sensors for the measurement of temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction, integrated on a single chip. The sensing signals are transmitted between the Octopus II-A sensor nodes using WSN technology, following amplification and analog/digital conversion (ADC). Experimental results show that the resistance of the micro temperature sensor increases linearly with input temperature, with an average TCR (temperature coefficient of resistance) value of 8.2 × 10−4 (°C−1). The resistance of the pressure sensor also increases linearly with air pressure, with an average sensitivity value of 3.5 × 10−2 (Ω/kPa). The sensitivity to humidity increases with ambient temperature due to the effect of temperature on the dielectric constant, which was determined to be 16.9, 21.4, 27.0, and 38.2 (pF/%RH) at 27 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C, respectively. The velocity of airflow is obtained by summing the variations in resistor response as airflow passed over the sensors providing sensitivity of 4.2 × 10−2, 9.2 × 10−2, 9.7 × 10−2 (Ω/ms−1) with power consumption by the heating resistor of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 W, respectively. The passage of air across the surface of the flow sensors prompts variations in temperature among each of the sensing resistors. Evaluating these variations in resistance caused by the temperature change enables the measurement of wind direction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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481 KiB  
Article
A Nanosensor for TNT Detection Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
by Ellen L. Holthoff, Dimitra N. Stratis-Cullum and Mikella E. Hankus
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 2700-2714; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302700 - 01 Mar 2011
Cited by 182 | Viewed by 15448
Abstract
We report on a new sensor strategy that integrates molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The sensor was developed to detect the explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Micron thick films of sol gel-derived xerogels were deposited on a SERS-active surface as [...] Read more.
We report on a new sensor strategy that integrates molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The sensor was developed to detect the explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Micron thick films of sol gel-derived xerogels were deposited on a SERS-active surface as the sensing layer. Xerogels were molecularly imprinted for TNT using non-covalent interactions with the polymer matrix. Binding of the TNT within the polymer matrix results in unique SERS bands, which allow for detection and identification of the molecule in the MIP. This MIP-SERS sensor exhibits an apparent dissociation constant of (2.3 ± 0.3) × 10−5 M for TNT and a 3 µM detection limit. The response to TNT is reversible and the sensor is stable for at least 6 months. Key challenges, including developing a MIP formulation that is stable and integrated with the SERS substrate, and ensuring the MIP does not mask the spectral features of the target analyte through SERS polymer background, were successfully met. The results also suggest the MIP-SERS protocol can be extended to other target analytes of interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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494 KiB  
Article
Land Use Dynamics of the Fast-Growing Shanghai Metropolis, China (1979–2008) and its Implications for Land Use and Urban Planning Policy
by Hao Zhang, Li-Guo Zhou, Ming-Nan Chen and Wei-Chun Ma
Sensors 2011, 11(2), 1794-1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110201794 - 31 Jan 2011
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 13147
Abstract
Through the integrated approach of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, four Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery acquired during 1979 and 2008 were used to quantitatively characterize the patterns of land use and land cover change (LULC) and urban sprawl in the fast-growing [...] Read more.
