Abstract: Methods of determining thermal properties of a contact region are provided. The method comprises receiving temperature data of a sensor; determining a temperature distribution of heat penetration from a sensor to at least one material; applying a correction to the temperature distribution; iteratively analyzing the corrected temperature distribution; and outputting thermal properties of a contact region, the contact region being a region between the sensor and the at least one material. The method may further comprise determining thermal properties of the at least one material; and determining corrected thermal properties of the material using the thermal properties of the contact region. The method may further comprise automatically determining an appropriate time window for measuring properties of the at least one material to minimize effects of the contact region.