Surface Temperature Sensors Research Articles

Development of an unmanned aerial vehicle to study atmospheric boundary-layer turbulent structure

One of the main challenges in the boundary-layer turbulence research consists in advancing turbulence theory towards describing turbulent regimes over inhomogeneous and irregular surface which is often the case in nature. Novel observational techniques are required to sample turbulence statistics in such conditions. To that aim, a light-weight payload for atmospheric turbulence measurements is designed and used on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Such an observational platform complements traditional mast observations and makes it possible to sample turbulence statistics over remote and inhomogeneous landscapes. The advantages of the VTOL scheme consist in: i) minimizing the risk of the payload damage during landing; ii) less strict requirements to the surface conditions in the landing area. The turbulence payload consists of a miniature seven-hole probe, inertial navigation system and a fine-wire resistance thermometer. The seven-hole probe and the fine-wire temperature sensor were designed and calibrated as part of this study. In addition, the payload also includes a slow-response temperature-humidity sensor, relatively fast humidity sensor as well as an infrared surface temperature sensor. For the onboard data-logging, a computer based on Raspberry Pi 4 is used. The whole system has been successfully tested at the Tsimlyansk research station, Russia.

Design Temperatures for Composite Concrete-Steel Girders: A-Verification of the Finite Element Model

Based on experimental records from a composite beam with a steel section and topping concrete flange, a finite element thermal analysis model was conducted and verified. The experimental beam was provided with 14 embedded and surface temperature sensors inside the concrete flange and on the steel section. The temperature records from the experimental beam were collected for two winter months. The finite element thermal model was conducted to simulate the thermal response of composite beams under the influence of open-field thermal conditions. The model solves for the conduction of heat in concrete and steel considering the different boundary conditions that include; solar radiation, reflected radiation, temperature of air and the speed of the ambient air. To verify the introduced thermal model, the predicted temperatures at the 14 thermocouples were compared with the experimental ones along the 24 hours of three days with different weather conditions. The comparisons showed that for the three days, the model could capture the temperature-time behavior accurately for all thermocouples with moderately low average absolute errors of 0.4 to 2.0 °C. Another notice was that the maximum errors in the steel section were higher than in concrete.

Vibration-Based Thermal Health Monitoring for Face Layer Debonding Detection in Aerospace Sandwich Structures

This paper investigates the potential of a novel vibration-based thermal health monitoring method for continuous and on-board damage detection in fiber reinforced polymer sandwich structures, as typically used in aerospace applications. This novel structural health monitoring method uses the same principles, which are used for vibration-based thermography in combination with the concept of the local defect resonance, as a well known non-destructive testing method (NDT). The use of heavy shakers for applying strong excitation and infrared cameras for observing thermal responses are key hindrances for the application of vibration-based thermography in real-life structures. However, the present study circumvents these limitations by using piezoelectric wafer active sensors as excitation source, which can be permanently bonded on mechanical structures. Additionally, infrared cameras are replaced by surface temperature sensors for observing the thermal responses due to vibrations and damage. This makes continuous and on-board thermal health monitoring possible. The new method is experimentally validated in laboratory experiments by a sandwich structure with face layer debonding as damage scenario. The debonding is realized by introduction of an insert during the manufacturing process of the specimen. The surface temperature sensor results successfully show the temperature increase in the area of the debonding caused by a sinusoidal excitation of the sandwich structure with the PWAS at the first resonance frequency of the damage. This is validated by conventional infrared thermography. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed novel thermal health monitoring method for detecting, localizing and estimating sizes of face layer debonding in sandwich structures.

Evaluating radiant heat in an outdoor urban environment: Resolving spatial and temporal variations with two sensing platforms and data-driven simulation

Instruments measuring the outdoor radiant environment are limited spatially. They aggregate observations to singular points, eliminating variations from surrounding surface temperatures. Computational methods can characterize the heterogeneous outdoor radiant environment, but spatial validation with accurate tools remains difficult. We use two novel sensing platforms (MaRTy and SMaRT) and an innovative computational validation method to explore Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) spatial variation outdoors. MaRTy is a mobile instrument that evaluates MRT with directional weighting for hemispherical radiation flux density observations. The SMaRT sensor uses a non-contacting infrared surface temperature sensor and LIDAR to map surrounding surface temperatures. We conducted a case study combining the methodology of both instruments to improve spatial mapping of MRT for five locations on Temple University's main campus in Philadelphia, PA in July. For comparison, we collected thermal images to build a data-driven simulation model for MRT. Results demonstrate the improved resolution of combining both sensors to resolve variations in outdoor longwave radiation fluxes. The instruments show variations in surface temperatures up to 10 °C for SMaRT from longwave radiation and MRT variations of 40 °C for MaRTy, which included shortwave influences. These demonstrations of significant spatial variations were measured across an area typically evaluated at one position.

