Journal Open for Submission
https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload/d63bcb6dc1e06bf5bde439da70e2815e?pre_hash_key=d29661cd8958cc923333f6a84ea31dc5

Special Issue Proposal - Open for Application
https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/sensors

Sensors 2021 Young Investigator Award
Amount: 2000 CHF
Nomination deadline: 30 June 2021
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/awards/submit/1338

Sensors 2021 Ph.D. Thesis Award
Amount: 1000 CHF
Application deadline: 31 August 2021
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/awards/submit/1249

Detailed description of all awards:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/awards

Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220) provides an advanced forum for the science and technology of sensor and its applications. It publishes reviews (including comprehensive reviews on the complete sensors products), regular research papers and short notes. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. The full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. There are, in addition, three unique features of this journal:
    
Manuscripts regarding research proposals and research ideas are particularly welcome.
Electronic files and software providing full details of calculation and experimental procedures can be deposited as supplementary material.  
We also accept manuscripts regarding research projects financed with public funds in order that reach a broader audience.

Scope
    Physical sensors
    Chemical sensors
    Biosensors
    Lab-on-a-chip
    Remote sensors
    Sensor networks
    Smart/Intelligent sensors
    Sensor devices
    Sensor technology and application
    Sensing principles
    Optoelectronic and photonic sensors
    Optomechanical sensors
    Sensor arrays and Chemometrics
    Micro and nanosensors
    Internet of Things
    Signal processing, data fusion and deep learning in sensor systems
    Sensor interface
    Human-Computer Interaction
    Advanced materials for sensing
    Sensing systems
    MEMS/NEMS
    Localization and object tracking
    Sensing and imaging
    Image sensors
    Vision/camera based sensors
    Action recognition
    Machine/deep learning and artificial intelligence in sensing and imaging
    3D sensing
    Communications and signal processing
    Wearable sensors, devices and electronics

Special Issue on Securing the Industrial Internet of Things
Submission Date: 2021-10-21

Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Securing_IIoT

Dear Colleagues,

The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled rapid enhancements for the applications not only in home, business, and environment scenarios, but also in factory automation. Today, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offers all the advantages of IoT to the industrial scenarios, for a wide range of applications from remote sensing/actuating to de-centralization/autonomy.

In this Special Issue, the editor aims at presenting the IIoT and its place during the industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), while our world is being transformed into a better, comfortable, safer, automated, and sustainable one. This Special Issue will cover the cross-relations and implications of IIoT with existing wired/wireless communication/networking and safety technologies of the Industrial Networks, especially from a cybersecurity point of view. The cybersecurity-related needs/requirements of IIoT users (including GDPR-related implications and concerns) and the services that might address these needs will be a topic of interest. User privacy, data ownership, and proprietary information handling related to IIoT networks will also be investigated. The well-famed trio of cybersecurity, intrusion-prevention, -detection, and -mitigation will also be considered for IIoT networks.

This Special Issue encourages authors from academia and industry to submit new research results related to cybersecurity of IIoT. The topics include but are not limited to the following:

    Cyber security of
        Cyberphysical systems (CPS)
        Digital twin
        Intelligent factory
        Industrial automation
        Internet-of-Things (IoT)
        Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT)
        Smart cities
        Smart factory
        Smart supply-chain management
    Cross-relations and implications of IIoT with (from a cybersecurity point of view):
        Process and building automation protocols for Industry 4.0: BACnet, CAN,DLSM/COSEM, DNP3, Fieldbus, HART, ISA 100.11a, IEC 62601,PROFIBUS, PROFINET, Modbus, Modbus+, M-Bus, SCADA,WirelessHART, X10
        Wireless communications technologies for Industry 4.0: IEEE 802.15.4, LPWAN (LoRa, etc.), 6lowPAN, ZigBee, Z-Wave
    IIoT environments and privacy issues (GDPR point of view, etc.)
    Industrial applications using IIoT (from a cybersecurity point of view)
    Principles and techniques for cybersecurity of IIoT networks
    Data collection/preparation techniques for analysis regarding cyber security
    Technologies to be used
        Blockchain
        Digital signatures
        Homomorphic encryption
        and many more.

Dr. Ismail Butun
Guest Editor

Special Issue on Advanced Multi-Band Antennas and Millimeter-Wave Components
Submission Date: 2021-10-31

Dear Colleagues,

Wireless communication is one of the fastest-growing fields of communication industry. This constant evolution fosters the antenna community to design new radiating systems capable of satisfying the market demands. Conventional antennas designed in a wireless communication system will operate in one frequency band. However, there is a need to design multiband or wideband antennas and components which can operate at multiple frequencies. In modern wireless communication systems, multiband antennas have derived rapidly increasing attention in which the downward compatibility and the roaming capability among multi-standards are demanded.

The objective of the present special issue is to present the latest advances in the field of multiband antennas and components for wireless communications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, multi-band antennas and also to multi-band millimeter wave components (like multiband polarizers, transmittarray, reflectarrays, frequency selective surfaces etc.).

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

Keywords

    Dual Band
    Multi Band Antennas
    Dual Band Antennas
    Multifrequency Antennas
    multiband antenna array design
    multiband operation
    dual-band satellite communication

Dr. Emilio Arnieri
Guest Editor

Special Issue on Integrating Sensor Technologies in Educational Settings
Submission Date: 2021-10-31

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

Dear Colleagues,  

Just as sensor technologies are deeply impacting engineering and scientific practices, so too are they increasingly becoming integrated in educational settings to support innovative learning activities. The growing availability of low-cost, portable sensors can be deployed to collect real-time measurements of properties from the surrounding world, for example light, temperature, magnetism, acceleration, sound, and CO2. When coupled with microcontrollers (such as the micro:bit), sensor data streams can be easily programmed to control the behaviors of actuators and data displays, thereby making the invisible visible, inspectable, and actionable.

This Special Issue will provide a forum for describing innovative approaches to using programmable sensor technologies in a range of educational settings.

Papers are solicited on the general theme of this issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Reviewing the use of sensor technology in education settings;
Describing the development of science and data science instructional materials that integrate sensor technology;
Investigating how students engage in authentic scientific practices through exploring phenomena using sensor technology;
Describing the development of real-time data displays of sensor data streams to support learning;
Supporting the development of students’ computational thinking in sensor-based instructional materials; and
Describing the development of physical computing learning environments integrating sensor technology.

Prof. Dr. Mimi Recker
Dr. Colin Hennessy Elliott
Dr. Quentin Biddy
Guest Editors

Special Issue on special issue on Advances in Silicon Photonic Sensors
Submission Date: 2021-10-31

link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Silicon_Photonic_Sensors

Special Issue Information

Silicon-based photonic biosensors can lead to major advances in point-of-care applications, food diagnostics, and environmental monitoring through the rapid and precise analysis of various substances. Different techniques for evanescent field sensing, optical trapping and label-free detection are proposed and experimentally evaluated during the last three decades. One major advantage of silicon is the availability of inexpensive fabrication technologies due to the compatibility with microelectronic technologies but also its flexibility in terms of surface functionalization.