Through the integrated approach of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, four Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery acquired during 1979 and 2008 were used to quantitatively characterize the patterns of land use and land cover change (LULC) and urban sprawl in the fast-growing Shanghai Metropolis, China. Results showed that, the urban/built-up area grew on average by 4,242.06 ha yr−1. Bare land grew by 1,594.66 ha yr−1 on average. In contrast, cropland decreased by 3,286.26 ha yr−1 on average, followed by forest and shrub, water, and tidal land, which decreased by 1,331.33 ha yr−1, 903.43 ha yr−1, and 315.72 ha yr−1 on average, respectively. As a result, during 1979 and 2008 approximately 83.83% of the newly urban/built-up land was converted from cropland (67.35%), forest and shrub (9.12%), water (4.80%), and tidal land (2.19%). Another significant change was the continuous increase in regular residents, which played a very important role in contributing to local population growth and increase in urban/built-up land. This can be explained with this city’s huge demand for investment and qualified labor since the latest industrial transformation. Moreover, with a decrease in cropland, the proportion of population engaged in farming decreased 13.84%. Therefore, significant socio-economic transformation occurred, and this would lead to new demand for land resources. However, due to very scarce land resources and overload of population in Shanghai, the drive to achieve economic goals at the loss of cropland, water, and the other lands is not sustainable. Future urban planning policy aiming at ensuring a win-win balance between sustainable land use and economic growth is urgently needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1041 KiB  
Article
The Properties of Terrestrial Laser System Intensity for Measuring Leaf Geometries: A Case Study with Conference Pear Trees (Pyrus Communis)
by Mathilde A.F. Balduzzi, Dimitry Van der Zande, Jan Stuckens, Willem W. Verstraeten and Pol Coppin
Sensors 2011, 11(2), 1657-1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110201657 - 28 Jan 2011
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 11158
Abstract
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be a valuable tool for describing and quantifying vegetation structure. However, because of their size, extraction of leaf geometries remains complicated. In this study, the intensity data produced by the Terrestrial Laser System (TLS) FARO LS880 [...] Read more.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be a valuable tool for describing and quantifying vegetation structure. However, because of their size, extraction of leaf geometries remains complicated. In this study, the intensity data produced by the Terrestrial Laser System (TLS) FARO LS880 is corrected for the distance effect and its relationship with the angle of incidence between the laser beam and the surface of the leaf of a Conference Pear tree (Pyrus Commmunis) is established. The results demonstrate that with only intensity, this relationship has a potential for determining the angle of incidence with the leaves surface with a precision of ±5° for an angle of incidence smaller than 60°, whereas it is more variable for an angle of incidence larger than 60°. It appears that TLS beam footprint, leaf curvatures and leaf wrinkles have an impact on the relationship between intensity and angle of incidence, though, this analysis shows that the intensity of scanned leaves has a potential to eliminate ghost points and to improve their meshing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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341 KiB  
Article
Detection of Single Molecules Illuminated by a Light-Emitting Diode
by Ilja Gerhardt, Lijian Mai, Antìa Lamas-Linares and Christian Kurtsiefer
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 905-916; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100905 - 14 Jan 2011
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9158
Abstract
Optical detection and spectroscopy of single molecules has become an indispensable tool in biological imaging and sensing. Its success is based on fluorescence of organic dye molecules under carefully engineered laser illumination. In this paper we demonstrate optical detection of single molecules on [...] Read more.
Optical detection and spectroscopy of single molecules has become an indispensable tool in biological imaging and sensing. Its success is based on fluorescence of organic dye molecules under carefully engineered laser illumination. In this paper we demonstrate optical detection of single molecules on a wide-field microscope with an illumination based on a commercially available, green light-emitting diode. The results are directly compared with laser illumination in the same experimental configuration. The setup and the limiting factors, such as light transfer to the sample, spectral filtering and the resulting signal-to-noise ratio are discussed. A theoretical and an experimental approach to estimate these parameters are presented. The results can be adapted to other single emitter and illumination schemes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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965 KiB  
Article
CAROLS: A New Airborne L-Band Radiometer for Ocean Surface and Land Observations
by Mehrez Zribi, Mickael Pardé, Jacquline Boutin, Pascal Fanise, Daniele Hauser, Monique Dechambre, Yann Kerr, Marion Leduc-Leballeur, Gilles Reverdin, Niels Skou, Sten Søbjærg, Clement Albergel, Jean Christophe Calvet, Jean Pierre Wigneron, Ernesto Lopez-Baeza, Antonio Rius and Joseph Tenerelli
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 719-742; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100719 - 12 Jan 2011
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 15027
Abstract
The “Cooperative Airborne Radiometer for Ocean and Land Studies” (CAROLS) L-Band radiometer was designed and built as a copy of the EMIRAD II radiometer constructed by the Technical University of Denmark team. It is a fully polarimetric and direct sampling correlation radiometer. It [...] Read more.
