Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-97).

Resumo: Sensores ópticos são amplamente utilizados para mapeamento da cobertura da terra em escala local e pequenas regiões, com uma ampla variedade de aplicações, incluindo planejamento urbano, inventario agrícola e florestal, gerenciamento de bacias hidrográficas e monitoramento ambiental. Mapeamento de cobertura da terra com dados da banda L SAR tem focado primariamente em florestas e área úmidas de regiões tropical e boreal, com ênfase no monitoramento de desmatamento tropical e reflorestamento. No inicio de 2006, aquisições sistemáticas do ALOS PALSAR tem fornecido conjunto de dados multisazonais com alta resolução (12,5m), com potencial para substituir ou complementar os conjuntos de dados ópticos para mapeamento de cobertura da terra em regiões que a cobertura de nuvens é menos problemática, mas ainda um limitante para a variação sazonal da cobertura da terra. Este estudo avalia a utilização de dados PALSAR multitemporal, combinados com modelo digital de superfície (DSM) derivado do ALOS PRISM, para o mapeamento da cobertura da terra em uma região central do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A área de estudo (22.5ºS 47.8 ºW) está situada na região oeste do reservatório de Barra Bonita, próximo a confluência dos rios Tietê e Piracicaba, com elevações variando entre 300 e 1000m. Os usos da terra dominante são agricultura ( cana de açúcar, cítricas e gramíneas) e florestal (eucaliptos). A vegetação natural é restrita a vegetação riparia, mata na front da cuesta e macrofitas aquáticas sazonais. Áreas urbanas presente na região são São Pedro e Aguas de São Pedro. Duas cenas PALSAR no modo Fine-Beam Single-polarization (FBS) (08 de abril de 2008 e 09 de janeiro de 2009... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Optical sensors are widely used for land cover mapping at local and small region scales, for a wide variety of applications including urban planning, forest and crop inventory, watershed management, and environmental monitoring. Land cover mapping with L-band SAR data has focused primarily on forest and wetland areas in tropical and boreal regions, with particular emphasis on monitoring tropical deforestation and regrowth. Beginning in 2006, systematic acquisitions of ALOS PALSAR have provided multi-season, near-global data sets at high (12.5 m) resolution, with the potential to substitute for or complement optical data sets for land cover mapping in regions where cloud cover is less problematic, but still limiting for seasonally varying land cover. This study evaluates the utility of multi-temporal PALSAR data, combined with a digital surface model (DSM) derived from ALOS PRISM, for land cover mapping at a site in central São Paulo state, Brazil. The study area (22.5ºS 47.8 ºW) is situated at the west end of the Barra Bonita Reservoir, at the entrance point of the Tietê River, with elevations ranging from about 300 to 1000 m. Dominant land uses are agriculture (sugar cane, citrus, pasture) and forestry (eucalyptus). Natural vegetation is largely restricted to riparian forest, forests on steep slopes, and seasonal aquatic macrophytes. Urban areas include the cities of São Pedro and Águas de São Pedro. Two PALSAR Fine-Beam Single-polarization (FBS) mode scenes (8 April 2008 and 9 January 2009... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Nilton Nobuhiro Imai / Coorientadora: Laura Hess / Banca: Maria de Lourdes Bueno Trindade Galo / Banca: Claudia Maria de Almeida / Banca: José Tadeu Garcia Tommaselli / Mestre

[pt] Nos últimos anos vem se notando um crescente desenvolvimento na área de fibras óticas, cuja aplicação atualmente não se restringe apenas ao setor de comunicações, mas também está sendo largamente aplicada na área de sensoriamento. Este trabalho estuda uma nova técnica de modulação da luz propagante dentro da fibra ótica para o sensoriamento de determinados parâmetros físicos. O presente trabalho visa comprovar experimentalmente essa nova técnica, a distribuição modal de potência, para aplicação em sensores óticos. / [en] In the last years a growing development in the fiber optics research area has been noticed. The optical fiber can be applied not only on telecommunication, but also on sensing devices. The goal of this report is study a novel light modulation technique inside the optical fiber. In this way it would will be possible to measure certain physics paramenters. In this work will be some experimental results to confirm this new technique, the modal power distribution, to fiber optic sensors application.

