International Frequency Sensor Association (IFSA) Newsletter

   (ISSN 1726-6017)

This monthly e-newsletter, written by the editors of Sensors & Transducers Magazine (ISSN 1726-5479), delivers the product and research news you asked for, and updates you on happenings in the sensor science and industry. Who should read this Newsletter ? All who are interested in the newest information and trends in sensors, transducers, MEMS and sensor instrumentation, including DAQ.

IFSA Newsletter (ISSN 1726-6017), No.3, March 2010

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In this Issue:

1.   Sensors & Transducers Magazine (e-Digest) and Journal, Vol.114, Issue 3, March 2009

2.   Sensors Web Portal Up-dates Briefs

3.   Sensors for Agriculture and Environment Monitoring (Technical Insights)

4.   Subscription

5.   Additional Information, Comments, Suggestions

Plus lots more information to be found on Sensors Web Portal: http://www.sensorsportal.com

  Sensors Web Portal Up-Date Briefs

News:

• New issue of Sensors & Transducers e-Digest, Vol.114, Issue 3, March 2010 is in the DIGEST section with products news

• IFSA Newsletter (March 2010) online

 Up-Dated:

• Sensor Industry News subsection in NEWS section

• Sensor Industry News Archive section

• Sensor Industry News Syndication page (an opportunity to put latest Sensors Industry news feeds in your own blog,
  web site or get it on you mobile phone)

• Measuring and Control News page

• Chemical Sensors section

• Nanosensors section

• Position Sensors section

• Rotation Speed Sensors section

• Temperature Sensors section

• The following List of Manufacturer has been up-dated with manufacturers of frequency output sensors:

• Flow Sensors list of manufacturers

• Humidity and Moisture Sensors list of manufacturers

• Level Sensors list of manufacturers

• Pressure Sensors list of manufacturers

• Proximity Sensors list of manufacturers

• Marketplase 2 section

• Links Section with most detailed, monthly up-dated calendar of sensors related events in 2010-2012

• Sensors Wish List section

• New contents of 'Sensors and Actuators'  B: Chemical:

•     - Vol. 145, Issue 1 (4 March 2010)

• New contents of Biosensors and Bioelectronics Journal:

•     - Vol. 25, Issue 8 (15 April 2010)

• New contents and abstract of 'Sensor Letters'

•     - Vol. 7, Issue 6 (December 2009)

•     - Vol. 8, Issue 1 (February 2010), A Special Issue on Smart Sensors in Agriculture

• New contents of Nano Today Magazine:

•     - Vol.5, Issue 1 (February 2010)

• New contents of Measurement Journal:

•     - Vol. 43, Issue 4  (May 2010)

• New contents and abstracts of 'Sensors and Systems' Journal:

•     - No.1, January 2010

•     - No.2, February 2010

  Sensors for Agriculture and Environment Monitoring (Technical Insights)

Wireless Sensor Networks Holds Huge Potential for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring Applications

The need for monitoring agricultural and environmental parameters to protect all forms of life from exposure to hazardous chemicals has driven the adoption of advanced and intelligent sensor systems. The exploding population has made it necessary to ramp up agricultural yield, and tracking of soil and crop/plant characteristics has become vital. Fertilizer management is important to prevent fertilizer run-offs. With issues related to energy consumption, population and need to promote a cleaner and safer environment, sophisticated sensing technologies are explored and deployed for both agricultural and environmental monitoring applications.

Legislations and regulations that emphasize environmental safety and government initiatives to facilitate R&D programs are promoting sensor uptake,' notes the analyst of this research service. 'Advances in related industrial sectors such as information and communication, manufacturing, and materials are enhancing market prospects.'

It is desirable to have multi-sensory systems, which would monitor multiple parameters of interest such as soil characteristics and environmental factors. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are gaining an increased momentum in the agricultural and environmental space.

Although detection techniques are based on optical, acoustic, electromagnetic, electrochemical, chemical methods, and many more, there is no single standard detection platform. This could be a potential hindrance to the deployment of a specific type of a sensing system for the desired application. Some preferred performance metrics of detection/sensing systems are high sensitivity, specificity, selectivity, wide detection range, and low false alarms.

Lack of standardization; improving sensing system parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, and detection range; developing multi-sensory system, effective sensor fusion algorithms, and simulation tools are some of the challenges with regard to sensors used for monitoring agriculture and environment. Apart from these factors, the global financial meltdown has slowed market momentum, and difficulties could be encountered in commercialization, new product introductions, global expansion, employment strength, and so on.

Going forward, the focus is on green technologies such as energy harvesting, which has proved to be a viable alternative to batteries in WSN applications. Solar-powered WSNs are used for agricultural and environmental monitoring applications. However, other sources of ambient energy, including wind, vibrations, and temperature could be used to power WSNs, and such technologies have to be actively explored. Though some of the applications leverage the benefits of WSNs and energy harvesting, widespread deployment in the target market is anticipated only during the medium and long terms.

'To promote market penetration for sensors, participants in this space must explore partnerships and collaborations,' says the analyst. 'Funds from stimulus packages must also be leveraged to develop innovative solutions.'

Nanotechnology-based sensing solutions are anticipated in the longer run. MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical-systems) based sensors are identified for detecting chemical and biological contaminants in the environment. Though the technology supports miniaturization and device integration, there has been skepticism about adoption.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Sensors for Agriculture and Environment Monitoring reviews the factors that could influence the deployment of various sensing solutions in target markets. It also provides market data for wireless sensors, along with macroeconomic trends (current economic downturn). Some emerging technologies in the target markets are also discussed.

For more details please visit:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id=1206539&t=d&cat_id=

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Addition Information

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