The “Cooperative Airborne Radiometer for Ocean and Land Studies” (CAROLS) L-Band radiometer was designed and built as a copy of the EMIRAD II radiometer constructed by the Technical University of Denmark team. It is a fully polarimetric and direct sampling correlation radiometer. It is installed on board a dedicated French ATR42 research aircraft, in conjunction with other airborne instruments (C-Band scatterometer—STORM, the GOLD-RTR GPS system, the infrared CIMEL radiometer and a visible wavelength camera). Following initial laboratory qualifications, three airborne campaigns involving 21 flights were carried out over South West France, the Valencia site and the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean) in 2007, 2008 and 2009, in coordination with in situ field campaigns. In order to validate the CAROLS data, various aircraft flight patterns and maneuvers were implemented, including straight horizontal flights, circular flights, wing and nose wags over the ocean. Analysis of the first two campaigns in 2007 and 2008 leads us to improve the CAROLS radiometer regarding isolation between channels and filter bandwidth. After implementation of these improvements, results show that the instrument is conforming to specification and is a useful tool for Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite validation as well as for specific studies on surface soil moisture or ocean salinity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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188 KiB  
Article
Roller Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Nonlinear Redundant Lifting Wavelet Packet Analysis
by Lixin Gao, Zijing Yang, Ligang Cai, Huaqing Wang and Peng Chen
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 260-277; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100260 - 28 Dec 2010
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 8500
Abstract
A nonlinear redundant lifting wavelet packet algorithm was put forward in this study. For the node signals to be decomposed in different layers, predicting operators and updating operators with different orders of vanishing moments were chosen to take norm of the scale coefficient [...] Read more.
A nonlinear redundant lifting wavelet packet algorithm was put forward in this study. For the node signals to be decomposed in different layers, predicting operators and updating operators with different orders of vanishing moments were chosen to take norm of the scale coefficient and wavelet coefficient acquired from decomposition, the predicting operator and updating operator corresponding to the minimal norm value were used as the optimal operators to match the information characteristics of a node. With the problems of frequency alias and band interlacing in the analysis of redundant lifting wavelet packet being investigated, an improved algorithm for decomposition and node single-branch reconstruction was put forward. The normalized energy of the bottommost decomposition node coefficient was calculated, and the node signals with the maximal energy were extracted for demodulation. The roller bearing faults were detected successfully with the improved analysis on nonlinear redundant lifting wavelet packet being applied to the fault diagnosis of the roller bearings of the finishing mills in a plant. This application proved the validity and practicality of this method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1519 KiB  
Article
A Featureless Approach to 3D Polyhedral Building Modeling from Aerial Images
by Karim Hammoudi and Fadi Dornaika
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 228-259; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100228 - 28 Dec 2010
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10265
Abstract
This paper presents a model-based approach for reconstructing 3D polyhedral building models from aerial images. The proposed approach exploits some geometric and photometric properties resulting from the perspective projection of planar structures. Data are provided by calibrated aerial images. The novelty of the [...] Read more.
This paper presents a model-based approach for reconstructing 3D polyhedral building models from aerial images. The proposed approach exploits some geometric and photometric properties resulting from the perspective projection of planar structures. Data are provided by calibrated aerial images. The novelty of the approach lies in its featurelessness and in its use of direct optimization based on image rawbrightness. The proposed framework avoids feature extraction and matching. The 3D polyhedral model is directly estimated by optimizing an objective function that combines an image-based dissimilarity measure and a gradient score over several aerial images. The optimization process is carried out by the Differential Evolution algorithm. The proposed approach is intended to provide more accurate 3D reconstruction than feature-based approaches. Fast 3D model rectification and updating can take advantage of the proposed method. Several results and evaluations of performance from real and synthetic images show the feasibility and robustness of the proposed approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1533 KiB  
Article
3D Geometrical Inspection of Complex Geometry Parts Using a Novel Laser Triangulation Sensor and a Robot
by Francisco Javier Brosed, Juan José Aguilar, David Guillomía and Jorge Santolaria
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 90-110; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100090 - 23 Dec 2010
Cited by 76 | Viewed by 13921
Abstract
This article discusses different non contact 3D measuring strategies and presents a model for measuring complex geometry parts, manipulated through a robot arm, using a novel vision system consisting of a laser triangulation sensor and a motorized linear stage. First, the geometric model [...] Read more.