This thesis investigates techniques and designs an autonomous visual stereo based navigation sensor to improve stereo visual odometry for purpose of navigation in unknown environments. In particular, autonomous navigation in a space mission context which imposes challenging constraints on algorithm development and hardware requirements. For instance, Global Positioning System (GPS) is not available in this context. Thus, a solution for navigation cannot rely on similar external sources of information. Support to handle this problem is required with the conception of an intelligent perception-sensing device that provides precise outputs related to absolute and relative 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) positioning. This is achieved using only images from stereo calibrated cameras possibly coupled with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) while fulfilling real time processing requirements. Moreover, no prior knowledge about the environment is assumed. Robotic navigation has been the motivating research to investigate different and complementary areas such as stereovision, visual motion estimation, optimisation and data fusion. Several contributions have been made in these areas. Firstly, an efficient feature detection, stereo matching and feature tracking strategy based on Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) feature tracker is proposed to form the base of the visual motion estimation. Secondly, in order to cope with extreme illumination changes, High dynamic range (HDR) imaging solution is investigated and a comparative assessment of feature tracking performance is conducted. Thirdly, a two views local bundle adjustment scheme based on trust region minimisation is proposed for precise visual motion estimation. Fourthly, a novel KLT feature tracker using IMU information is integrated into the visual odometry pipeline. Finally, a smart standalone stereo visual/IMU navigation sensor has been designed integrating an innovative combination of hardware as well as the novel software solutions proposed above. As a result of a balanced combination of hardware and software implementation, we achieved 5fps frame rate processing up to 750 initials features at a resolution of 1280x960. This is the highest reached resolution in real time for visual odometry applications to our knowledge. In addition visual odometry accuracy of our algorithm achieves the state of the art with less than 1% relative error in the estimated trajectories. / © Cranfield University, 2014

Over the last decade advances and innovations from Silicon Photonics technology were observed in the telecommunications and computing industries. This technology which employs Silicon as an optical medium, relies on current CMOS micro-electronics fabrication processes to enable medium scale integration of many nano-photonic devices to produce photonic integrated circuitry. However, other fields of research such as optical sensor processing can benefit from silicon photonics technology, specially in sensors where the physical measurement is wavelength encoded. In this research work, we present a design and application of a thermally tuned silicon photonic device as an optical sensor interrogator. The main device is a micro-ring resonator filter of 10 $\mu m$ of diameter. A photonic design toolkit was developed based on open source software from the research community. With those tools it was possible to estimate the resonance and spectral characteristics of the filter. From the obtained design parameters, a 7.8 x 3.8 mm optical chip was fabricated using standard micro-photonics techniques. In order to tune a ring resonance, Nichrome micro-heaters were fabricated on top of the device. Some fabricated devices were systematically characterized and their tuning response were determined. From measurements, a ring resonator with a free-spectral-range of 18.4 nm and with a bandwidth of 0.14 nm was obtained. Using just 5 mA it was possible to tune the device resonance up to 3 nm. In order to apply our device as a sensor interrogator in this research, a model of wavelength estimation using time interval between peaks measurement technique was developed and simulations were carried out to assess its performance. To test the technique, an experiment using a Fiber Bragg grating optical sensor was set, and estimations of the wavelength shift of this sensor due to axial strains yield an error within 22 pm compared to measurements from spectrum analyzer. Results from this study implies that signals from FBG sensors can be processed with good accuracy using a micro-ring device with the advantage of ts compact size, scalability and versatility. Additionally, the system also has additional applications such as processing optical wavelength shifts from integrated photonic sensors and to be able to track resonances from laser sources.

The implementation of process control in fine coal processing operations has traditionally been limited by the lack of adequate on-line ash sensors. Several nuclear based analyzers are available, yet none have seen widespread acceptance by the coal industry. This is due largely to their high cost, the influences of seam type and pyrite content on accuracy, and the inconvenience of having radioactive sources in a plant. Thus, reliable process control of fine coal circuits is often unobtainable due to the lack of on-line monitoring devices for ash content in process slurry streams. Recently, a video-based slurry sensor for ash analysis of coal tailings has been developed which provides a low cost, reliable ash-monitoring system suitable for use as a process control sensor. The video-based slurry sensor is mounted in a small sump which is continuously fed with coal tailings. The slurry presentation system uses a pressurized tube to rapidly acquire samples of tailings slurry. The video-based sensor employs a black-and-white television camera to acquire live images of the slurry samples. These images are then processed by the PC-based image analysis system to rapidly determine ash content. An adaptive calibration system is used in conjunction with manual monitoring and sampling to provide a means for continuous improvement of the measurement accuracy. Problems with sample illumination and sample presentation have plagued previous developments of on-line optical sensors. The video-based slurry sensor developed in this work uses a unique sample presentation system to provide high-quality slurry images online. The possibilities of using this technology in other mineral processing applications are abundant. / Master of Science