This Special Issue offers the possibility to gather recent improvements in the broad field of silicon-based photonic sensors. This includes bio and thermal sensing, novel detection methods and device concepts as well as fabrication techniques and packaging. Articles with latest experimental results as well as simulation studies are welcome.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue with the latest results, research lines, and trends that you are currently obtaining or following. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Keywords
    Silicon photonic sensors
    Optical biosensors
    Sensor concepts and simulation
    Fabrication and packaging methods
    Porous silicon and novel materials
    Optofluidics
    Optical trapping
    Surface functionalization
    Label-free detection
    Photonic-plasmonic devices

Prof. Dr. Fabio De Matteis  (Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata)
Dr. Patrick Steglich   (Technische Hochschule Wildau, University of Applied Sciences)
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Multi-Band Antennas and Millimeter-Wave Components
Submission Date: 2021-10-31

Dear Colleagues,

Wireless communication is one of the fastest-growing fields of communication industry. This constant evolution fosters the antenna community to design new radiating systems capable of satisfying the market demands. Conventional antennas designed in a wireless communication system will operate in one frequency band. However, there is a need to design multiband or wideband antennas and components which can operate at multiple frequencies. In modern wireless communication systems, multiband antennas have derived rapidly increasing attention in which the downward compatibility and the roaming capability among multi-standards are demanded.

The objective of the present special issue is to present the latest advances in the field of multiband antennas and components for wireless communications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, multi-band antennas and also to multi-band millimeter wave components (like multiband polarizers, transmittarray, reflectarrays, frequency selective surfaces etc.).

Keywords

    Dual Band
    Multi Band Antennas
    Dual Band Antennas
    Multifrequency Antennas
    multiband antenna array design
    multiband operation
    dual-band satellite communication

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

Dr. Emilio Arnieri
Guest Editor

Special Issue on Cyber Risk in the Industrial Internet of Things
Submission Date: 2021-11-01

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

Dear Colleagues,

The next generation of industrial systems is going to be data-driven. Sensor data driven by the Internet of Things, both inside and outside of factories, will provide a digital thread connecting the factory floor with its products and customers. These “chatty” factories present immense opportunities for innovation, from improving products based on their use, to digital twins that fuse product redesign with intelligent re-manufacturing, all connected via industrial optimisation, and relationships between intelligent robotics and their human counterparts that are yet to be determined.

The opportunities are clear. However, with digital innovation comes inherent cyber risk. Sensor data from the wild can only be used if it flows into decision-making processes linked to industrial modernisation. How do we know that the integrity of sensor data is not being corrupted, either deliberately or otherwise? What are the cyber risks to digital twins and how could these impact industrial elements of new production processes? How do we ensure that data-driven decisions are transparent and auditable? Will the convergence of technology in the wild with traditionally isolated operational technology prove too high-risk for widespread adoption?

This Special Issue aims to provide a forum for the discussion of both opportunity and cyber risk arising from data-driven industrial Internet of Things, with a key focus on the critical factors that will both enable and restrict adoption.

Prof. Dr. Pete Burnap
Guest Editor

Special Issue on Multi-UAV Systems: Networks, Services and Energy Management
Submission Date: 2021-11-15

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

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editors are inviting submissions to a Special Issue of Sensors on the subject area of “Multi-UAV Systems: Networks, Services and Energy Management”.

The presence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), also known as drones, is rapidly growing regarding the capacity to provide a wide range of new commercial applications and services, such as emergency networks, healthcare, surveillance, disasters relief, search and rescue, agriculture, construction, cargo delivery, or even space exploration, and much more.

UAVs can support and exploit 5G capabilities, with cost-effective points of presence, to provide Internet coverage and different network services to ground users.

Implementations are facing important challenges. The duration of the services is usually longer than the battery life-time of the drones. New communication protocols are required. Softwarization technologies, such as NFV and SDN, are gaining traction to support the flexible provision of services on UAVs. Still, multiple technical challenges exist hindering their utilisation in this new study area. Machine Learning is envisioned as a fundamental technology in order to provide self-learning in centralized or distributed configurations.

This Special Issue will deal with novel architectures, strategies, modelling, control, optimization and artificial intelligence for efficient energy consumption and management of UAV systems in terms of the services provided.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to the following list:

Architectures, infrastructure and systems.
Energy policies for efficient consumption.
Distributed configuration and management of UAV networks.
NFV in UAV systems.
SDN in UAV systems.
Routing in UAV systems.
Self-learning UAV systems.
UAV systems aware protocols.
Network infrastructures and instant-networks using UAVs.
Security and privacy.
Modelling, performance analysis and optimization.
Energy aware services orchestration.
Usage scenarios, testbeds and experimental prototypes.
Machine learning and big data analytics for UAV.
Network slicing in UAVs systems.

Prof. Dr. Xavier Hesselbach
Prof. Dr. Francisco Valera
Prof. Dr. Iván Vidal
Prof. Christian Tipantuña
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Laser Phototherapy: Sensing and Applications
Submission Date: 2021-11-30

Dear Colleagues,

Lasers have been used in different therapy fields like dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry and cancer therapy. Different physical processes are involved, depending on the wavelength being used, laser operation mode (continuous or pulsed), intensity and dose (or fluence) being applied. Ablation, photochemical and thermal interactions are the main mechanism than can be involved. Besides, the recent advances in nanotechnology have opened new possibilities for laser phototherapy techniques, using the phenomena of surface plasmon resonance to mediate the interaction processes.

This Special Issue of Sensors will address the sensing techniques and methodologies used in the research and development of advanced laser phototherapy processes, including (but not limited to) guiding strategies, monitoring and evaluation sensing.  Submissions regarding the development of sensors with potential application for laser phototherapy are also welcome.

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

Keywords

    laser phototherapy
    photothermal therapy
    photodynamic therapy
    sensing
    sensors
    imaging
    process monitoring
    instrumentation

Dr. João M. P. Coelho
Dr. Pedro Vieira
Guest Editors

Special Issue on special issue on Volatile Organic Compounds Detection with Optical Fiber Sensors
Submission Date: 2021-11-30

link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/VOCs_Optical_Fiber_Sensors

Special Issue Information

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a critical aspect in many fields. For instance, in many industries, these compounds present a high environmental impact, and their emissions need to be carefully controlled. On the other hand, in the food and beverage industry, these can be indicators of the products’ quality. Their presence can also be associated with environmental contamination, poor air quality, or even with certain human diseases. Many optical fiber-based sensors have been proposed in the last years to detect VOCs, and this is still a very active research field.

