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One-end-sealed single-crystal sapphire tubes are presented as a simple, robust, and economical alternative for bulky lightpipe probes. Thermal radiation from a blackbody cavity created at the inner surface of the sealed end is gathered by a simple lens-based collecting system and transmitted via optical fiber to the remote detection unit. Simplicity and applicability of the concept are demonstrated by the combination of commercially available sapphire tubes with a common optical pyrometer. Radiation thermometers with sapphire tubes as invasive probes can be useful for applications requiring immunity to electromagnetic interference, resistance to harsh environments, simple replacement in the case of failure, and enhanced mechanical firmness, enabling wider range probe positioning inside the medium of interest.

The Ce-doped yttrium ortho- and pyrosilicate powders were prepared in a powder form by the formamide-modified sol-gel method. Crystal structure was checked by x-ray diffraction and sample morphology by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Both ortho- and pyrosilicate pure phases were obtained by the previously mentioned preparation procedure and proper annealing temperature was determined to obtain the maximum scintillation efficiency. Luminescence spectra and decays were measured to better evaluate the source of efficiency losses in the scintillator mechanism of samples heat-treated at lower temperatures. The potential of this preparation method for manufacturing the nanocomposite scintillators was discussed.

Spatial data are a key element of geographic information systems (GIS). With the growing computational power of modern GIS, the demand for accurate and up-to-date high definition (HD) spatial data grows accordingly and increases the requirements of data acquisition. To simplify and automate the process of obtaining HD road data, several methods have been created with different approaches and stages of automation. A new method combining high resolution aerial images and existing linear road data is presented in this article. The method models roads in a vector environment at the level of single driving lanes. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) is used to identify road surface markings (RSMs) in aerial images; the geometry of RSM polygons is analysed (skeletonization, neighbourhood and context analysis, pattern recognition) in order to obtain a coherent network of driving lanes. The technique is able to distinguish automatically between solid and broken lines. The method proposed was tested and proven to satisfactorily model driving lanes, including in complex situations like junctions, roundabouts or over-or underpasses.