On the Energy Performance of an Innovative Green Roof in the Mediterranean Climate

Green roofs have a thermal insulating effect known since ancient times. In the building sector, green roofs represent a sustainable passive solution to obtain energy savings, both during winter and summer. Moreover, they are a natural barrier against noise pollution, reducing sound reflections, and they contribute to clean air and biodiversity in urban areas. In this research, a roof-lawn system was studied through a long experimental campaign. Heat-flow meters, air and surface temperature sensors were used in two buildings characterized by different surrounding conditions, geometries and orientations. In both case studies, the thermal behaviors of the roof-lawn system were compared with the conventional roofs. In addition, a dynamic simulation model was created in order to quantify the effect of this green system on the heating and cooling energy demands. The roof-lawn showed a high thermal inertia, with no overheating during summer, and a high insulating capacity, involving energy savings during winter, and consequently better indoor thermal conditions.

A new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based method for urban heat island intensity monitoring

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect occurs when an urban area experiences higher temperatures than its rural surrounding because of heat being absorbed by built structures and heat being released by anthropogenic sources. UHIs can cause adverse effects to human health and increase energy consumption used for cooling buildings. Therefore, it is important to monitor accurately the UHI effect. The intensity of UHIs are usually monitored using satellite imagery, airborne sensors, and surface temperature sensors. Satellite imagery can cover a large area but requires a clear sky to obtain good images. Moreover, airborne sensors are expensive and also require a clear sky to obtain good data. A large network of surface temperature sensors is required to monitor the UHI of an entire region, which can also be expensive. In this paper, we present a three-step algorithm to monitor UHI intensity using data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The advantages of using GNSS data to monitor the UHI effect are the increased availability of observation data, high temporal resolution and high geographical resolution. The first step of the algorithm is the calculation of a priori environmental parameters (i.e., water vapour partial pressure, troposphere height, surface pressure, and the vertical profile of refractivity) from radiosonde data. The second step is the calculation of temperature from GNSS data. The last step is the UHI intensity computation. The algorithm presented in this paper has been tested and validated using publicly available GNSS and meteorological data from Los Angeles, California, USA. The validation of the algorithm is done by comparing the UHI intensity estimated from the algorithm with temperature data obtained from weather stations. In the validation, the proposed algorithm can achieve an accuracy of 1.71 °C at 95 % confidence level.

Unprecedented switching endurance affords for high-resolution surface temperature mapping using a spin-crossover film

Temperature measurement at the nanoscale is of paramount importance in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and calls for the development of versatile, high-resolution thermometry techniques. Here, the working principle and quantitative performance of a cost-effective nanothermometer are experimentally demonstrated, using a molecular spin-crossover thin film as a surface temperature sensor, probed optically. We evidence highly reliable thermometric performance (diffraction-limited sub-µm spatial, µs temporal and 1 °C thermal resolution), which stems to a large extent from the unprecedented quality of the vacuum-deposited thin films of the molecular complex [Fe(HB(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)3)2] used in this work, in terms of fabrication and switching endurance (>107 thermal cycles in ambient air). As such, our results not only afford for a fully-fledged nanothermometry method, but set also a forthcoming stage in spin-crossover research, which has awaited, since the visionary ideas of Olivier Kahn in the 90’s, a real-world, technological application.

Resistance Characteristics and Particle Arrangement of Smart Paint for Surface Temperature Sensor.