This article discusses different non contact 3D measuring strategies and presents a model for measuring complex geometry parts, manipulated through a robot arm, using a novel vision system consisting of a laser triangulation sensor and a motorized linear stage. First, the geometric model incorporating an automatic simple module for long term stability improvement will be outlined in the article. The new method used in the automatic module allows the sensor set up, including the motorized linear stage, for the scanning avoiding external measurement devices. In the measurement model the robot is just a positioning of parts with high repeatability. Its position and orientation data are not used for the measurement and therefore it is not directly “coupled” as an active component in the model. The function of the robot is to present the various surfaces of the workpiece along the measurement range of the vision system, which is responsible for the measurement. Thus, the whole system is not affected by the robot own errors following a trajectory, except those due to the lack of static repeatability. For the indirect link between the vision system and the robot, the original model developed needs only one first piece measuring as a “zero” or master piece, known by its accurate measurement using, for example, a Coordinate Measurement Machine. The strategy proposed presents a different approach to traditional laser triangulation systems on board the robot in order to improve the measurement accuracy, and several important cues for self-recalibration are explored using only a master piece. Experimental results are also presented to demonstrate the technique and the final 3D measurement accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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455 KiB  
Article
Colorimetric Assay for Determination of Lead (II) Based on Its Incorporation into Gold Nanoparticles during Their Synthesis
by Nan Ding, Qian Cao, Hong Zhao, Yimin Yang, Lixi Zeng, Yujian He, Kaixiang Xiang and Guangwei Wang
Sensors 2010, 10(12), 11144-11155; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101211144 - 07 Dec 2010
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 12057
Abstract
In this report, we present a new method for visual detection of Pb2+. Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were synthesized in one step at room temperature, using gallic acid (GA) as reducer and stabilizer. Pb2+ is added during the gold nanoparticle formation. [...] Read more.
In this report, we present a new method for visual detection of Pb2+. Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were synthesized in one step at room temperature, using gallic acid (GA) as reducer and stabilizer. Pb2+ is added during the gold nanoparticle formation. Analysis of Pb2+ is conducted by a dual strategy, namely, colorimetry and spectrometry. During Au-NPs synthesis, addition of Pb2+ would lead to formation of Pb-GA complex, which can induce the aggregation of newly-formed small unstable gold nanoclusters. Consequently, colorimetric detection of trace Pb2+ can be realized. As the Pb2+ concentration increases, the color turns from red-wine to purple, and finally blue. This method offers a sensitive linear correlation between the shift of the absorption band (Δλ) and logarithm of Pb2+ concentration ranging from 5.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−6 M with a linear fit coefficient of 0.998, and a high selectivity for Pb2+ detection with a low detection limit down to 2.5 × 10−8 M. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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215 KiB  
Article
Generalization of DT Equations for Time Dependent Sources
by Lorenzo Neri, Salvatore Tudisco, Francesco Musumeci, Agata Scordino, Giorgio Fallica, Massimo Mazzillo and Massimo Zimbone
Sensors 2010, 10(12), 10828-10836; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101210828 - 02 Dec 2010
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 8208
Abstract
New equations for paralyzable, non paralyzable and hybrid DT models, valid for any time dependent sources are presented. We show how such new equations include the equations already used for constant rate sources, and how it’s is possible to correct DT losses in [...] Read more.
New equations for paralyzable, non paralyzable and hybrid DT models, valid for any time dependent sources are presented. We show how such new equations include the equations already used for constant rate sources, and how it’s is possible to correct DT losses in the case of time dependent sources. Montecarlo simulations were performed to compare the equations behavior with the three DT models. Excellent accordance between equations predictions and Montecarlo simulation was found. We also obtain good results in the experimental validation of the new hybrid DT equation. Passive quenched SPAD device was chosen as a device affected by hybrid DT losses and active quenched SPAD with 50 ns DT was used as DT losses free device. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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744 KiB  
Article
A Polymer-Based Capacitive Sensing Array for Normal and Shear Force Measurement
by Ming-Yuan Cheng, Chun-Liang Lin, Yu-Tse Lai and Yao-Joe Yang
Sensors 2010, 10(11), 10211-10225; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101110211 - 15 Nov 2010
Cited by 143 | Viewed by 14162
Abstract
In this work, we present the development of a polymer-based capacitive sensing array. The proposed device is capable of measuring normal and shear forces, and can be easily realized by using micromachining techniques and flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) technologies. The sensing array [...] Read more.
