Smart Cities & Smart Living

The need for sensors and for metrology capabilities is ubiquitous. Using advanced sensor technologies is not only crucial for ensuring the safety, security and health of the public and personnel, but also for guaranteeing the quality of our food and other consumer goods, and for optimizing production and manufacturing processes. Image sensors, smart vision systems and thermal imagers are essential for enforcing border, seaport and airport security.

Advanced sensors are key to the development of 3D imaging, biometric systems and medical imaging. Modern remote sensing techniques allow for accurate air pollution and vegetation observation which are crucial inputs to climate change policy and to disaster monitoring. The advent of optical fiber-based sensor technologies now also allows for highly efficient and sustainable exploitation of energy resources, not only in the domain of oil and gas industry, but also in the field of onshore and offshore wind turbines.

The integration of photonic sensors within large civil engineering constructions and within aircraft allows for continuous monitoring of the integrity of such structures and thereby the enhanced safety of public infrastructure and transport. The domain of security, metrology and sensors clearly addresses the world’s most important markets.