There are limitations on the shape of models that can be measured with commonly used temperature sensors. These disadvantages are difficult to measure temperatures of the curved surface. To overcome the shortcomings, a smart paint for temperature measurement is proposed in this work. A polymer solution was prepared for viscosity of the paint and dispersion of materials. The BaTiO₃ and Ag nanopaste are used for PTC characteristics and conductivity of the paint, respectively. Smart paint were analyzed the arrangement and shape of particles according to the processes and production methods. Also, the change of resistance was measured while increasing the temperature. The results show that resistance increased as the temperature increased. The performance of the manufactured smart paint was confirmed as a surface temperature sensor.

In situ airborne measurements of atmospheric and sea surface parameters related to offshore wind parks in the German Bight

Abstract. Between 6 September 2016 and 15 October 2017, meteorological measurement flights were conducted above the German Bight in the framework of the project WIPAFF (Wind Park Far Field). The scope of the measurements was to study long-range wakes with an extent larger than 10 km behind entire wind parks, and to investigate the interaction of wind parks and the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The research aircraft Dornier 128 of the Technische Universität (TU) Braunschweig performed in total 41 measurement flights during different seasons and different stability conditions. The instrumentation consisted of a nose boom with sensors for measuring the wind vector, temperature and humidity, and additionally sensors for characterizing the water surface, a surface temperature sensor, a laser scanner and two cameras in the visible and infrared wavelength range. A detailed overview of the aircraft, sensors, data post-processing and flight patterns is provided here. Further, averaged profiles of atmospheric parameters illustrate the range of conditions. The potential use of the data set has been shown already by first publications. The data are publicly available in the world data centre PANGAEA (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.902845; Bärfuss et al., 2019a).

Manufacturing Simple and Inexpensive Soil Surface Temperature and Gravimetric Water Content Sensors

Manufacturing Simple and Inexpensive Soil Surface Temperature and Gravimetric Water Content Sensors

Manufacturing Simple and Inexpensive Soil Surface Temperature and Gravimetric Water Content Sensors.

Quantifying temperature and moisture at the soil surface is essential for understanding how soil surface biota respond to changes in the environment. However, at the soil surface these variables are highly dynamic and standard sensors do not explicitly measure temperature or moisture in the upper few millimeters of the soil profile. This paper describes methods for manufacturing simple, inexpensive sensors that simultaneously measure the temperature and moisture of the upper 5 mm of the soil surface. In addition to sensor construction, steps for quality control, as well as for calibration for various substrates, are explained. The sensors incorporate a Type E thermocouple to measure temperature and assess soil moisture by measuring the resistance between two gold-plated metal probes at the end of the sensor at a depth of 5 mm. The methods presented here can be altered to customize probes for different depths or substrates. These sensors have been effective in a variety of environments and have endured months of heavy rains in tropical forests as well as intense solar radiation in deserts of the southwestern U.S. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of these sensors for evaluating warming, drying, and freezing of the soil surface in a global change experiment.

162 Detection of ovulation disorders and normal ovulation using wireless sensors of ventral tail surface temperature and neck acceleration data in Japanese Black cows

The present study aimed to clarify the possibility of detection of ovulation disorders and normal ovulation in Japanese Black cows using wearable wireless sensors based on continuous measurements of body surface temperature (ST) and neck acceleration data. For cows with normal ovulation (n=19, 8.5 years old, 476.2kg), controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone were administered on arbitrary days of the oestrous cycle (Day −10), and oestrus was induced by CIDR removal and prostaglandin F2α administration (Day −3). Ovulation (Day 0) was induced by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone administration on estimated oestrus day (Day −1) and was detected based on the disappearance of ≥8mm follicles using ultrasonography at 1- to 2-h intervals. For cows with spontaneous ovarian cysts (n=11, 8.6 years old, 471.2kg), oestrus and the next day were defined as Days −1 and 0, respectively. Plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4) and oestradiol-17β (E2) were measured on Days −9, −6, −2, −1, 0, 1, 5, and 8. The body ST sensor was attached to the ventral tail base (Day −16), and ST was measured every 10min for 24 days. For analysis of ST, after extracting hourly maximum ST values, the values were expressed as residual ST (RST; ST − mean ST for the same hour on the previous 3 days) for removal of circadian rhythm (Miura et al. 2017 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 180, 50-57; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2017.03). The acceleration sensor (Farmnote Color, Farmnote Inc.) was attached to the neck (Day −16). Hourly oestrus level (amount of oestrus activity) was obtained from the amount of activity; the difference between the residual oestrus level (REL; same calculation as RST) and measured values of each day was used. To identify RST and REL of cows with normal ovulation and cows with ovarian cysts, the mean values and standard deviations for the same hours for 3-7 days before oestrus were calculated. Mean RST and REL for 3-7 days before oestrus were assumed according to the normal distribution. The 95% confidence range was determined using×1 standard deviation of all hours. Values over the 95% confidence range for ≥5h were considered to be different from the mean 4 days and the 5% level. For RST, no difference was found in both groups due to the large influence of environment, particularly low temperature. However, for REL, a difference was indicated for oestrus in all cows (P<0.05). A large peak of REL appeared once on oestrus (>14.4 REL for 20h) in normal cows, and three peaks occurred in <21 days (>16.2 REL for 21, 15, and 15h) in cows with ovulation disorders (P<0.05). The REL rapidly increased following peaking E2 and decreasing P4 to oestrus (Day −1) in normal cows. In cows with an ovulation disorder, REL increased on oestrus; however, E2 and P4 remained high and low stable to oestrus, respectively. In conclusion, oestrus activity and the characteristics of normal cows and those with an ovulation disorder can be detected by the neck acceleration sensor using the correction value. This research was supported by The Research Project for the Future Agriculture Production Utilising Artificial Intelligence.