This forthcoming Special Issue invites contributions regarding the research and development of new optical fiber sensors for the detection of VOCs, aiming at an advancement of the current state of the art. Short communications, original research experimental and theoretical papers, and review articles are welcomed for this Special Issue. These contributions can focus on, but are not limited to, the following topics: 

    VOCs sensors based on new optical fiber geometries;
    Interferometric fiber sensors;
    Fiber gratings-based sensors;
    Optofluidic fiber sensors;
    Fiber sensors based on Vernier effect;
    Sensors based on whispering gallery modes;
    Detection of a single or multiple VOCs;
    Active or passive fiber sensors;
    New coating materials;
    Advanced sensing configurations.

Dr. Marta S. Ferreira (i3N and Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago)
Guest Editor

Special Issue on special issue on Challenges in Energy Perspective on Mobile Sensor Networks
Submission Date: 2021-11-30

link:  https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Energy_Mobile_Sensor_Networks

Special Issue Information

Big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence change our way of life significantly. New data collection and utilization are crucial to enhance these technologies, and IoT technology for this improvement is continually evolving. Much research has been conducted on data collection/transmission technology and edge computing for data merging/security, but most research and utilization were performed only on fixed sensors. Therefore, mobile sensor technology has become necessary to remedy the defect of fixed sensors and to place sensors properly.

This Special Issue seeks a variety of technical activities for the mobile sensor network that will emerge, most importantly, in the data age. In this issue, we shall introduce technologies in various fields for mobile sensor networks such as mobile sensors, communication protocols, SDN (software-defined networking), NFV (network function virtualization), edge computing, wireless applications, and security, and provide opportunities to share new ideas with researchers around the world. Moreover, various new issues around computer science and electrical engineering, not limited to the above areas, will also be good material.

Keywords

    Wired/wireless mobile sensors
    Sensor deployment/relocation protocols
    Sensor communication/security protocols
    Sensor fault-tolerant/energy-efficient protocols
    VNF, NFV based on SDN for WSNs
    Edge computing for WSNs
    Simulation/numerical techniques
    Machine learning applications
    Applied electromagnetics for wireless applications

Prof. Dr. Moonseong Kim (Department of IT Convergence Software, Seoul Theological University)
Prof. Dr. Byungseok Kang  (Department of Electronics, Computing and Mathematics, University of Derby)
Guest Editors

Special Issue on  	Silicon Photonics: A Theme Issue in Honor of Professor Richard A. Soref
Submission Date: 2021-11-30

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

Dear Colleagues,

Prof. Richard A. Soref is a research professor of engineering at the University of Massachusetts, United States. Prof. Soref is a well-known expert in photonics and the science of light and considered by many as the "father of silicon photonics". Prof. Soref's career in basic and applied research spans more than 50 years.

Initially inspired by the fields of science, engineering, and materials in his youth, Prof. Soref acquired a radio license to become the youngest amateur radio operator in Wisconsin at the age of 13. During his career, he has contributed more than 550 peer-reviewed papers, authored chapters in eleven books, and served on the editorial board of Optical Engineering. He holds 54 U.S. patents. His work includes the invention of opto-electronic integration in silicon, significant contributions to SiGeSn material development and, since 1985, visionary, fundamental contributions to the science and technology of silicon photonics. Optical communications and sensing technology were also advanced by Prof. Soref's innovations in waveguide-circuit integration, electro-optical modulation, photonic crystals, nonlinear optics, matrix switching, optical logic, laser physics, plasmonic-photonics, microwave photonics, and infrared detection.

Active in multiple committees and organizations related to his work, Prof. Soref founded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Group IV Photonics Conference in 2004, which granted him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. A Life Fellow of IEEE, he is also an Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the Optical Society of America, and the Institute of Physics, among others. He has also received multiple awards during his tenure, including the Achievement Medal of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2019, the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, the U.S Air Force Basic Research Award in 1991, the Charles E. Ryan Memorial Award from Rome Laboratory in 1988, and several Air Force Office of Scientific Research Star Team Leader Awards between 2005 and 2011.

This Special Issue is dedicated to celebrating the career of Prof. Richard A. Soref in honor of his contributions in the field of silicon photonics. It will cover a selection of recent research and review articles related to the science and technology of silicon photonics, optical communications and sensing, nonlinear optics, laser physics, and infrared detection.

Dr. Vittorio M.N. Passaro
Dr. Francesco De Leonardis
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Laser Phototherapy: Sensing and Applications
Submission Date: 2021-11-30

Dear Colleagues,

Lasers have been used in different therapy fields like dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry and cancer therapy. Different physical processes are involved, depending on the wavelength being used, laser operation mode (continuous or pulsed), intensity and dose (or fluence) being applied. Ablation, photochemical and thermal interactions are the main mechanism than can be involved. Besides, the recent advances in nanotechnology have opened new possibilities for laser phototherapy techniques, using the phenomena of surface plasmon resonance to mediate the interaction processes.

This Special Issue of Sensors will address the sensing techniques and methodologies used in the research and development of advanced laser phototherapy processes, including (but not limited to) guiding strategies, monitoring and evaluation sensing.  Submissions regarding the development of sensors with potential application for laser phototherapy are also welcome.

Keywords

    laser phototherapy
    photothermal therapy
    photodynamic therapy
    sensing
    sensors
    imaging
    process monitoring
    instrumentation

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

Dr. João M. P. Coelho
Dr. Pedro Vieira
Guest Editors

Special Issue on special issue on Biosignal Sensing and Processing for Clinical Diagnosis
Submission Date: 2021-12-03

link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Biosignal_Sensing

Special Issue Information

Biosignals have a long history of use in the clinical diagnosis and follow-up of multiple pathologies, as is the case of the electrocardiogram in cardiology. Advances in sensing and computing, as well as the emergence of artificial intelligence, have driven a great advance in this field, expanding the diagnostic spectrum of traditionally used biosignals, improving biosignal quality, and opening the door to the use of new biosignals such as biochemical or biomagnetic signals. Obtaining valuable and clinically useful information is still challenging, involving the development and/or selection of the appropriate biosignal sensing systems and algorithms for automatic signal segmentation, denoising or artifact removal, signal parameterization, and feature selection. Recently, the challenge of obtaining information useful for clinical diagnosis has been addressed by the development of decision support systems via machine or deep learning. It is important to consider all of these developments in the context of their implementation in clinically friendly systems that minimize patient discomfort, are simple to use, and provide information that is easily interpretable by physicians in near real time.