Foi projetado, construído e instalado um sistema bolométrico para a análise das descargas de plasma do TCABR. Este sistema possibilita a observação da coluna de plasma através de cordas caracterizadas por diferentes direções e ângulos. Os bolômetros utilizados são fotodiodos especiais, acondicionados em câmeras dotadas de colimadores para observação do plasma. A faixa espectral da sensibilidade dos fotodiôdos abrange desde o visível até a região de raios-X moles, energia de fótons desde 7 eV até 6.000 eV. Para este diagnóstico, foi construída uma eletrônica específica para amplificação dos sinais bolométricos. A resolução temporal do diagnóstico é de 3 ms devido a interferência gerada pelo tokamak. Com este sistema, foi obtido pela primeira vez no TCABR, o perfil da potência emitida pela coluna de plasma, sendo este o principal resultado deste trabalho. Para isto, foi desenvolvido um programa destinado a inverter os dados bolométricos utilizando como princípio o método de Abel. Uma série de descargas ôhmicas ( 0,9 X \"10 POT.19\" < ne < 2,0 X 10 POT.19\" \"m POT.3\" e 67 < \"I IND.p\" < 100 kA) foram estudadas com o diagnóstico. Obteve-se para o volume da coluna uma fração Prad/Poh não maior que 30%, valor semelhante ao obtido para o tokamak TCA. Observou-se também diferenças acentuadas para o perfil de potência emitido por descargas com baixos e altos valores da corrente de plasma. Estas diferenças são atribuídas principalmente ao aumento da temperatura eletrônica. A concentração de impurezas metálicas foi calculada no eixo da coluna, obtendo-se valores entre 0,9-1,2 X \"10 POT.17\" \"m POT.-3\" / In this work, a bolometric diagnostic system was projected, built and installed in the TCABR tokamak, in order to measure the total power radiation loss from the plasma. The system allows plasma observation through 27 lines of sight with different directions and angles. The detector used was a silicon p-n junction photodiode array, for applications in the vacuum ultraviolet and the soft x-ray (XUV, energy range 7 eV to 6 keV) spectral region. An electronic system for amplification of the bolometer signal was also projected and built. This system was projected taking into account the strong electromagnetic noise due to the tokamak operation. Using this bolometric system, the shape of the emitted power was obtained for the first time in the TCABR, and this is the main result of this work. To deal with the bolometric data, we developed a program based on the Abel inversion. A serie of ohmic discharges were studied with this diagnostic. The value of the Prad/Poh obtained for this serie was below 30%, in agreement with the old TCA data. The shape for discharges with high and low plasma current were also analyzed. We find a big difference in the two cases, showing the effect of electron temperature change. The metallic impurity density on axis were calculated using the value of Prad(0) experimentally obtained. For the serie of discharges analyzed, this value remained between 0,9-1,2 X \"10 POT.17\" \"m POT.-3\"

Os objetivos desta tese são: o estudo e aprimoramento dos diferentes parâmetros geométricos e de processo de fabricação de guias de onda ARROW (Anti-Resonant Reflecting Optical Waveguides), visando reduzir as perdas por propagação; e o projeto, fabricação e caracterização de sensores óptico integrados utilizando os processos aprimorados. Os parâmetros estudados foram: os materiais utilizados nas camadas antirresonantes, as espessuras destas camadas, a profundidade de corrosão para definição do rib e a rugosidade nas paredes laterais, que considera-se o parâmetro mais crítico no que diz respeito às perdas por propagação obtidas com o processo de fabricação utilizado neste trabalho. Os materiais utilizados na fabricação dos guias de onda ARROW sobre substrato de silício foram filmes de oxinitreto de silício (SiOxNy) depositados por PECVD à temperatura de 320°C, filmes de SiO2 crescidos em forno de oxidação em ambiente úmido a 1200°C e filmes de TiOxNy depositados pela técnica de Magnetron Sputtering Reativo. A definição das paredes laterais dessas estruturas foi feita através da Corrosão por Plasma Reativo (RIE) e técnicas fotolitográficas convencionais. Para o aprimoramento dos processos, as técnicas de caracterização utilizadas foram: medidas de perdas por propagação, utilizando a técnica de vista superior e a análise modal dos guias de onda. A principal contribuição deste trabalho foi a proposição de um processo de fabricação alternativo, onde pedestais são utilizados para a definição das paredes laterais antes da deposição do núcleo dos guias de onda. Este processo permitiu a redução significativa das perdas e o corte dos modos superiores para guias com larguras menores ou iguais a 6 µm. Finalmente, com os guias e os processos aperfeiçoados foram fabricados dois diferentes tipos de sensores ópticos: sensores refratométricos baseados em interferômetro de Mach-Zehnder (IMZ) e sensores de umidade baseados em absorção utilizando o polímero polipirrol (PPy). A caracterização dos sensores baseados em IMZ permitiu concluir que, embora se tenha observado uma resposta do sensor em termos de variação da potência na saída do dispositivo com a variação do índice de refração, esta variação possivelmente está sendo influenciada pela interferência multimodo resultante de limitações do processo de fabricação, o que reduz significativamente a sensibilidade com relação a valores projetados. Os sensores de umidade apresentaram uma variação significativa da potência de saída para umidades relativas ao redor de 70%, permitindo sua utilização em diferentes aplicações, como na indústria alimentícia e no monitoramento da qualidade do ar. / The main goals of this thesis are: the study and improvement of different geometrical and fabrication process parameters of Anti-Resonant Reflecting Optical Waveguides (ARROWs), aiming at reducing the propagation losses; and the design, fabrication and characterization of integrated optics sensors using the improved processes. The studied parameters were: the materials used as anti-resonant layers, the thickness of these layers, the rib height and the sidewall roughness (SWR), which is considered the most critical parameter with respect to propagation losses in the fabrication process used in this work. The materials used in the fabrication of ARROW waveguides over silicon substrate were silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) films deposited by PECVD at 320°C, SiO2 films, thermally grown at 1200°C and TiOxNy films deposited by the reactive magnetron sputtering technique. The definition of the sidewalls of these waveguides was performed by Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and conventional photolithographic techniques. The characterization techniques used were: propagation loss measurements, using the top view technique and modal analysis. The main contribution of this work was the proposition of an alternative fabrication process where pedestals are used in order to define the sidewalls before deposition of the core of the ARROW waveguides. This process allowed significant reduction of losses and cutoff of higher modes at widths of 6 µm. Finally, with the waveguides and improved processes two different types of optical sensors were fabricated: refractometric sensors based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer (IMZ) and humidity sensors based on evanescent field absorption using polypyrrole polymer (PPy). The characterization results of IMZ based sensors showed that, although a sensor response has been observed in terms of change of output power with variation of the external medium\'s refractive index, this variation is possibly being influenced by multimode interference resulting from limitations in the fabrication process. This significantly reduces the sensitivity with respect to designed values. The humidity sensors show a significant variation in output power for relative humidity values around 70%, allowing its use in different applications, such as in food industry and in air quality monitoring.

