“Measurement” and related concepts. Their interpretation in the VIM

The paper comments on the definitions of such terms as “measurement,” “nominal property,” “metrological traceability,” and others given in the 3-rd edition of International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM). Proposals are offered for amendments to the terminology of the next edition of the VIM, taking into account new fields where measurements are applied.     

SI traceability: Current status and future trends for forces below 10 microNewtons

Measurements related to nano- and micro-scale science, technology, and manufacturing are pushing the limits of detectable mechanical, electrical, and chemical quantities to ever smaller values, raising questions about traceability on such scales. The case in small force measurement is illustrative. At present, the mechanical unit of force is linked to the International Prototype Kilogram, or a deadweight force of nearly 10 N. Although known with exquisite accuracy on this scale, such a mass-based force standard is of little use to investigators and manufacturers using instruments that can determine quantities twelve orders of magnitude smaller. Recognizing this situation, the world congress of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO) convened a round table of researchers from National Metrology Institutes representing the US, Europe, and Asia to provide an overview of the emerging field of low-force metrology. This paper captures the information shared in that round table and amplifies on its content.     

Property evaluation types

An appropriate characterization of property types is an important topic for measurement science. On the basis of a set-theoretic model of evaluation and measurement processes, the paper introduces the operative concept of property evaluation type, and discusses how property types are related to, and in fact can be derived from, property evaluation types, by finally analyzing the consequences of these distinctions for the concepts of ‘property’ used in the International Vocabulary of Metrology - Basic and General Concepts and Associated Terms (VIM3).     

The European project on high temperature measurement solutions in industry (HiTeMS) – A summary of achievements

High temperature measurement in industry is subject to large uncertainties due to the non-ideal measurement conditions; for example unknown emissivity and window transmission for radiation thermometry, sensor contamination and ageing causing unpredictable drift in contact thermometry. This paper gives an overview of a European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) project “High Temperature Metrology for Industrial Applications” (HiTeMS) whose objective was to address, on a broad front, a number of unsolved measurement challenges in the domain of high temperatures (above 1000 °C) both in non-contact and contact thermometry. It brought together a total of 15 partner organisations; National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) (10), industrial companies (4) and a Fraunhofer Institute. The project started in September 2011 and was completed August 2014. Significant progress has been made in all the temperature measurement challenges tackled.     

Using the concept of a measurement system to characterize measurement models used in psychometrics

The philosophy of measurement in the social and behavioral sciences is seen (from without) as typically following the representational viewpoint. However, in practice, this is not the case for the great majority of measures that are developed in this area. The paper surveys several approaches to measurement in the social sciences (i.e., Classical Test Theory, Guttman Scaling, Item Response Theory, Rasch Scaling, and Construct Modeling), as examples of measurement approaches in the area of psychometrics, and uses the foundational concept of a measuring system, as developed by Mari [1], to explicate the logic on which these approaches are based and thus enable a comparison with measurement approaches used by other fields such as engineering and physics. The paper uses the underlying concept of the standard reference set (one of the essential features of Mari’s formalization) to show how the five approaches differ, and also how they are related. The importance of these differences, and the consequences for measurement using those approaches are also explicated and discussed.     

An algebraic–analytic framework for measurement theory

The goal of this paper is to present an algebraic–analytic framework for (static and dynamic) deterministic measurement theory, which we find to be fully adequate in engineering and natural science applications. The starting point of this paradigm is the notion of a quantity algebra of a measured system and that of a measuring instrument, underlying the causal linkages in classical ‘system + instrument’ interactions. This approach is then further enriched by providing a superimposed data lattice of measurement outcomes, intended to handle the information flow from the measured system to its measurand’s instrument. The original motivation for this algebraic–analytic setting for measurement was the authors’ earlier work (including Batitsky (1998) [1], Domotor (1992) [10], Domotor and Batitsky (2008) [11]), in which they express various concerns about the foundational adequacy of the well-known representational theory of measurement, henceforth acronymed RTM for short. There is a growing body of arguments and evidence, showing that, by and large, real-world measurements in the natural sciences and technology do not conform to the philosophical and mathematical assumptions of RTM. To make precise what we mean by all this, we begin by recalling the gist of our previous discussions of the philosophical rights and wrongs of the representational view of measurement. Then we move on to present an alternative algebraic–analytic measurement theory which, we believe, offers a natural account of classical deterministic measurement.     