The aim of the Special Issue “Biosignal Sensing and Processing for Clinical Diagnosis” is to collect a compendium of articles about new trends and advances in biosignal sensing and processing as well as their use in clinical decision support systems. We look forward to your participation in this Special Issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

    New trends in biosignal sensing;
    Biosignal processing and analysis: electrocardiographic, myoelectric, electroencephalographic, photoplethysmographic, gastric, biochemical, or biomagnetic signals, among others;
    Applications of machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence in using biosignals for clinical diagnosis.

Keywords

    biosignals
    biomedical sensors
    biomedical signal
    signal processing
    feature extraction
    machine learning
    deep learning

Dr. Gema Prats Boluda  (Centro de investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València)
Dr. Javier Garcia-Casado  (Centro de investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València)
Dr. Yvonne Tran (Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University)
Dr. Yiyao Ye-Lin  (Centro de investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València)
Dr. José Luis Martinez de Juan  (Centro de investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València)
Dr. Dongmei Hao (College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology )
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advances and Applications of Micro/Nano-Electronic Sensors
Submission Date: 2021-12-15

Special Issue "Advances and Applications of Micro/Nano-Electronic Sensors"
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/MicroNanoElectronicSensors
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2021

Dear Colleagues,

Wearable electronics have started to gain momentum because of their essential role in improving the quality of life for various patients and healthy individuals. The function and performance of integrated NEMS/MEMS systems depend on the design of nano-/microsystems, choice of materials, manufacturing approaches, packaging, and device integration methods. It is also of high interest to investigate the interrelationships between material properties and processing, device/system structure, and the mechanical, electrical, optical, or (bio)chemical behavior of devices/systems. Resonant sensors are a type of sensor that relies on the measurement of resonant frequency to detect a variety of physical parameters such as pressure, temperatures, viscosity, gas concentrations, accelerations, etc. This type of sensor has drawn a significant amount of attention due to its excellent stability, resolution, and accuracy. In addition, this type of sensor allows devices to be easily connected to digital systems, which is required for its effective employment as a measurement device.

Keywords

    MEMS sensors
    piezoelectric sensors
    radio frequency sensors
    acoustic sensors
    microsystem design
    device/system structure
    fabrication techniques
    biomedical applications
    mechanical, electrical, optical, or (bio)chemical behavior of devices/systems

Prof. Dr. Huanyu Cheng
Prof. Dr. Haifeng Zhang
Dr. Zhiqun (Daniel) Deng
Guest Editors

Special Issue on MEMS and NEMS Sensors
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Special Issue "MEMS and NEMS Sensors"
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/MEMS_NEME_sensors
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021

Dear Colleagues,

The manufacturing and integration of autonomous and embedded sensors through a combination of micro- and nano-system technologies have been revolutionizing self-powered, high bandwidth devices for advance manufacturing (AM), artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and health technologies.

More specifically, nano- and micro-electro-mechanical-systems (N/MEMS) sensors are the building blocks for a vast range of applications, from continuous real-time health (wearable) and environmental monitoring (gas, biomolecules, pressure, temperature, etc.) to enabling embedded mobile Internet services (wireless), including smart/connected cars and unattended vehicles (UAV) (inertial). As these devices have numbered in the tens of billions, the potential for disruptive innovation has been immense.

Integration of nano- and micro-sensors-which are functionalized using emerging materials to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) and microfluidics systems, and their electro-mechanical packing are very challenging. Because, the integration and packing require the multiple deposition of layers of different dielectrics and metals, the atomic mismatch between these layers, acting as electron trap, increases ohmic resistance, and creates noise and reduces sensitivity, selectivity and responsivity; and increases detection time.

This Special Issue aims to introduce the manufacturing, packaging and integration of autonomous and embedded sensors through a combination of micro- and nano-system. Topics in general include, but are not limited, to:

- Autonomous and embedded sensors: design, manufacture, packaging and reliability
- Biosensors (photonic, electrical, chemical) and their integration to MEMS, CMOS and microfluidic systems for COVID-19 and other (future) pandemics’ roteins/metabolites/analytes
- Sensor interconnectors/interfaces and their testing
- Graphene-based nano-sensors
- Electronic circuits for MEMS nano-sensor modulation
- Nano-electro-mechanical sensors

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yavuz
Guest Editor

Keywords

    N/MEMS-sensors
    sensor integration to N/MEMS
    CMOS and microfluidic systems
    electronic circuits for N/MEMS nano-sensor modulation
    bifurcation sensing
    sensor functionalization
    Nano-electro-mechanical sensors
    PeCOD
    COVID-19

Special Issue on Assistive Robots for Healthcare and Human-Robot Interaction
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

Assistive technologies like Assistive Robots (AR) are being considered as enablers to support the process of care giving, potentially enhancing patient well-being and decreasing caregiver workload. Currently, it needs to deepen the research about person-centered care, multimodal interaction, multimodal data collection, caregiver expectancy model to improve AR acceptability.

In light of these assumptions, the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) field is devoted to understanding, designing, and assessing the robotic systems used by human being.

By definition, the interaction implicates the communication. In light of this assumption, research in the HRI field is increasingly focused on the development of robots equipped with intelligent communicative abilities, in particular speech-based natural-language conversational abilities. These efforts directly relate to the research area of computational linguistics, generally defined as “the subfield of computer science concerned with using computational techniques to learn, understand, and produce human language content”. The advances and results in computational linguistics provide a foundational background for the development of so-called Spoken Dialogue Systems, i.e., computer systems designed to interact with humans using spoken natural language. The ability to communicate using natural language is a fundamental requirement for a robot that interacts with human being. Then, spoken dialogue is generally considered as the most natural way for social human-robot interaction. The sensing technologies represent a key role in the HRI and new approaches or application of existing ones in novel way could be really significant in facilitating the improvement of this field and consequently in all the sub-fields related to it.

The central focus of this Special Issues will be to advance novel technologies applied in healthcare processes that have shown exceptional promise in models of HRI though the use of new sensors or methodologies capable to adapt, combine or improve the existing ones.  

The first important question concerns the modalities needed to sense the emotional state of people by the robot. Secondly, there is the problem of modelling the interaction between human and robot, not only on a haptic level, but also on an emotional level.

Dr. Grazia D'Onofrio
Dr. Daniele Sancarlo
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Quantum Diamond Sensors and Applications
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

There is as growing body of knowledge demonstrating the quantum sensing capabilities of atomic scale defects within diamond. Over the past decade significant advances in the science and technology underpinning quantum diamond sensors have been realised opening up a broad range of measurement capabilities. To date methodologies for ultra-sensitive detection of magnetic fields, electric fields and temperature have been widely reported. Globally, significant research efforts and investment are being directed towards the further development of quantum diamond sensors and demonstration of their measurement capabilities. There is tremendous potential for deployment of quantum diamond sensors in electrical and thermal monitoring in electric vehicle batteries, high resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy to uncover the chemical structures at a single molecule level, novel microwave sensors for use in the telecommunication sector, characterisation of future materials including spintronics devices and nanomaterials. Overall, quantum diamond sensors provide unprecedented measurement sensitivity and are poised to become essential tools across many sectors. This Special Issue on “Advanced Quantum Diamond Sensors and Applications” has the objective of showcasing current and emerging technologies that exploit the quantum assisted sensing capabilities of diamond. Reports describing new methodologies, materials, technical developments and applications are particularly welcome.