Analysis on different types of imperfect interfaces between two dissimilar piezothermoelastic half-spaces on reflection and refraction phenomenon of plane waves

ABSTRACT This paper presents an analytical treatment of the study of reflection and refraction characteristics of plane waves at different types of imperfect interfaces between two dissimilar, piezothermoelastic half-spaces. The classical dynamical coupled theory, Lord-Shulman theory and Green-Lindsay theory have been employed to investigate the problem. The existence of four types of plane waves (qP, qSV, T-mode and EA waves) has been observed in the two-dimensional model of the piezothermoelastic media. The imperfection at the interface has been classified into seven types, viz. normal stiffness boundary, transverse stiffness boundary, thermal contact conductance, slip boundary, welded contact, complete debonding and electric imperfection. The closed form expressions of the amplitude ratios of reflected and refracted waves have been obtained which established their dependency on the angle of incidence, the bonding parameters and the properties of the media. The impact of the aforementioned parameters in the aforesaid three theories of thermoelasticity has been extensively studied and demonstrated in graphs. This study may find noteworthy practical applications towards optimization of design and fabrication of surface wave filter devices and temperature sensors and also may be useful for achieving a superior performance in surface acoustic wave devices (such as filters, oscillators, amplifiers etc.).

Expandable Lattice Electrode Ablation Catheter: A Novel Radiofrequency Platform Allowing High Current at Low Density for Rapid, Titratable, and Durable Lesions.

High-current short-duration radiofrequency energy delivery has potential advantages for cardiac ablation. However, this strategy is limited by high current density and narrow safety-to-efficacy window. The objective of this study was to examine a novel strategy for radiofrequency energy delivery using a new electrode design capable of delivering high power at a low current density to increase the therapeutic range of radiofrequency ablation. The Sphere9 is an expandable spheroid-shaped lattice electrode design with an effective surface area 10-fold larger than standard irrigated electrodes (lattice catheter). It incorporates 9 surface temperature sensors with ablation performed in a temperature-controlled mode. Phase I: in 6 thigh muscle preparations, 2 energy settings for atrial ablation were compared between the lattice and irrigated-tip catheters (low-energy: Tmax75°C/5 s versus 25 W/20 s; high-energy: Tmax75°C/7 s versus 30 W/20 s). Phase II: in 8 swine, right atrial lines were created in the posterior and lateral walls using low- and high-energy settings, respectively. Phase III: the safety, efficacy, and durability at 30 days were evaluated by electroanatomical mapping and histopathologic analysis. In the thigh model, the lattice catheter resulted in wider lesions at both low- and high-energy settings (18.7±3.3 versus 12.2±1.7 mm, P<0.0001; 19.4±2.4 versus 12.3±1.7 mm, P<0.0001). Atrial lines created with the lattice were wider (posterior: 14.7±3.4 versus 9.2±4.0 mm, P<0.0001; lateral: 15.8±4.2 versus 5.7±4.2 mm, P<0.0001) and required 85% shorter ablation time (12.4 versus 79.8 s/cm-line). While current squared (I2) was higher with Sphere9 (7.0±0.04 versus 0.2±0.002 A2; P<0.0001), the current density was lower (9.6±0.9 versus 16.9±0.09 mA/mm2; P<0.0001). At 30 days, 100% of ablation lines created with the lattice catheter remained contiguous compared with only 14.3% lines created with a standard irrigated catheter. This was achieved without steam pops or collateral tissue damage. In this preclinical model, a novel, high-current low-density radiofrequency ablation strategy created contiguous and durable ablation lines in significantly less ablation time and a comparable safety profile.

