An industrial roll, comprising: a substantially cylindrical core having an outer surface; a polymeric cover circumferentially overlying the core outer surface; and a sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors embedded in the cover, the sensors configured to detect an operating parameter of the roll and provide signals representative of the operating parameter, and a processor operatively associated with the sensors that processes signals provided by the sensors; wherein the sensors are arranged at a substantially equal radial distance from the core surface, such that they define a circle when viewed from an end of the roll, characterised in that: one of the plurality of sensors is a tracking sensor and the remaining sensors are non-tracking sensors; wherein each of the non-tracking sensors is further arranged at a substantially equal first angular distance (α), when viewed from an end of the roll, from its immediate non-tracking sensor neighbors, two endmost non-tracking sensors (30a, 30b) defining an angular gap; and wherein the tracking sensor is disposed in the angular gap, such that a second angular distance (β), when viewed from an end of the roll, defined by the tracking sensor and either of the endmost sensors (30a, 30b) differs from the first angular distance. a substantially cylindrical core having an outer surface; a polymeric cover circumferentially overlying the core outer surface; and a sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors embedded in the cover, the sensors configured to detect an operating parameter of the roll and provide signals representative of the operating parameter, and a processor operatively associated with the sensors that processes signals provided by the sensors; wherein the sensors are arranged at a substantially equal radial distance from the core surface, such that they define a circle when viewed from an end of the roll, a plurality of sensors embedded in the cover, the sensors configured to detect an operating parameter of the roll and provide signals representative of the operating parameter, and a processor operatively associated with the sensors that processes signals provided by the sensors; wherein the sensors are arranged at a substantially equal radial distance from the core surface, such that they define a circle when viewed from an end of the roll, characterised in that: one of the plurality of sensors is a tracking sensor and the remaining sensors are non-tracking sensors; wherein each of the non-tracking sensors is further arranged at a substantially equal first angular distance (α), when viewed from an end of the roll, from its immediate non-tracking sensor neighbors, two endmost non-tracking sensors (30a, 30b) defining an angular gap; and wherein the tracking sensor is disposed in the angular gap, such that a second angular distance (β), when viewed from an end of the roll, defined by the tracking sensor and either of the endmost sensors (30a, 30b) differs from the first angular distance. one of the plurality of sensors is a tracking sensor and the remaining sensors are non-tracking sensors; wherein each of the non-tracking sensors is further arranged at a substantially equal first angular distance (α), when viewed from an end of the roll, from its immediate non-tracking sensor neighbors, two endmost non-tracking sensors (30a, 30b) defining an angular gap; and wherein the tracking sensor is disposed in the angular gap, such that a second angular distance (β), when viewed from an end of the roll, defined by the tracking sensor and either of the endmost sensors (30a, 30b) differs from the first angular distance.