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

Keywords

    biological imaging
    diamond quantum sensors
    optical microscopy
    healthcare technologies

Prof. Dr. Melissa L. Mather
Prof. Dr. Philippe B. Wilson
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Camera Calibration and 3D Reconstruction
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of accurate image-based assessment of 3D objects and scenes is rapidly growing in the fields of computer vision (cf. AR/VR, autonomous driving, aerial surveillance, etc.) and optical metrology (photogrammetry, fringe projection, deflectometry, etc.). As the performance of digital sensors and optics approaches physical limits, uncertainties associated with models of imaging geometry, calibration workflows and data types, pattern recognition algorithms etc. directly affect numerous applications.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute manuscripts to this Special Issue. It addresses the metrological aspects of modeling, characterizing, and using digital cameras in the context of 3D measurements, as well as novel analytic (e.g., visualization) tools and techniques facilitating robust and reliable camera-based measurements. Both original research articles and reviews are welcome.

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/camera_calibration_3D_reconstruction

Keywords

    camera calibration
    geometrical camera models
    image-based 3D reconstruction
    uncertainties in optical 3D measurements
    shape-from-X techniques
    high-precision camera-based measurements
    non-conventional imaging systems for 3D measurements
    computational imaging for 3D measurements

We look forward to receiving your contributions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or questions.

Dr. Alexey Pak
Prof. Dr. Steffen Reichel
Dr. Jan Burke
Guest Editors

Special Issue on special issue on Cyber-Security-Based Internet of Things for Smart Homes
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Cyber-Security_IoT_Smart_Homes

Special Issue Information

The rapidly evolving technology of the Internet of Things introduces new cybersecurity challenges, especially where installations handle and process personal and private data. As such, smart homes constitute an ecosystem which is prone to new complex cyberattacks and attractive to attackers.

This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in new techniques for the cyber defense of smart homes, by taking advantage of recent developments in machine, deep and federated learning, distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain, as well as behavioral monitoring of IoT devices. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

    Cybersecurity architectures for IoT and smart homes;
    Cybersecurity analytics platforms for IoT;
    Blockchain for IoT and smart homes;
    Machine and deep learning for the security of IoT;
    Behavioral monitoring of IoT;
    Federated IoT smart home infrastructures with focus on security and privacy;
    Cyberthreat intelligence;
    AI-based methods for malware and ransomware;
    Privacy and trust in IoT.

Keywords

    Smart homes
    Internet of Things
    Cyber security
    Privacy
    Intrusion detection systems
    Network behavior analysis
    Machine/deep/federated learning
    Distributed ledger technologies

Dr. Konstantinos Votis   (Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas)
Dr. Konstantinos M. Giannoutakis  (Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas)
Dr. Nikolaos Dimitriou   (Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas)
Guest Editors

Special Issue on special issue on Human Centered Artificial Intelligence: Putting the Human in the Loop for Implementing Sensors Based Intelligent Environments
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

SI LINK: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/Artificial_Intelligence_Implementing_Sensors

Special Issue Information:
This Special Issue aims to solicit original and high quality research articles that consider the current evolvement of AI approaches under a human-centric approach in the development of intelligent environments. Exceptional contributions that extend previously published work will also be considered, provided that they contribute at least 60% new results. Authors of such submissions will be required to provide a clear indication of the new contributions and explain how this work extends the previously published contributions.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

    Active machine learning
    Adaptive personal AI systems
    Causal learning, causal discovery, causal reasoning, causal explanations, and causal inference
    Cognitive computing
    Decision making and decision support systems
    Emotional intelligence
    Explainable, accountable, transparent, and fair AI
    Explanatory user interfaces and HCI for explainable AI
    Ethical and trustworthy AI
    Federated learning and cooperative intelligent information systems and tools
    Gradient-based interpretability
    Interaction modalities and devices: visual, 2D/3D, augmented reality, simulations, digital twin, conversational interfaces, and multimodal interfaces
    Interactive machine learning
    Interpretability in reinforcement learning
    Human–AI interactions and intelligent user interfaces
    Human–AI teaming
    Natural language generation for explanatory models
    Processes, tools, methods, user involvement, user research, evaluation, AI technology assessment and customization, and standards
    Rendering of reasoning processes
    Self-explanatory agents and decision support systems
    Usability of human–AI interfaces

Dr. Constantine Stephanidis  (1. Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCI Lab); 2. Department of Computer Science, University of Crete)
Dr. George Margetis  (Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCI Lab))
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Assistive Robots for Healthcare and Human-Robot Interaction
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

Assistive technologies like Assistive Robots (AR) are being considered as enablers to support the process of care giving, potentially enhancing patient well-being and decreasing caregiver workload. Currently, it needs to deepen the research about person-centered care, multimodal interaction, multimodal data collection, caregiver expectancy model to improve AR acceptability.

In light of these assumptions, the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) field is devoted to understanding, designing, and assessing the robotic systems used by human being.

By definition, the interaction implicates the communication. In light of this assumption, research in the HRI field is increasingly focused on the development of robots equipped with intelligent communicative abilities, in particular speech-based natural-language conversational abilities. These efforts directly relate to the research area of computational linguistics, generally defined as “the subfield of computer science concerned with using computational techniques to learn, understand, and produce human language content”. The advances and results in computational linguistics provide a foundational background for the development of so-called Spoken Dialogue Systems, i.e., computer systems designed to interact with humans using spoken natural language. The ability to communicate using natural language is a fundamental requirement for a robot that interacts with human being. Then, spoken dialogue is generally considered as the most natural way for social human-robot interaction. The sensing technologies represent a key role in the HRI and new approaches or application of existing ones in novel way could be really significant in facilitating the improvement of this field and consequently in all the sub-fields related to it.

The central focus of this Special Issues will be to advance novel technologies applied in healthcare processes that have shown exceptional promise in models of HRI though the use of new sensors or methodologies capable to adapt, combine or improve the existing ones.  

The first important question concerns the modalities needed to sense the emotional state of people by the robot. Secondly, there is the problem of modelling the interaction between human and robot, not only on a haptic level, but also on an emotional level.

