Award Data

The measurement and quality control for smooth engineering surfaces are becoming more and more important in modern science and technology due to their important engineering functions and high production costs. NIST has frequently received requests from U.S. industry to provide Standard Reference Material (SRM) high-precision, random profile roughness specimens to support smooth surface measurement ...

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used and extremely sensitive analytical technique for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) microcalorimeter detectors have now been developed that achieve an energy resolution of 2 eV for 1.5 keV X-rays, which is sufficient to enable the measurement of the small shift of the X-ray line position that ...

To meet NIST’s need for development of a new electronic system for microscale thermogravimeter nanoparticle analysis, X-wave Innovations, Inc. (XII) proposes a high-sensitivity, high-accuracy, low-cost, surface-acoustic-wave based microscale thermogravimetric analyzer (SAW-µ-TGA). The proposed approach is based on XII-developed surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor technology, which is capable of ...

Intelligent Automation, Inc. proposes an innovative visualization tool that transforms online GIS mappers into a climate impact assessment and planning tool that allows planners to visualize the impact of storm surges with sea level rise and coastal erosion using a 3D virtual city. The goal is to assist planners and emergency services to adapt to climate change at three tiers: i) Tier 3 (Long-te ...

To assist with the National Geodetic Survey’s federal mandate to provide accurate positioning—including heights—to all federal non-military mapping activities in the USA, Aurora Flight Sciences proposes to integrate a gravimetry payload on a unmanned aerial system (UAS). Potential options include using either an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or an optionally piloted aircraft (OPA). An OPA ...

This topic requires the capability for enabling high sensitivity/high precision measurements of calcium concentrates in seawater. This proposal aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel high sensitive nanosensor that can be used to determine very low concentrations of calcium in seawater in the presence of a large background calcium concentration. The sensor approach uses the benefits of nano ...

This project will develop a high accuracy monitor for the photo-chemically coupled pollutants nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone using infrared absorption spectroscopy with quantum cascade (QC) lasers. The target molecules are monitored at air quality stations worldwide using instruments, which require frequent calibration and are not sufficiently specific (in the case of NO2). This QC monit ...

The use of real time, in situ measurements of lubricant/refrigerant viscosity can reduce maintenance costs and system downtime and improve system longevity, by allowing maintenance personnel to determine identify and correct mechanical problems, before they cause more serious problems. With the advent of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS), the opportunity exists to develop small and inexpensive ...

Channel electron multipliers are used in a variety of applications including synchrotron research facilities. It is imperative that channel electron multiplier technology be improved for this type of application. Currently, the manufacturing process of channel multipliers is very inconsistent. When running an array of detectors each detector must act similarly. If the detectors are not matched the ...

The hydrodynamic characteristics of a vessel are affected in restricted waters by the proximity of nearby moving or moored vessels. Interactions can result in large motions, potential collisions and significant loads on nearby structures, banks, and sediments. In Phase 1, we developed and demonstrated feasibility of a PC-Based numerical code for the prediction of the hydrodynamics of multiple vess ...