Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.15.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Metrology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P180 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Metrology, physical instrumentation |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.11 |
Engineering and Technology |
Other engineering and technologies |
Metrology, Quality systems, Testing, Information technology in metrology, Safety of electrical appliances, Realisation of the International Temperature Scale, Humidity and relative humidity, Calibration, Traceability, Dissemination, Accreditation, Certification, Conformity assessment, National standard, Temperature
Researchers (17)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Research activity of the programme group Metrology and Quality (Metrologija in kakovost) is based on three fields: basic metrology, thermometry, and technical quality. Basic metrology is based on cooperation in definition and new realisation of some physical units of the SI system, mostly of the unit for thermodynamic temperature kelvin K. In the scope of research in basic metrology measurement methods are treated separately from measurement instrumentation. Research deals with mathematical modelling of influential quantities in measuring systems to master the measurement uncertainty and other parameters such as dynamic response, stability etc. Special emphasis is given to the study of horisontal and vertical traceability in standards metrology systems and computer control of complex measurement systems. As a new field of research it is foreseen to implement the information technology in the field of metrology (IEM-Internet Enabled Metrology). It is important that is is not only a new technology, but development of new basic principles of traceability in measurement and calibration, based on new definitions of physical quantities in relation with physical constants and time or frequency.
Field of thermometry deals with research in the scope of international temperature scale ITS-90, mainly to achieve lower measurement uncertainties in realisation of temperature fixed points. Programme group Metrologija in Kakovost as the holder of national standard for thermodynamic temperature is involved in the system of continuous international comparison measurements. The mission is to lower the measurement uncertainties in cooperation with the most eminent standards laboratories in the world (PTB in Germany, NPL in Great Britain and NIST in the USA) In the scope of research cooperation in the field of materials is important, because new intelligent materials could represent progress. In Slovenia we have collaborated with research gropus from National Institute of Chemistry and Inštitute Jožef Stefan. In the field of thermometry and for new measurement methods and instrumentation development of new calibration media is foreseen both for contact and non-contact thermometry. Development of primary humidity generator represents the higest level in this field on the international level. Development is foreseen also in the field of modern intelligent instrumentation, new thermometers and other elements from the field of thermometry.
Development in the field of technical quality is based on new testing methods in the field of electrical safety and other fields related to electrical and temperature measurement and testing. Special emphasis is given to implementation of metrological parameters in testing. For complex testing procedures it requires a complete analysis of measuring uncertainties, study of influential paramaters and their correlations, and empirical confirmation of results. The essential problem lies in the requirement that testing procedures, which are fundamental for technical quality, must be performed according to the basic metrological requirements, where measurement uncertainty and traceability play a vital role. This was not the case so far. Given facts represent a full synthesis of particular fields in the scientic and research work and at teh same time generalisation to toher field such as healthcare, enviroment, food processing etc. Sinergy between the basic research in the field of metrology and technical quality is in directn correlation with strategic aims of research policy EU, which is obvious from the research projects in the 5th and the 6th Framework Programme. The discussed field of measurement and testing represents represents an important part of ERA, European Research Area.
Significance for science
Like other scientific disciplines, also metrology as an independent scientific discipline must develop its basic concepts such as measurability of phenomena, analysis of measurement results, etc and experimentally verify new findings. In the field of international system of units SI, metrology of physical quantities, definitions, realizations, dissemination and maintenance are the main issues. Development of metrology is therefore crucial for validation of new scientific findings in all research areas, while accurate and traceable measurements represent the basis for development of technology. Development of metrology as an independent, horizontal scientific discipline is directly related with development of other scientific disciplines, which all need experimental validation. It has to be realized that results regardless the scientific discipline, based on large number of experiments are not reliable, if they are not accompanied with the measurement uncertainty. Within the research programme modelling of thermal processes in direct relation of parameters of a theoretical model with direct, highly precise measurements in temperature primary laboratory is of scientific importance. This enables future development of temperature fixed points, complex temperature media (baths and furnaces) and establishes possibility of evaluation of used chemical materials based on electrical measurements, which represent a new approach in the field of contact thermometry. In the field of non-contact thermometry the main contribution to the science is improvement of absolute accuracy of measurements with thermal imagers, where actual performance of sensors in the imager detector is encountered. Widening of the scope in humidity generation at given uncertainties of realization represents the highest accuracy in the European metrology hierarchy. In this way our research programme contributes to determination of the reference value on the European as well as on the worldwide level. Electrical measurements and signal processing represent new concepts in analogue-digital transformation, which enables faster sampling and processing of measured signals and information datamining. Also in the special field of measuring biomedical signals with emphasis on psychophysiological measurements and evaluation of raw data of sensors in thermal imagers similar findings and new principles of datamining are applied, with inclusion of other physiological and psychophysical parameters as influential parameters in analysis of measured results. In the field of testing of safety of electrical appliances the most important contribution is introduction of a scientific approach for confirmation of correctness of testing and applied test methods.
Significance for the country
Direct importance of the programme Metrology, science of measurement, is a generic scientific discipline. It is, therefore, present in many fields of science and of society and very important for economy development of the country. For production of quality products the Slovenian export oriented industry needs dependable conformity assessments according to international standards and based on EU directives. Thus the metrology and testing component represent a large portion of added value of the product. Knowledge transfer into many companies is therefore essential. Technological development of Slovenian society is based also on metrology as an infrastructure activity in the form of traceable measurements controlling technological processes in industry. Contact and non-contact temperature measurements, measurements of humidity, electrical quantities and signal processing are some of the key elements in controlling and development of new technological processes.The work of the programme group, being one of the holders of metrology infrastructure in our country, is social-economically directly relevant for Slovenia and Slovenian citizens. The group is holder of primary standard for thermodynamic temperature and humidity. A primary standard is chosen or universally acknowledged as a standard with the highest metrology quality, representing the peak of the metrology infrastructure in a country and is therefore of a great importance for various social-economical domains. It ensures reference values for measuring devices in different branches of economy directly through transfer standards. Safety of electric appliances is of great importance for the citizens. To ensure this, an infrastructure using adequately prepared and uniformly understood standardised procedures, is needed. Planned research of the group in this field is focusing on gaining new knowledge in uniform comprehension and correct usage of the relevant documents. Due to insufficiency of classical energy sources, energy efficiency of buildings is gaining on importance in our society. The basic energy efficiency determination involves thermographic camera measurements. At the moment there is no consensus on calibration procedures and problems of traceability of these cameras. Therefore it is an important field of research of the programme group. In the field of improvement of basic measurements in medicine and consecutively quality of life measures, the group is focused on metrological characterisation of psychophysiological instrumentation in terms of traceability of measuring devices and standardisation of measurement methods. Indirect importance of the programme Programme group leads and coordinates a graduate study programme of Quality Engineering in the scope of University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and lectures a number of graduate, university and postgraduate courses from various fields of measuring techniques, measuring instrumentation, measuring systems, standardisation and quality assurance. As a form of the group’s knowledge transfer to industry, different study seminars and hands-on workshops in the field of metrology and quality are organised as a support for Slovenian industry and various public sectors. Members of the programme group are active in a number of standardisation technical committees and thus contribute to standards improving quality of life in modern society. Intensive cooperation with number of international metrology laboratories reflects good connection of the programme with developments in the world. The group cooperates with foreign national metrology institutions and universities. Its members are active and relevant participants in important European and international metrology organisations (BIPM, IMEKO, EURAMET, OIML).
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