Keywords

    development of new sensing methodologies to facilitate the HRI
    improvement of existing technologies in HRI
    application of multimodal approaches in HRI
    role of emotional detection in the HRI
    ethical aspects of HRI
    value sensitive design in care robotics
    patient centeredness
    acceptability and usability assessment
    impact of robot embodiment and how this affected the interactions

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

Dr. Grazia D'Onofrio
Dr. Daniele Sancarlo
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Quantum Diamond Sensors and Applications
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

There is as growing body of knowledge demonstrating the quantum sensing capabilities of atomic scale defects within diamond. Over the past decade significant advances in the science and technology underpinning quantum diamond sensors have been realised opening up a broad range of measurement capabilities. To date methodologies for ultra-sensitive detection of magnetic fields, electric fields and temperature have been widely reported. Globally, significant research efforts and investment are being directed towards the further development of quantum diamond sensors and demonstration of their measurement capabilities. There is tremendous potential for deployment of quantum diamond sensors in electrical and thermal monitoring in electric vehicle batteries, high resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy to uncover the chemical structures at a single molecule level, novel microwave sensors for use in the telecommunication sector, characterisation of future materials including spintronics devices and nanomaterials. Overall, quantum diamond sensors provide unprecedented measurement sensitivity and are poised to become essential tools across many sectors. This Special Issue on “Advanced Quantum Diamond Sensors and Applications” has the objective of showcasing current and emerging technologies that exploit the quantum assisted sensing capabilities of diamond. Reports describing new methodologies, materials, technical developments and applications are particularly welcome.

Keywords

    biological imaging
    diamond quantum sensors
    optical microscopy
    healthcare technologies

Prof. Dr. Melissa L. Mather
Prof. Dr. Philippe B. Wilson
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Camera Calibration and 3D Reconstruction
Submission Date: 2021-12-31

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of accurate image-based assessment of 3D objects and scenes is rapidly growing in the fields of computer vision (cf. AR/VR, autonomous driving, aerial surveillance, etc.) and optical metrology (photogrammetry, fringe projection, deflectometry, etc.). As the performance of digital sensors and optics approaches physical limits, uncertainties associated with models of imaging geometry, calibration workflows and data types, pattern recognition algorithms etc. directly affect numerous applications.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute manuscripts to this Special Issue. It addresses the metrological aspects of modeling, characterizing, and using digital cameras in the context of 3D measurements, as well as novel analytic (e.g., visualization) tools and techniques facilitating robust and reliable camera-based measurements. Both original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or questions.

Keywords

    camera calibration
    geometrical camera models
    image-based 3D reconstruction
    uncertainties in optical 3D measurements
    shape-from-X techniques
    high-precision camera-based measurements
    non-conventional imaging systems for 3D measurements
    computational imaging for 3D measurements

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors/special_issues/camera_calibration_3D_reconstruction

Dr. Alexey Pak
Prof. Dr. Steffen Reichel
Dr. Jan Burke
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Multistage Manufacturing Processes in the Industry 4.0 for Zero-Defect Products
Submission Date: 2022-01-01

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

Dear Colleagues,

One of the most important challenges in modern industry is the implementation of manufacturing systems that are capable of producing “zero-defect” products. In most cases, manufacturing consists of a sequence of stages where manufacturing operations are sequentially conducted to manufacture a part or product. These multistage manufacturing processes (MMP) show complex error interactions among stages, which makes it difficult to control product quality, and tasks such as predictive maintenance, process control, quality assurance and fault diagnosis are challenging.

Under the new paradigm of Industry 4.0, sensing networks based on IIoT and the implementation of digital twins based on engineering and data-based models is set to have a major impact on these processes. The implementation of this new paradigm is expected to lead to manufacturing systems with self-adjust and self-optimization capabilities, optimal decision making based on simulated-driven strategies, correction actions for error compensation, optimal predictive maintenance actions, and so on.

In this Special Issue, we encourage scholars to share recent advances in the field of MMPs and Industry 4.0. Investigations related to in-process sensing and data analytics, IIoT, fault diagnosis, digital twins, predictive maintenance, quality assurance and quality control are welcome, especially those focused on strategies for “zero defect” manufacturing.

Prof. Dr. Jose Vicente Abellan-Nebot
Prof. Dr. Ignacio Peñarrocha-Alós
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Sensors for Digital Construction
Submission Date: 2022-01-01

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

Dear Colleagues,

Detailed insights into the ongoing processes of construction projects are a prerequisite for an efficient management of time, costs, and resources. However, providing relevant information requires the analysis of vast amounts of data. A consistent digitization throughout all phases of a project facilitates a proper aggregation of these data, as well as an automated evaluation. While digital building models already support decision making during project planning, other domains are only sparsely digitized.

The use of sensors helps to advance digitization in construction through the automated collection of time-dependent data. It allows for a continuous localization of resources and materials as well as the monitoring of construction machines and their states. This enables a digital monitoring of construction projects through their entire life cycle and supports the management in optimizing workflows, scheduling maintenance, improving safety, and so on.

This Special Issue focuses on the application of sensors in construction-related domains and the processing of the collected data. Relevant topics include but are not limited to:

Digital twin
Internet of Things
Safety
Productivity
Maintenance

Prof. Dr. Markus König
Guest Editor

Special Issue on Machine Learning in Human Activity Recognition
Submission Date: 2022-01-31

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

Dear Colleagues,

Human Activity Recognition (HAR) using pervasive and body-worn sensors has become a major research field with numerous practical applications. At the heart of most HAR systems lies the automated analysis of sensor readings, for which machine learning techniques are typically applied. With the explosion of research in the core machine learning area, numerous methods have been developed that are also of value for the HAR community. However, HAR comes with its own challenges for machine learning methods, such as challenging data quality, including sensor noise, faulty sensor readings, or ambiguities; often only very small datasets come with ground truth annotation; computational challenges for performing activity recognition in real time and on severely resource constrained devices; open ended activity recognition; and continuous adaptation of recognition systems, to name but a few. This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art and latest developments in the field of machine learning for human activity recognition. 

Prof. Dr. Thomas Ploetz
Dr. Yu Guan
Prof. Dr. Daniel Roggen
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Wearables and Modern Technology for Sports Medicine: The Digital Age of Athletes
Submission Date: 2022-02-01

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

Dear Colleagues,

Sports engineering has led to modern technology substantially increasing and advancing in the field of sport and exercise medicine over the past decade. The interest in sports engineering aligns with the increased provision for sports medicine within professional and amateur sport, with multidisciplinary teams of professionals now employed to keep athletes healthy and continuing to perform to a high standard: medics, physiotherapists, nutritionists, strength and conditioning experts, etc. Technological development is creating more objective and accurate assessment tools that can augment the clinical reasoning/judgement that sports medicine decisions typically rely on.