LiDAR-derived topography and forest structure predict fine-scale variation in daily surface temperatures in oak savanna and conifer forest landscapes

In mountain landscapes, surface temperatures vary over short distances due to interacting influences of topography and overstory vegetation on local energy and water balances. At two study landscapes in the Sierra Nevada of California, characterized by foothill oak savanna at 276–481 m elevation and montane conifer forest at 1977–2135 m, we deployed 288 near-surface (5 cm above the surface) temperature sensors to sample site-scale (30 m) temperature variation related to hillslope orientation and vegetation structure and microsite-scale (2–10 m) variation related to microtopography and tree overstory. Daily near-surface maximum and minimum temperatures for the 2013 calendar year were related to topographic factors and vegetation overstory characterized using small footprint LiDAR imagery acquired by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). At both landscapes we recorded large site and microsite spatial variation in daily maximum temperatures, and less absolute variation in daily minimum temperatures. Generalized boosted regression trees were estimated to measure the influence of tree canopy density, understory solar radiation, cold-air drainage and pooling, ground cover and microtopography on daily maximum and minimum temperatures at site and microsite scales. Site-scale models based on indices of understory solar radiation and landscape position explained an average of 61–65% of daily variation in maximum temperature; site-scale models based on tree canopy density and landscape position explained 65–83% of variation in minimum temperatures. Models explained <15% of variation in microsite-scale maximum temperatures but within-site heterogeneity was significantly correlated with within-site heterogeneity in modeled understory radiation at both landscapes. Tree canopy density and slope explained 33% of microsite-scale variation in minimum temperatures at savanna sites. Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to model site-scale variation in daily surface temperature extremes and within-site heterogeneity in surface temperatures using LiDAR-derived variables, supporting efforts to understand cross-scale relationships between surface microclimates and regional climate change. Improved understanding of topographic and vegetative buffering of thermal microclimates across mountain landscapes is key to projecting microclimate heterogeneity and potential species’ range dynamics under future climate change.

Experience in the quadcopter-based meteorological observations in the atmospheric boundary layer

Recent developments of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) opens wide opportunities for their application for in-situ meteorological measurements in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). In this study we consider the experience of ABL measurements with a mass-market quadcopter DJI Phantom 4 Pro, equipped with temperature, humidity, pressure and infra-red surface temperature sensors. The quadcopter was used during a field experimental campaign in the northern Russia in winter for several types of measurements: hovering near the automatic weather station for a verification (1); vertical transects within the lowest 500 m in order to obtain the vertical temperature profiles and compare them with observations of the microwave temperature profiler MTP-5HE (2); horizontal transects over an unfreezing polynya (3). Additional verification was performed near the high meteorological mast in Obninsk. Listed experiments have shown that quadcopter-based system is a promising and usable tool for ABL measurements. However, its application requires a multi-step data processing framework, which is presented in this study.

The problems of measuring the temperature of the small engines (SI) on the example of a drive for non-road mobile machines

Modern drive units designed for driving non-road machines are characterized by liberal regulations regarding the limits of toxic compounds emission in exhaust gases. These regulations contribute to the low level of technical advancement of this type of drive units. Among the new non-road small engines (SI) offered in the sale in 2018 in the European Union, the majority of them are equipped with carburettor systems whose fuel supply characteristics do not allow to achieve modern fuel-air mixture control standards. Therefore, action should be taken to develop these drive units towards electronic control of combustion processes in these engines, which will allow the use of innovative control algorithms. One of the basic signals supporting the selection of the air-fuel mixture is the engine temperature. The paper presents an overview of the methods for measuring the temperature of internal combustion engines and presents the results of research on the process of warming up the engine. The tests were carried out with three methods using an oil temperature sensor, a surface temperature sensor and a thermal imaging camera. An attempt was made to indicate construction guidelines taking into account the place of temperature measurement, correction factors were determined in relation to the oil temperature. The developed coefficients can be used to precisely determine the thermal state of the engine, which is an important aspect in the process of controlling the fuel-air mixture and affects its consumption.