Este trabalho apresenta a síntese de novos compostos fotoativos contendo os grupos uréia e tiouréia e suas potenciais aplicações como sensores de ânions. Os compostos sintetizados foram caracterizados pelas técnicas de FTIR, RMN de 1H e 13C, onde foi possível confirmar obtenção dos compostos. Os compostos obtidos apresentam absorção na região do ultravioleta com valores de extinção molar de acordo com as transições -*. Com objetivo de testar os novos compostos sintetizados como sensor de ânions foi realizado um estudo fotofísico na presença de diferentes ânions, sendo todos como sais de tetrabutilamônio. Esses testes também foram realizados utilizando o método de detecção visual e a espectroscopia de RMN 1H indicando que os compostos 32 e 33 apresentaram resposta colorimétrica após a adição de fluoreto. / This work presents the synthesis of novel photoactive compounds containing the urea and thiourea groups and its potential application as sensors for anions in solution. The synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR techniques. The compounds show absorption in the ultraviolet region with values of molar extinction accordingly to -* electronic transitions. In order to test the new compounds as optical sensors for anions, photophysical studies, as well as the method of visual detection and 1H NMR titration were performed in the presence of different anions as tetrabutylammonium salts. Fluoride could be successfully detected by UVVis and 1H NMR titration using compounds 32 and 33.

Elevated nutrient concentrations present significant challenges to surface water quality management globally, and dissolved organic matter mediates several key biogeochemical processes. Storm events often dominate riverine loads of nitrate, phosphorus, and dissolved organic matter, and are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in many regions due to climate change. The recent development of in situ optical sensors has revolutionized water quality monitoring and has highlighted the important role storms play in water quality. This dissertation focuses on improving the application of in situ optical water quality sensors and interpreting the high-frequency data they produce to better understand biogeochemical and watershed processes that are critical for resource management. We deployed in situ sensors to monitor water quality in three watersheds with contrasting land use / land cover, including agricultural, urban, and forested landscapes. The sensors measured absorbance of ultraviolet-visible light through the water column at 2.5 nanometer wavelength increments at 15-minute intervals for three years. These deployments provided a testbed to evaluate the sensors and improve models to predict concentrations of nitrate, three phosphorus fractions, and dissolved organic carbon using absorbance spectra and laboratory analyses through multivariate statistical techniques. In addition, an improved hysteresis calculation method was used to determine short-timescale storm dynamics for several parameters during 220 storm events. Goals of each dissertation chapter were to: (1) examine the influences of seasonality, storm size, and dominant land use / land cover on storm dissolved organic carbon and nitrate hysteresis and loads; (2) evaluate the utility of the sensors to determine total, dissolved, and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in streams draining different land use / land covers, and perform the first statistically robust validation technique applied to optical water quality sensor calibration models; and (3) analyze storm event dissolved organic matter quantity and character dynamics by calculating hysteresis indices for DOC concentration and spectral slope ratio, and develop a novel analytical framework that leverages these high frequency measurements to infer biogeochemical and watershed processes. Each chapter includes key lessons and future recommendations for using in situ optical sensors to monitor water quality.