Digital health approaches are being developed at a rapid pace, with increasingly smaller and more discrete sensors/devices/applications that are able to collect data on all aspects of athlete health and performance on and off the field of play (in or out of competition). This Special Issue will focus on the technology that has been applied within sporting contexts and relevant populations to support sports medicine, particularly the following topics:

Wearable sensing and mobile technology;
Concussion assessment and management;
Diet and nutrition tracking or intervention;
Physical activity or performance metrics;
Cardiovascular screening;
Lower limb injury and player biometrics;
Pitch-side assessment and management;
Injury or performance evaluation and management;
Novel technology in amateur and elite sport.

Dr. Sam Stuart
Dr. Steven Marshall
Dr. Alan Godfrey
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Prototyping of Industrial IoT Solutions
Submission Date: 2022-02-15

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

Dear Colleagues, 

The Industrial Internet of Things (I-IoT) is widely considered a key enabling technology of the fourth industrial revolution (I-4.0). The bridging of industrial assets with cloud infrastructures will allow the generation of many digital twins. I-IoT will fuel a multitude of innovation processes aimed at optimizing industrial processes and methods. However, the introduction of industrial IoT technologies into factories is a complex and cumbersome activity. Researchers, technicians, and entrepreneurs interested in bringing IoT into shop floors need to deal with reliability, scalability, compatibility, and security issues that are more complex in industrial environments than in consumer and domestic scenarios. Evolution from IoT to Industrial IoT requires a dedicated design process where the prototyping phase becomes crucial. Companies need to reduce the investment required for testing I-4.0 and I-IoT solutions, thus increasing the Return of Investment (ROI) while minimizing the impact on production and organization. Moreover, Industry 4.0 pushes companies and factories toward lean production strategies where fast prototyping in R&D processes is mandatory. For this reason, there is a strong need for reliable and secure fast prototyping solutions for Industrial IoT that, while guaranteeing a fast and cost-effective implementation of proof of concept, also guarantee future scalability toward extended, secure, stable and professional industrial setups.

Prof. Dr. Daniele Mazzei
Prof. Dr. Dorota Stadnicka
Dr. Joan Navarro
Prof. Dr. Chrysostomos Stylios
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Lannaccone
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Sensor Networks/Seismic Networks and Monitoring for Earthquakes and Phenomena Having a Seismic Signature 
Submission Date: 2022-03-12

Dear Colleagues,
 
The study of earthquakes is of global interest, mainly because the comprehension of such phenomena is useful to safeguard human lives. To this aim, tools (such as seismic networks and arrays, but also data analysis procedures) by which detect and localize from small to large magnitudes earthquakes quickly and accurately are fundamental. Since the last few years, advances in technology have allowed seismologists to design seismic networks more and more sophisticated (with boreholes or ocean bottom sensors). At the same time, potentially interesting seismological information can be obtained by instruments developed for different purposes (e.g., optical fiber, geophones, rotational sensors).
Besides earthquakes, there are many phenomena that we are able to record with seismic networks; they are both of natural origin (as volcanic eruptions, landslides, sinkholes, weather events, meteorite impacts), and anthropogenic (as underground fluid injections, quarry blasts, nuclear explosions, etc.).
In this special issue we aim to collect scientific papers focused on advanced techniques of seismic monitoring or data analysis of natural and anthropogenic events. Also, contributions from studies carried out by ‘unconventional’ seismic networks are welcome.

    tectonic and induced earthquakes
    fiber DAS networks
    no earthquakes seismic signature events
    rotational sensors
    off-shore seismicity location improvements
    seismic information from unconventional sensors

Dr. Mario Anselmi
Dr. Aladino Govoni
Dr. Cristina Totaro
Dr. Maria Adelaide Romano
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Advanced Sensor Networks/Seismic Networks and Monitoring for Earthquakes and Phenomena Having a Seismic Signature
Submission Date: 2022-03-12

Dear Colleagues,
 
The study of earthquakes is of global interest, mainly because the comprehension of such phenomena is useful to safeguard human lives. To this aim, tools (such as seismic networks and arrays, but also data analysis procedures) by which detect and localize from small to large magnitudes earthquakes quickly and accurately are fundamental. Since the last few years, advances in technology have allowed seismologists to design seismic networks more and more sophisticated (with boreholes or ocean bottom sensors). At the same time, potentially interesting seismological information can be obtained by instruments developed for different purposes (e.g., optical fiber, geophones, rotational sensors).
Besides earthquakes, there are many phenomena that we are able to record with seismic networks; they are both of natural origin (as volcanic eruptions, landslides, sinkholes, weather events, meteorite impacts), and anthropogenic (as underground fluid injections, quarry blasts, nuclear explosions, etc.).
In this special issue we aim to collect scientific papers focused on advanced techniques of seismic monitoring or data analysis of natural and anthropogenic events. Also, contributions from studies carried out by ‘unconventional’ seismic networks are welcome.

    tectonic and induced earthquakes
    fiber DAS networks
    no earthquakes seismic signature events
    rotational sensors
    off-shore seismicity location improvements
    seismic information from unconventional sensors

Keywords

    seismic networks
    seismic arrays
    seismic monitoring
    earthquakes
    induced seismicity
    natural and anthropogenic events
    fiber DAS
    geophones
    rotational sensors

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

Dr. Mario Anselmi
Dr. Aladino Govoni
Dr. Cristina Totaro
Dr. Maria Adelaide Romano
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Data and Privacy Management in Sensor Networks
Submission Date: 2022-03-30

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have witnessed a widespread interest in innovative sensor networks capable of providing valuable data for various applications (e.g., home automation, energy management), the connected objects and environments impact numerous application domains. From smart homes and buildings to cities, vehicle networks, and electrical grids, they have become a novel trend that is revolutionizing how people interact with their surroundings, how they accomplish their daily tasks in the workplace, and how they handle their health security, and safety. Sensor networks markets are currently booming and are projected to continue their growth for the years to come. The rising interest in intelligent connected environments (e.g., smart buildings, cities, factories) and the evolution of sensors, data management/communication technologies have paved the way for exciting and valuable applications that help users in their everyday tasks (e.g., increasing comfort, reducing energy consumption).

Indeed, the sensor network ecosystem have made it easy to collect and exchange a large amount of data, connect heterogeneous systems, create complex systems for new forms of collaboration and interoperability. Typically, the sensed data are transmitted to the edge nodes, or directly to the cloud/server where it will be stored, indexed, processed and analysed to offer a new class of advanced services, such as envirenement monitoring, objects tracking, event detection, advanced data analytics, etc. Despite the progress made, however, data and privacy management in sensor networks remains a core and challenging issues. In fact, due to the nature of sensor networks, there exist complexity in gathering, aggregation, indexing, storage, processing and analysing big data generated by resource-constrained sensor nodes per unit time. Furthermore, sensor networks also impose new challenges related to knowledge discovery and decision-making automation, security, privacy, and trust.