Uncertainty assessment of a prototype of multilateration coordinate measurement system

Large Volume Metrology is essential to many high value industries to go towards the factory of the future, but also to many science facilities for fine alignment of large structures. In this context, we have developed a multilateration coordinate measurement system, traceable to SI metre, and suitable for outdoor measurements or industrial environments. It is based on a high accuracy absolute distance meter developed in-house and shared between several measurement heads by fibre-optic links. Thus, from these measurement stations, multiple distance measurements of several positions of a target can be performed. At the end, coordinates of the heads and of the different target locations are determined using a multilateration algorithm with self-calibration.In this paper, the uncertainty of this multilateration coordinate measurement system is determined with a consistent metrological approach. First, 13 different sources of errors are listed and quantified. Then, thanks to Monte Carlo simulations, the standard uncertainty on a single absolute distance measurement is assessed to 4.7 μm. This includes the uncertainty contribution of the telemetric system itself, but also the contributions of the mechanical designs of the measurement heads and the target. Lastly, measurements of three-dimensional coordinates of target positions are performed in a control environment, then in a large workshop without temperature control: these measurements validate the uncertainty assessment of the system.     

Removing divergence of JCGM documents from the GUM (1993) and repairing other defects

The mission of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM) is to maintain and promote the use of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and the International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM, second edition). The JCGM has produced the third edition of the VIM (referred to as VIM3) and a number of documents; some of which are referred to as supplements to the GUM. We are concerned with the Supplement 1 (GUM-S1) and the document JCGM 104. The signal contribution of the GUM is its operational view of the uncertainty in measurement (as a parameter that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could be attributed to an unknown quantity). The operational view promulgated by the GUM had disconnected the uncertainty in measurement from the unknowable quantities true value and error. The GUM-S1 has diverged from the operational view of the uncertainty in measurement. Either the disparities should be removed or the GUM-S1 should not be referred to as a supplement to the GUM. Also, the GUM-S1 has misinterpreted the Bayesian concept of a statistical parameter and the VIM3 definitions of coverage interval and coverage probability are mathematically defective. We offer practical suggestions for revising the GUM-S1 and the VIM3 to remove their divergence from the GUM and to repair their defects.     

New EMPIR project – Metrology for Drug Delivery

This document presents the scientific and technical objectives, state of the art and expected progress beyond it, and most importantly the expected impact on metrology, science, standards, and society of the new joint research project - MeDD II, Metrology for Drug Delivery (follow up of project MeDD I). It was selected for funding through the EURAMET EMPIR program of the European Commission and the participating countries. The project started in June 2019 and will last for three years. It involves 15 partners from National and Designated Metrology Institutes, companies, and academia. The main objective is to enable traceable measurements of volume, flow and pressure of existing drug delivery devices (like infusion pumps and analysers) and inline sensors that work at flow rates lower than 100 nL/min, in order to prevent inaccurate measurement results. This project will also investigate fast changing flow rates, liquid mixing behaviour and occlusion phenomena in multi-infusion systems with the purpose of improving dosing accuracy in each infusion line.     

The convergence of measurement science and computer science: A scientific conversation

This short paper is based on the first named author’s final scientific conversations with Ludwik Finkelstein, it forms part of what was an on-going discussion whose aim was to bring together our work and perhaps to contribute to the further development of systems engineering. The paper argues for the creation of a new design discipline founded upon the convergence of measurement science and computer science. The convergence of these disciplines proceeds from both an improved appreciation of the fundamental relationships between the disciplines and from the technological developments that have brought measurement and computing ever closer together. The paper points to the underlying relationships between measurement science and computer science and suggests that these relationships can form a principled basis for tackling the design challenges that technological convergence presents. The paper concludes by setting out an initial agenda for the new discipline.     

Water density formulations and their effect on gravimetric water meter calibration and measurement uncertainties

In the gravimetric calibration method of water meters, the volume of water that has passed through the equipment under test (EUT) is generally collected into a tank and the quantity (mass) determined by weighing. The mass of water collected is then converted into a volume. This conversion of mass into volume requires knowledge of the water density, which can be estimated, measured directly or determined by other means. The error of measurement of the EUT is determined by comparing the volume recorded by the EUT and the volume collected in the tank. The density of water is, therefore, one of the major causes of measurement uncertainty in laboratory calibration of water meters using the gravimetric method. Water meter calibration facilities commonly use density formulations proposed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the Organisation for International Legal Metrology (OIML). In Australia, additional guidance in water density determination is provided by the National Measurement Institute (NMI). In this study, testing was undertaken using ten positive displacement water meters arranged in series in the test rig to evaluate some of the common water density formulations used in Australia. The effect of these different formulations on the water meter error measurement was determined, as well as the effect on the measurement uncertainties. The results shows that the use of these different density formulations evaluated do not significantly affect the water meter error of measurement or the uncertainty of measurement. There was no apparent correlation between the water meter error and the meter position in the test rig. It was also determined that if the water density was adjusted only for temperature effects, a maximum of 0.05 and 0.15% drift in meter error and measurement uncertainty respectively, can be expected.     