In this work, we present the development of a polymer-based capacitive sensing array. The proposed device is capable of measuring normal and shear forces, and can be easily realized by using micromachining techniques and flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) technologies. The sensing array consists of a polydimethlysiloxane (PDMS) structure and a FPCB. Each shear sensing element comprises four capacitive sensing cells arranged in a 2 × 2 array, and each capacitive sensing cell has two sensing electrodes and a common floating electrode. The sensing electrodes as well as the metal interconnect for signal scanning are implemented on the FPCB, while the floating electrodes are patterned on the PDMS structure. This design can effectively reduce the complexity of the capacitive structures, and thus makes the device highly manufacturable. The characteristics of the devices with different dimensions were measured and discussed. A scanning circuit was also designed and implemented. The measured maximum sensitivity is 1.67%/mN. The minimum resolvable force is 26 mN measured by the scanning circuit. The capacitance distributions induced by normal and shear forces were also successfully captured by the sensing array. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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518 KiB  
Article
An Intelligent Architecture Based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays Designed to Detect Moving Objects by Using Principal Component Analysis
by Ignacio Bravo, Manuel Mazo, José L. Lázaro, Alfredo Gardel, Pedro Jiménez and Daniel Pizarro
Sensors 2010, 10(10), 9232-9251; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101009232 - 15 Oct 2010
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 10877
Abstract
This paper presents a complete implementation of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices applied to high rate background segmentation of images. The classical sequential execution of different parts of the PCA algorithm has been parallelized. This [...] Read more.
This paper presents a complete implementation of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices applied to high rate background segmentation of images. The classical sequential execution of different parts of the PCA algorithm has been parallelized. This parallelization has led to the specific development and implementation in hardware of the different stages of PCA, such as computation of the correlation matrix, matrix diagonalization using the Jacobi method and subspace projections of images. On the application side, the paper presents a motion detection algorithm, also entirely implemented on the FPGA, and based on the developed PCA core. This consists of dynamically thresholding the differences between the input image and the one obtained by expressing the input image using the PCA linear subspace previously obtained as a background model. The proposal achieves a high ratio of processed images (up to 120 frames per second) and high quality segmentation results, with a completely embedded and reliable hardware architecture based on commercial CMOS sensors and FPGA devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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Review

Jump to: Research

5167 KiB  
Review
Theory, Instrumentation and Applications of Magnetoelastic Resonance Sensors: A Review
by Craig A. Grimes, Somnath C. Roy, Sanju Rani and Qingyun Cai
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 2809-2844; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302809 - 02 Mar 2011
Cited by 166 | Viewed by 14714
Abstract
Thick-film magnetoelastic sensors vibrate mechanically in response to a time varying magnetic excitation field. The mechanical vibrations of the magnetostrictive magnetoelastic material launch, in turn, a magnetic field by which the sensor can be monitored. Magnetic field telemetry enables contact-less, remote-query operation that [...] Read more.
Thick-film magnetoelastic sensors vibrate mechanically in response to a time varying magnetic excitation field. The mechanical vibrations of the magnetostrictive magnetoelastic material launch, in turn, a magnetic field by which the sensor can be monitored. Magnetic field telemetry enables contact-less, remote-query operation that has enabled many practical uses of the sensor platform. This paper builds upon a review paper we published in Sensors in 2002 (Grimes, C.A.; et al. Sensors 2002, 2, 294-313), presenting a comprehensive review on the theory, operating principles, instrumentation and key applications of magnetoelastic sensing technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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809 KiB  
Review
New Generation Sensor Web Enablement
by Arne Bröring, Johannes Echterhoff, Simon Jirka, Ingo Simonis, Thomas Everding, Christoph Stasch, Steve Liang and Rob Lemmens
Sensors 2011, 11(3), 2652-2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302652 - 01 Mar 2011
Cited by 396 | Viewed by 30857
Abstract
Many sensor networks have been deployed to monitor Earth’s environment, and more will follow in the future. Environmental sensors have improved continuously by becoming smaller, cheaper, and more intelligent. Due to the large number of sensor manufacturers and differing accompanying protocols, integrating diverse [...] Read more.