A Novel Surface &lt;inline-formula&gt; &lt;tex-math notation="LaTeX"&gt;$LC$ &lt;/tex-math&gt; &lt;/inline-formula&gt; Wireless Passive Temperature Sensor Applied in Ultra-High Temperature Measurement

In this paper, we demonstrate a passive wireless surface temperature sensor, based on a high-temperature co-fired ceramic process and a thick-film technology, which is functional up to 1400 °C. In addition, we propose a temperature measurement technique that makes use of the absolute amplitude of the S11 parameter. The sensor comprises an inductor (created from platinum) deposited on a ceramic substrate (99% alumina), making it cheap and easy to fabricate using a screen-printing technology, due to its simple structure. The use of temperature resistant materials, and a completely passive structure, means that this sensor is robust to harsh environments. The device operates using the principle of $LC$ resonance, illustrated in this paper with a lumped circuit model. The dielectric constant of the substrate increases with increasing temperature, leading to a monotonic variation in the resonant frequency of the sensor, which is retrieved wirelessly via a readout antenna. We set the test distance between the sensor and the antenna to 10 mm and observed a repeatable response between 26 °C and 1400 °C. S11 amplitude and resonant frequency are used to reflect the change temperature, respectively. And we found that it is more accurate to test the temperature by resonant frequency after comparing the experimental results. The average sensitivity of temperature test by resonance frequency is obtained, which is 14.3 kHz/°C.

An Aircraft-Based Study of Strong Gap Flows in Nares Strait, Greenland

AbstractGap flows and the stable boundary layer were studied in northwest Greenland during the aircraft-based Investigation of Katabatic Winds and Polynyas during Summer (IKAPOS) experiment in June 2010. The measurements were performed using the research aircraft POLAR 5 of Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI; Bremerhaven). Besides navigational and basic meteorological instrumentation, the aircraft was equipped with radiation and surface temperature sensors and a turbulence measurement system. In the area of Smith Sound at the southern end of the Nares Strait, a stable, but fully turbulent, boundary layer with strong winds of up to 22 m s−1 was found during conditions of synoptically induced northerly winds through the Nares Strait. Strong surface inversions were present in the lowest 100–200 m. As a consequence of channeling effects, a well-pronounced low-level jet system was documented for each of four flights. The wind maximum is located at 20–50-km distance from the exit of Smith Sound. The 3D boundary layer structure past this gap is studied in detail. The channeling process is consistent with gap flow theory. The flow through the gap and over the surrounding mountains leads to the lowering of isotropic surfaces and the acceleration of the flow. The orographically channeled flow through Smith Sound plays a key role for the formation of the North Water polynya being the largest ice-producing polynya in the Arctic.

Development of a Surface Temperature Sensor to Enhance Energy Efficiency Actions in Buildings.

The air temperature increase in urban centers can lead to problems such as increased energy consumption associated to air conditioning, the intensification of pollution, human discomfort and health problems. In this context, the building envelope plays an important role in urban thermal equilibrium. Energy efficiency rating systems for buildings (LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, AQUA—High Environmental Quality, PROCEL Edifica, etc.) stimulate energy efficiency actions in the built environment, considering, for example, the envelope and energy efficiency initiatives in buildings. Research carried out recently has shown that monitoring of buildings can provide important information about building performance, supporting building control strategies and enabling actions aimed at improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort. More specifically, wireless sensors are also being used to monitor buildings. This work proposes and presents the development of a surface temperature sensor that can support actions to enhance energy efficiency in the built environment, meeting the requirements proposed by the energy efficiency rating systems of buildings. This sensor must have characteristics such as low cost, the storage capacity of a large amount of data and the possibility of remote monitoring of the collected temperatures. Computer simulations and validation tests were carried out showing that the proposed sensor allows the remote monitoring (using a wireless transmission system) of the surface temperature in buildings, respecting the requirements of high storage capability and low cost.