Example embodiments provide systems and methods for simulating a disease outbreak using a relatively simple formula based on a limited number of input parameters. In particular, disease severity is computed based on a relationship between leaf wetness duration and average temperature during a wetness period. The resulting model is a physical, deterministic model that accepts hourly weather data as input and outputs the most significant severity event of disease infection during a specified (e.g., one-day) period. This information can then be used to guide the application of various treatments when they can be most effective (e.g., when predicted disease severity is at its worst).

Example embodiments provide systems and methods for simulating a disease outbreak using a relatively simple formula based on a limited number of input parameters. In particular, disease severity is computed based on a relationship between leaf wetness duration and average temperature during a wetness period. The resulting model is a physical, deterministic model that accepts hourly weather data as input and outputs the most significant severity event of disease infection during a specified (e.g., one-day) period. This information can then be used to guide the application of various treatments when they can be most effective (e.g., when predicted disease severity is at its worst).

A multifunctional sky camera system and techniques for the use thereof for total sky imaging and spectral irradiance/radiance measurement are provided. In one aspect, a sky camera system is provided. The sky camera system includes an objective lens having a field of view of greater than about 170 degrees; a spatial light modulator at an image plane of the objective lens, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to attenuate light from objects in images captured by the objective lens; a semiconductor image sensor; and one or more relay lens configured to project the images from the spatial light modulator to the semiconductor image sensor. Techniques for use of the one or more of the sky camera systems for optical flow based cloud tracking and three-dimensional cloud analysis are also provided.

A multifunctional sky camera system and techniques for the use thereof for total sky imaging and spectral irradiance/radiance measurement are provided. In one aspect, a sky camera system is provided. The sky camera system includes an objective lens having a field of view of greater than about 170 degrees; a spatial light modulator at an image plane of the objective lens, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to attenuate light from objects in images captured by the objective lens; a semiconductor image sensor; and one or more relay lens configured to project the images from the spatial light modulator to the semiconductor image sensor. Techniques for use of the one or more of the sky camera systems for optical flow based cloud tracking and three-dimensional cloud analysis are also provided.

Methods and systems for controlling tintable windows based on cloud detection.

Methods and systems for controlling tintable windows based on cloud detection.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

An image processing device 100 includes a calculation unit 110 for calculating a solar radiation spectrum in a given area on the ground surface on the basis of an observed image of the area, a solar radiation spectrum component of the area, and the spectrum of a pure substance estimated in the area, and a conversion unit 120 for converting the observed image on the basis of the calculated solar radiation spectrum.

An image processing device 100 includes a calculation unit 110 for calculating a solar radiation spectrum in a given area on the ground surface on the basis of an observed image of the area, a solar radiation spectrum component of the area, and the spectrum of a pure substance estimated in the area, and a conversion unit 120 for converting the observed image on the basis of the calculated solar radiation spectrum.