Many sensor networks have been deployed to monitor Earth’s environment, and more will follow in the future. Environmental sensors have improved continuously by becoming smaller, cheaper, and more intelligent. Due to the large number of sensor manufacturers and differing accompanying protocols, integrating diverse sensors into observation systems is not straightforward. A coherent infrastructure is needed to treat sensors in an interoperable, platform-independent and uniform way. The concept of the Sensor Web reflects such a kind of infrastructure for sharing, finding, and accessing sensors and their data across different applications. It hides the heterogeneous sensor hardware and communication protocols from the applications built on top of it. The Sensor Web Enablement initiative of the Open Geospatial Consortium standardizes web service interfaces and data encodings which can be used as building blocks for a Sensor Web. This article illustrates and analyzes the recent developments of the new generation of the Sensor Web Enablement specification framework. Further, we relate the Sensor Web to other emerging concepts such as the Web of Things and point out challenges and resulting future work topics for research on Sensor Web Enablement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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414 KiB  
Review
PCF-Based Cavity Enhanced Spectroscopic Sensors for Simultaneous Multicomponent Trace Gas Analysis
by Walter M. Nakaema, Zuo-Qiang Hao, Philipp Rohwetter, Ludger Wöste and Kamil Stelmaszczyk
Sensors 2011, 11(2), 1620-1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110201620 - 27 Jan 2011
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 12004
Abstract
A multiwavelength, multicomponent CRDS gas sensor operating on the basis of a compact photonic crystal fibre supercontinuum light source has been constructed. It features a simple design encompassing one radiation source, one cavity and one detection unit (a spectrograph with a fitted ICCD [...] Read more.
A multiwavelength, multicomponent CRDS gas sensor operating on the basis of a compact photonic crystal fibre supercontinuum light source has been constructed. It features a simple design encompassing one radiation source, one cavity and one detection unit (a spectrograph with a fitted ICCD camera) that are common for all wavelengths. Multicomponent detection capability of the device is demonstrated by simultaneous measurements of the absorption spectra of molecular oxygen (spin-forbidden b-X branch) and water vapor (polyads 4v, 4v + d) in ambient atmospheric air. Issues related to multimodal cavity excitation, as well as to obtaining the best signal-to-noise ratio are discussed together with methods for their practical resolution based on operating the cavity in a “quasi continuum” mode and setting long camera gate widths, respectively. A comprehensive review of multiwavelength CRDS techniques is also given. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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412 KiB  
Review
Driving Circuitry for Focused Ultrasound Noninvasive Surgery and Drug Delivery Applications
by Munir M. El-Desouki and Kullervo Hynynen
Sensors 2011, 11(1), 539-556; https://doi.org/10.3390/s110100539 - 07 Jan 2011
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 12189
Abstract
Recent works on focused ultrasound (FUS) have shown great promise for cancer therapy. Researchers are continuously trying to improve system performance, which is resulting in an increased complexity that is more apparent when using multi-element phased array systems. This has led to significant [...] Read more.