A quest for the definition of measurement

Since in the scientific and technical literature multiple, sometimes incompatible, definitions of ‘measurement’ can be found, identifying a single conceptual framework is a significant target for measurement science, towards a generalized concept of measurement, in compliance with the notion of widely-defined measurement proposed by Ludwik Finkelstein. This paper introduces the subject with a structured review of some paradigmatic positions and then proposes to characterize measurement as an evaluation process able to produce objective and inter-subjective information on the measurand. A justification is given that this standpoint encompasses the evaluation of both physical and non-physical properties.     

Multiple orientation technique for the calibration of cylindrical workpieces on CMMs

Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are widely used in various fields of precision engineering and science. Although they are highly accurate instruments, for some tasks, e.g. calibration of reference artifacts, the accuracy even of the best available instruments is not sufficient.In this paper, we describe a highly accurate technique using a CMM for the measurement of cylindrical workpieces. The proposed method is a combination of multiple orientation and substitution techniques and compensates for all geometrical errors of a CMM, systematic probing effects and the bending of the workpiece due to gravity. We demonstrate the method on a cylinder gauge with flat ends that incorporates a number of different geometrical features. The evaluation of the measurement uncertainties for each characteristic was performed manually and using the Virtual CMM (VCMM) [Trapet E, Franke M, Haertig F, Schwenke H, Waeldele F, Cox M, et al. Traceability of Coordinate Measurements According to the Method of the Virtual Measuring Machine: Final Project Report MAT1-CT94-0076, PTB-Report F-35, Parts 1 and 2; 1999; Haertig F, Trapet E, Waeldele F, Wiegand U. In: Proceedings of the 5th IMEKO TC-14. Traceability of coordinate measurements according to the Virtual CMM concept; 1995. p. 245–54.]. The results show, that very low uncertainties can be achieved by the proposed measurement techniques. It is also demonstrated that the VCMM approach considers reversal effects correctly for the calculation of measurement uncertainties.     

NMC–NMIJ bilateral comparison of millimeter-wave attenuation in WR-15 waveguide band at 50 GHz and 54 GHz

This paper reports on a bilateral comparison of millimeter-wave attenuation in WR-15 waveguide band between the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Metrology Centre, A1STAR (NMC). Different types of attenuation measurement systems were independently developed at both laboratories. The systems are based on a stabilized single-channel intermediate frequency (IF) substitution method at NMIJ, and a dual-channel audio frequency substitution method at NMC. A comparison was carried out at 50 GHz and 54 GHz using a programmable step attenuator fitted with precision coaxial to waveguide adaptors as a traveling standard. Good agreement of the measurement results between both laboratories was verified in the attenuation range up to 60 dB.     

Evaluation of inconsistent data: Comparison of two adjustment algorithms

In the paper the evaluation of inconsistent key comparison data is considered. The authors share the opinion that the degree of equivalence of national measurement standards can be established only for those Metrology Institutes that provide consistent measurement results. The idea of increasing the measurement uncertainties individually for each measurement result with the aim to achieve the consistency of the data is advocated. Two algorithms are considered and their properties are investigated.     

System for automatic gauge block length measurement optimized for secondary length metrology

This paper presents a contactless system for automatic gauge blocks calibration based on combination of laser interferometry and low-coherence interferometry. In the presented system, the contactless measurement of the absolute gauge block length is done as a single-step operation without any change in optical setup during the measurement. The optical setup is combined with compact gauge block changer with a capacity of 126-ga blocks, which makes the resulting system fully automatic.The paper also presents in detail a set of optimization steps which have been done in order to transform the original experimental setup into the automatic system which meets secondary length metrology requirements. To prove the measurement traceability, we conducted a set of gauge block length measurement comparing data from the optimized system and the established reference systems TESA NPL A.G.I. 300 and TESA–UPC operated in Czech Metrology Institute Laboratory.     

北京大学加速器质谱装置及^14C测量

北京大学加速器质谱装置（PKUAMS）自1991年建丘以来，已开展许多应用研究并取得了一系列成果。本文系统介绍PKUAMS装置及其14C测量。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱测定硫的方法研究及应用进展

硫是矿石、化石燃料、蛋白质等的重要组成元素,与人类生活密切相关。近年来,随着质谱技术的发展,电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)已成为硫测量和研究的重要手段,并在环境监测、食品安全、生命科学、环境地球化学等研究中显示出良好的应用前景。本工作综述了ICP-MS用于硫元素总量、多种形态、硫同位素测量技术方面的最新研究进展。     

Measuring Characteristics of Magnetic Conductors for Signal Transformers under Complex Conditions of Alternating Magnetization

The paper presents characteristics of cyclic magnetization under ac magnetic fields generated by sine-wave voltages (currents) fed to magnetizing windings of signal transformers with cores from electric steels. These measurements could be performed thanks to the availability of a high-accuracy facility (HAF) at the Ural Research Institute for Metrology, which is designed for measuring magnetic losses. The facility enables digital control of the shape of the magnetizing voltage and digital processing of information.