Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-contact, non-invasive methodology which allows for detection of thermal energy that is radiated from objects in the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum, for conversion of such energy into a visible image (such as a surface temperature map). This feature represents a great potential to be exploited in a vast variety of fields from aerospace to civil engineering, to medicine, to agriculture, etc. However, IRT is still not adequately enclosed in industrial instrumentation and there are still potential users who might benefit from the use of such a technique and who are not aware of their existence. This e-book conveys information about basic IRT theory, infrared detectors, signal digitalization and applications of infrared thermography in many fields such as medicine, foodstuff conservation, fluid-dynamics, architecture, anthropology, condition monitoring, non destructive testing and evaluation of materials and structures. The volume promotes an exchange of information between the academic world and industry, and shares methodologies which were independently developed and applied in specific disciplines.

Infrared Thermography in the Evaluation of Aerospace Composite Materials: Infrared Thermography to Composites provides an update on infrared thermography, a fast and reliable method for non-destructive evaluation of composite materials used in the aerospace field. The book describes composites and the main problems that can arise both during manufacturing and when in service, and then covers different thermographic non-destructive testing and evaluation techniques, including pulse thermography, lock-in thermography, and pulse phase. Each technique includes key examples and relevant references, with sections devoted to the usefulness of an infrared imaging device to monitor the behavior of a material under load, such as impact and bending. The book also includes discussions on standards, personnel certification, and training. - Provides a comprehensive look at the use of infrared thermography in the materials science field - Describes thermographic techniques of non-destructive testing in an easy way, and with links to aeronautical standards - Addresses different types of composite problems and how they can be helped through the use of infrared thermography - Includes key examples and relevant references, with sections devoted to the usefulness of an infrared imaging device to monitor the behavior of a material under load

This book presents novel methods for the simulation of damage evolution in aerospace composites that will assist in predicting damage onset and growth and thus foster less conservative designs which realize the promised economic benefits of composite materials. The presented integrated numerical/experimental methodologies are capable of taking into account the presence of damage and its evolution in composite structures from the early phases of the design (conceptual design) through to the detailed finite element method analysis and verification phase. The book is based on the GARTEUR Research Project AG-32, which ran from 2007 to 2012, and documents the main results of that project. In addition, the state of the art in European projects on damage evolution in composites is reviewed. While the high specific strength and stiffness of composite materials make them suitable for aerospace structures, their sensitivity to damage means that designing with composites is a challenging task. The new approaches described here will prove invaluable in meeting that challenge.

The technological advancements of today not only affect individual’s personal lives. They also affect the way urban communities regard the improvement of their resident’s lives. Research involving these autonomic reactions to the growing needs of the people is desperately needed to transform the cities of today into the cities of the future. Driving the Development, Management, and Sustainability of Cognitive Cities is a pivotal reference source that explores and improves the understanding of the strategic role of sustainable cognitive cities in residents’ routine life styles. Such benefits to residents and businesses include having access to world-class training while sitting at home, having their wellbeing observed consistently, and having their medical issues identified before occurrence. This book is ideally designed for administrators, policymakers, industrialists, and researchers seeking current research on developing and managing cognitive cities.

Novel technologies are playing an important role in the development of crop and livestock farming and have the potential to be the key drivers of sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. In particular, new sensors are now available with reduced dimensions, reduced costs, and increased performances, which can be implemented and integrated in production systems, providing more data and eventually an increase in information. It is of great importance to support the digital transformation, precision agriculture, and smart farming, and to eventually allow a revolution in the way food is produced. In order to exploit these results, authoritative studies from the research world are still needed to support the development and implementation of new solutions and best practices. This Special Issue is aimed at bringing together recent developments related to novel sensors and their proved or potential applications in agriculture.

This pioneering text/reference presents a detailed focus on the use of machine vision techniques in industrial inspection applications. An internationally renowned selection of experts provide insights on a range of inspection tasks, drawn from their cutting-edge work in academia and industry, covering practical issues of vision system integration for real-world applications. Topics and features: presents a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art hardware and software tools for machine vision, and the evolution of algorithms for industrial inspection; includes in-depth descriptions of advanced inspection methodologies and machine vision technologies for specific needs; discusses the latest developments and future trends in imaging and vision techniques for industrial inspection tasks; provides a focus on imaging and vision system integration, implementation, and optimization; describes the pitfalls and barriers to developing successful inspection systems for smooth and efficient manufacturing process.