The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.

Embodiments of a system and a method for measuring cementitious board during its continuous manufacture can be used online in a continuous manufacturing process to effectively determine the degree to which cementitious slurry has set (e.g., expressed as percent hydration) at a predetermined location, such as, near a cutting station, for example. A compression assembly can be used to compressively engage the cementitious board in a controlled manner as it passes by the compression member along the conveyor between the forming station and the cutting station. A force gauge can be associated with the compression member to measure the resistance force exerted by the cementitious board in response to being compressed by the compression member. The resistance force can be correlated to a set characteristic of the cementitious board, such as a numerical value of percent hydration of the cementitious slurry of that particular portion of the cementitious board.

Described are methods, systems, means and machine-readable media embodying program instructions for considering water molecules and other mixtures in air when estimating an altitude of a pressure sensor. In at least one implementation, a measurement of humidity is used to compute a gas constant value, and the computed gas constant value is used to estimate an altitude of a pressure sensor. In another embodiment, the measurement of humidity is compared to a threshold condition related to humidity. Depending on the results of the comparison, the measurement of humidity is used to determine the altitude of the pressure sensor.

Described are methods, systems, means and machine-readable media embodying program instructions for considering water molecules and other mixtures in air when estimating an altitude of a pressure sensor. In at least one implementation, a measurement of humidity is used to compute a gas constant value, and the computed gas constant value is used to estimate an altitude of a pressure sensor. In another embodiment, the measurement of humidity is compared to a threshold condition related to humidity. Depending on the results of the comparison, the measurement of humidity is used to determine the altitude of the pressure sensor.

A detecting assembly and method for identifying and tracking clouds in a zone of the sky being observed where some thermal-infrared flux emitted the zone is collected and transmitted to a thermal-infrared detector, the detector including a sensor sensitive to the flux in a set band of wavelengths, a measurement of the actual temperature and actual relative humidity of the air at ground level is carried out and the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is deduced therefrom, the dataset relating to the thermal-infrared signal emitted by a reference sky for the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is stimulated or obtained, the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by the sensor to determine if clouds are present in the zone, and the dataset thus obtained is processed in order to compute the optical thickness and/or altitude of each cloud in the observation area.

A detecting assembly and method for identifying and tracking clouds in a zone of the sky being observed where some thermal-infrared flux emitted the zone is collected and transmitted to a thermal-infrared detector, the detector including a sensor sensitive to the flux in a set band of wavelengths, a measurement of the actual temperature and actual relative humidity of the air at ground level is carried out and the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is deduced therefrom, the dataset relating to the thermal-infrared signal emitted by a reference sky for the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is stimulated or obtained, the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by the sensor to determine if clouds are present in the zone, and the dataset thus obtained is processed in order to compute the optical thickness and/or altitude of each cloud in the observation area.

Systems are provided for measuring absorbed humidity in a composite material, including an item of composite material which includes a plurality of plies of material consolidated through the action of pressure and heat, wherein each ply of material is formed from a resin matrix reinforced with a fiber material, an insert embedded in the composite material, which is positioned in an interface zone between a first and a second ply of material, and in which at least one cavity is formed, in fluid communication with first and second ply of material, and an ambient humidity sensor positioned inside the cavity, capable of providing a signal indicating the humidity content in the atmosphere present inside the cavity. Corresponding methods are also provided.

Systems are provided for measuring absorbed humidity in a composite material, including an item of composite material which includes a plurality of plies of material consolidated through the action of pressure and heat, wherein each ply of material is formed from a resin matrix reinforced with a fiber material, an insert embedded in the composite material, which is positioned in an interface zone between a first and a second ply of material, and in which at least one cavity is formed, in fluid communication with first and second ply of material, and an ambient humidity sensor positioned inside the cavity, capable of providing a signal indicating the humidity content in the atmosphere present inside the cavity. Corresponding methods are also provided.

A soil analysis device is configured to create a soil sample solution. The device includes a reservoir configured to store an extractant, a mixing chamber coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive extractant from the reservoir and to receive a raw soil sample, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine an amount of extractant needed to produce, from the raw soil sample, a soil sample solution with a particular soil-to-extractant ratio and configured to cause the determined amount of extractant to be transferred from the reservoir to the mixing chamber.

A soil analysis device is configured to create a soil sample solution. The device includes a reservoir configured to store an extractant, a mixing chamber coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive extractant from the reservoir and to receive a raw soil sample, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine an amount of extractant needed to produce, from the raw soil sample, a soil sample solution with a particular soil-to-extractant ratio and configured to cause the determined amount of extractant to be transferred from the reservoir to the mixing chamber.