We present a 3D gas schlieren imaging sensor (3D-GSIS) for reconstructing vehicle exhaust plume density fields. It estimates plume size, laser absorption path lengths, intersection points of lasers, and local densities. Combined with advanced remote emission sensing, it enables direct measurement of pollutant concentrations in exhaust plumes.

A non-contact, optical methodology suitable for high temperatures based on laser-Doppler vibrometry is presented to directly determine piezoelectric constants. LiTaO₃ is chosen as a model material as it is a representative piezoelectric material with applications in sensors and surface acoustic wave devices. The values determined range from 12 pm V^-1 at 21 °C to about 15 pm V^-1 at 400 °C, being in good agreement with the literature. Thus, the proof of concept for this approach has been obtained.

Automation in measurement tracking improves quality management by reducing human interaction and manual data risks. To enable this, all metrological and administrative data in quality certificates must be machine-readable. Digital calibration certificates (DCCs) meet this need and enable fully automated compliance checks. A temperature-monitoring demonstrator illustrates their automation potential. Its code is published for reuse.

More traffic leads to more accidents involving wildlife, especially on rural roadcuts through habitats. Solutions like wildlife bridges and fences are needed, but there is no comprehensive solution yet. We have developed a system to detect and assess wildlife, including deer. This technology can work at night and in fog as animals cross roads in poor visibility. Radar sensors and infrared cameras are our solution.

Humans continue to use various units of measurement that are outside the internationally accepted System of Units (SI). This creates confusion that machines are unable to overcome. In the future, machines and sensor systems feeding data to those machines are expected to operate exclusively using the SI. This requires an internationally authoritative database for converting the non-SI units that humans enter to SI units at the level of the human–machine interface or human–sensor interface.

We present an automated, contactless method to map thin film thickness and stress across microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) wafers. Using white light interferometry on cantilevers and step profiles, we extract both mean and gradient stress with orientation sensitivity. Applied to six thin films, the approach reveals process-dependent variations, offering a reliable tool for evaluating and comparing MEMS materials and fabrication methods.

Parasitic direct currents in our alternating-current power grid affect the operation of power transformers. In this work, we present a fiber-optic current sensor system designed for the long-term monitoring of such direct currents, especially those arising from solar activity. The sensor demonstrator allows remote data access and sensor operation and was deployed at an electrical substation. For the first time, we show measurements of such currents on single phases of the power grid.