Recent works on focused ultrasound (FUS) have shown great promise for cancer therapy. Researchers are continuously trying to improve system performance, which is resulting in an increased complexity that is more apparent when using multi-element phased array systems. This has led to significant efforts to reduce system size and cost by relying on system integration. Although ideas from other fields such as microwave antenna phased arrays can be adopted in FUS, the application requirements differ significantly since the frequency range used in FUS is much lower. In this paper, we review recent efforts to design efficient power monitoring, phase shifting and output driving techniques used specifically for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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259 KiB  
Review
Scaling up Semi-Arid Grassland Biochemical Content from the Leaf to the Canopy Level: Challenges and Opportunities
by Yuhong He and Amy Mui
Sensors 2010, 10(12), 11072-11087; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101211072 - 06 Dec 2010
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 10770
Abstract
Remote sensing imagery is being used intensively to estimate the biochemical content of vegetation (e.g., chlorophyll, nitrogen, and lignin) at the leaf level. As a result of our need for vegetation biochemical information and our increasing ability to obtain canopy spectral data, a [...] Read more.
Remote sensing imagery is being used intensively to estimate the biochemical content of vegetation (e.g., chlorophyll, nitrogen, and lignin) at the leaf level. As a result of our need for vegetation biochemical information and our increasing ability to obtain canopy spectral data, a few techniques have been explored to scale leaf-level biochemical content to the canopy level for forests and crops. However, due to the contribution of non-green materials (i.e., standing dead litter, rock, and bare soil) from canopy spectra in semi-arid grasslands, it is difficult to obtain information about grassland biochemical content from remote sensing data at the canopy level. This paper summarizes available methods used to scale biochemical information from the leaf level to the canopy level and groups these methods into three categories: direct extrapolation, canopy-integrated approach, and inversion of physical models. As for semi-arid heterogeneous grasslands, we conclude that all methods are useful, but none are ideal. It is recommended that future research should explore a systematic upscaling framework which combines spatial pattern analysis, canopy-integrated approach, and modeling methods to retrieve vegetation biochemical content at the canopy level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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1439 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Kinematic and Calibration Models Using Internal/External Sensors or Constraints to Improve the Behavior of Spatial Parallel Mechanisms
by Ana C. Majarena, Jorge Santolaria, David Samper and Juan J. Aguilar
Sensors 2010, 10(11), 10256-10297; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101110256 - 16 Nov 2010
Cited by 76 | Viewed by 16813
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the literature on kinematic and calibration models of parallel mechanisms, the influence of sensors in the mechanism accuracy and parallel mechanisms used as sensors. The most relevant classifications to obtain and solve kinematic models and to identify [...] Read more.
This paper presents an overview of the literature on kinematic and calibration models of parallel mechanisms, the influence of sensors in the mechanism accuracy and parallel mechanisms used as sensors. The most relevant classifications to obtain and solve kinematic models and to identify geometric and non-geometric parameters in the calibration of parallel robots are discussed, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each method, presenting new trends and identifying unsolved problems. This overview tries to answer and show the solutions developed by the most up-to-date research to some of the most frequent questions that appear in the modelling of a parallel mechanism, such as how to measure, the number of sensors and necessary configurations, the type and influence of errors or the number of necessary parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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178 KiB  
Review
Remote Sensing of Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation: A Review from the Perspective of Remote Sensing Specialists
by Kai Wang, Steven E. Franklin, Xulin Guo and Marc Cattet
Sensors 2010, 10(11), 9647-9667; https://doi.org/10.3390/s101109647 - 01 Nov 2010
Cited by 208 | Viewed by 26381
Abstract
Remote sensing, the science of obtaining information via noncontact recording, has swept the fields of ecology, biodiversity and conservation (EBC). Several quality review papers have contributed to this field. However, these papers often discuss the issues from the standpoint of an ecologist or [...] Read more.
Remote sensing, the science of obtaining information via noncontact recording, has swept the fields of ecology, biodiversity and conservation (EBC). Several quality review papers have contributed to this field. However, these papers often discuss the issues from the standpoint of an ecologist or a biodiversity specialist. This review focuses on the spaceborne remote sensing of EBC from the perspective of remote sensing specialists, i.e., it is organized in the context of state-of-the-art remote sensing technology, including instruments and techniques. Herein, the instruments to be discussed consist of high spatial resolution, hyperspectral, thermal infrared, small-satellite constellation, and LIDAR sensors; and the techniques refer to image classification, vegetation index (VI), inversion algorithm, data fusion, and the integration of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10 Years Sensors - A Decade of Publishing)
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