This special issue will promote the state-of-the-art research covering all aspects of the data and privacy management in sensor networks. High quality contributions addressing related theoretical and practical aspects are expected. The topics of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to :

    Modelling, simulation of sensor networks
    Architecture and Protocols for sensor networks
    Data gathering, storage and aggregation in sensor networks
    Data processing, indexing and discovery in sensor networks
    Data analytics solutions for sensor networks
    Knowledge discovery and decision-making automation in sensor networks
    Modelling, analysis, simulation, and verification of security, privacy, and trustworthiness for sensor networks
    Detection, evaluation, and prevention of threats and attacks in sensor networks
    Data security, privacy, and trustworthiness in sensor networks

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

Dr. Richard Chbeir
Dr. Taoufik Yeferny
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Data and Privacy Management in Sensor Networks
Submission Date: 2022-03-30

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have witnessed a widespread interest in innovative sensor networks capable of providing valuable data for various applications (e.g., home automation, energy management), the connected objects and environments impact numerous application domains. From smart homes and buildings to cities, vehicle networks, and electrical grids, they have become a novel trend that is revolutionizing how people interact with their surroundings, how they accomplish their daily tasks in the workplace, and how they handle their health security, and safety. Sensor networks markets are currently booming and are projected to continue their growth for the years to come. The rising interest in intelligent connected environments (e.g., smart buildings, cities, factories) and the evolution of sensors, data management/communication technologies have paved the way for exciting and valuable applications that help users in their everyday tasks (e.g., increasing comfort, reducing energy consumption).

Indeed, the sensor network ecosystem have made it easy to collect and exchange a large amount of data, connect heterogeneous systems, create complex systems for new forms of collaboration and interoperability. Typically, the sensed data are transmitted to the edge nodes, or directly to the cloud/server where it will be stored, indexed, processed and analysed to offer a new class of advanced services, such as envirenement monitoring, objects tracking, event detection, advanced data analytics, etc. Despite the progress made, however, data and privacy management in sensor networks remains a core and challenging issues. In fact, due to the nature of sensor networks, there exist complexity in gathering, aggregation, indexing, storage, processing and analysing big data generated by resource-constrained sensor nodes per unit time. Furthermore, sensor networks also impose new challenges related to knowledge discovery and decision-making automation, security, privacy, and trust.

This special issue will promote the state-of-the-art research covering all aspects of the data and privacy management in sensor networks. High quality contributions addressing related theoretical and practical aspects are expected. The topics of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to :

    Modelling, simulation of sensor networks
    Architecture and Protocols for sensor networks
    Data gathering, storage and aggregation in sensor networks
    Data processing, indexing and discovery in sensor networks
    Data analytics solutions for sensor networks
    Knowledge discovery and decision-making automation in sensor networks
    Modelling, analysis, simulation, and verification of security, privacy, and trustworthiness for sensor networks
    Detection, evaluation, and prevention of threats and attacks in sensor networks
    Data security, privacy, and trustworthiness in sensor networks

Dr. Richard Chbeir
Dr. Taoufik Yeferny
Guest Editors

Special Issue on Lifetime Extension Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks
Submission Date: 2022-03-30

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decades, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have experienced exceptional growth, their success reflecting their continuously increasing areas of application (e.g., area monitoring, environmental sensing, threat detection, etc.). Besides, the integration of WSNs in the IoT allows the latter to penetrate deeply into our daily lives and provide various convenient services enabling users to access, use, and process information collected from sensors through smart devices.

On the one hand, WSN devices' small size and low cost allow for development in large-scale environments. On the other hand, in the absence of infrastructure (due to their wireless nature), their operation depends on their limited batteries' energy supply. As a result of the limitations deriving from the low-capacity batteries, the lifetime of a WSN is inextricably linked to them. Thus, the framework underlying the devices' energy usage plays a vital role in the network's overall energy consumption and lifetime. For example, minimizing the number of packet transmissions among the WSN nodes or choosing a better location for the sink node can result in a lifetime extension.

Apart from optimizing the energy consumption, another way to increase a WSN's lifetime is to find an optimal way to recharge its nodes' batteries. In these so-called Rechargeable Wireless Sensor Networks (RWSNs), a vehicle (e.g., an unmanned autonomous vehicle, a drone, etc.) able to recharge the nodes' batteries is implemented and moves among the nodes replenishing their batteries. To take advantage of this procedure and maximize the lifetime of the RWSN and the recharging vehicle itself, a framework (or policy) on which the recharging vehicle bases its operation must be considered. This framework has to take into account issues such as the minimization of the distance travelled by the recharging vehicle to recharge the nodes, the optimization of the number of visited (for a replenishment) nodes, the minimization of the energy consumption of the vehicle, among others.

This Special Issue invites original research papers on new frameworks, algorithms, protocols, architectures, technologies, and solutions for extending the lifetime of a WSN (or RWSN). Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

- Lifetime extension

- Energy consumption optimization

- Energy-efficient routing

- Load balancing

- Optimal location of WSN nodes

- Optimal location of sink node(s)

- Machine learning-based WSN techniques

- AI-enabled routing

- Optimal data collection

- Data reduction/compression

- Wireless energy transfer techniques

- Joint information and energy transfer

- Energy harvesting

- Recharging vehicles

- Simulation tools

- Physical layer challenges, issues, and solutions

- Mobile edge/fog computing

- Manuscript Submission Information

- Placeholder to add info for submission process, charge, etc.  

Dr. Konstantinos Oikonomou
Dr. Constantinos Angelis
Dr. Georgios Tsoumanis
Guest Editors

Special Issue on 2D Material for Sensors Application
Submission Date: 2022-03-31

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is devoted to the reports on 2D-based sensors. 2D materials is a fast-developing field of material science. Graphene and other 2D materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and transition metal oxides (TMOs), have attracted significant attention as supporting substrates in a wide variety of biosensing technologies. Due to recent success in the synthesis and engineering of 2D materials, new functionalities became possible by defect engineering, creating heterostructures with various nanomaterials as well as chemical and molecular doping. Although other nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes exhibit as well some degree of tunability, 2D materials due to their planar nature are more compatible with modern fabrication techniques and device integration. Thanks to the thin nature of 2D materials with a large area-to-volume ratio and various reaction sites they are very sensitive to the state of the surface. The 2D material family contains a variety of electronic properties, spanning from metallic/semimetallic (e.g. graphene) to semiconducting (e.g. MoS2, WS2) to insulating (e.g. h-BN). Importantly, through functionalization or defect engineering of 2D materials one can modify the surface chemistry and thus tailor them to selectively respond to certain analytes with extremely high sensitivity. Furthermore, 2D material-based sensors can be fabricated with miniaturised dimensions and feature flexibility, transparency and mechanical strength. All these unique properties make 2D materials excellent candidates for sensing applications.

Dr. Dmitry K. Polyushkin
Guest Editor