Techniques and Applications of Sky Imagers

Dear Colleagues,

Sky imagers are automated imaging systems that depict the sky (to up to ~180o). They have proven very useful for cloud-related applications such as cloud segmentation, cloud classification, cloud base height estimation, the estimation of aerosol optical properties, solar irradiance, solar ramp forecasting, and solar irradiance estimation. Moreover, sky imagers are extensively used for capturing and analyzing auroral events and for meteor patrol.

The proposed Special Issue is expected to explore the techniques used for the analysis of sky images, covering a variety of applications and identifying the progress and challenges involved in a research field that has been growing so significantly over the last two decades. We are looking for papers on topics including, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Machine learning and deep learning in sky imagers;
• RGB, thermal, multi-channel, and hyper spectral image analysis, image enhancement, and super-resolution techniques;
• 3D and 4D sky image reconstruction and visualization;
• Derivation of aerosol optical properties;
• Advanced techniques for the estimation of cloud properties (e.g. coverage, type, velocity) from sky imagers;
• Solar irradiance/energy resource and forecasting at high temporal and spatial rates;
• Comparison/combination of sky imaging results, satellite-based products, and ground-based measurements;
• Auroral optical structures and meteor patrol;
• Open hardware and software in sky image processing.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Kazantzidis
Guest Editor

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