Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2019
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.15.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Metrology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T110 |
Technological sciences |
Instrumentation technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.02 |
Engineering and Technology |
Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering |
metrology, measurability, decision making, saftey, quality, standardisation, measuring uncertainty
Researchers (16)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Research program Metrology and Quality Measurement deals with measurements and testing in the broadest sense as an exact scientific discipline for quantitative evaluation of natural phenomena and the establishment of objective valuation principles for qualitative assessment of performance events and artefacts.
The requirements for global competitiveness and quality of life present new measurement challenges in specific areas such as safety of operation of complex devices and systems, the quality of the environment, preventive medicine and technical diagnostics, etc. In addition to established physical, chemical and biomedical measurements this requires also measurements involving human perception. To further develop measurement science, confirm the hypotheses and implement the findings the program will consist of several interconnected areas. The latter constitute the measurement chain as an information process from universal environment from which the data are extracted through measurement instrumentation information channel and data processing to formation of useful and comparable results. The basic part represents the measurement theory. The basic principles of measurement will be studied from the standpoint of providing measurability, including so far “unmeasurable” phenomena and properties. Development of measurement principles with emphasis on the analysis of uncertainty, the impact of uncertainty on the qualitative assessment, simulations of physical and chemical processes, empirical and experimental work and the analysis and comparison of simulations and empirical knowledge will be included. Hypothesis will be validated based on the measurement of physical quantities with an emphasis on thermometry and electromagnetic measurements. Within thermometry topics such as change of definition of the unit for thermodynamic temperature kelvin by using the Boltzmann constant, and the impact on the dissemination to the industrial level, primary realization of temperature fixed points, measuring the dynamics of temperature, the measurement of humidity in gases and measurement of moisture in materials, both statically and dynamically, will be studied. In the field of electromagnetics electromagnetic influences on measurement instrumentation, algorithms for shortening the measurement time and thus reduced susceptibility to influence and disturbance variable periodic parameters, which will provide new solutions in the field of digital instrumentation, will be studied. Part of the program will be dedicated to new forms of measurement, specific physiological and sensory measurements. These as compared to classical metrology include human perception, with a human acting as a measuring system or as a measurand. This raises new and as yet unresolved measurement requirements and challenges, while the requirement for comparability, repeatability, reliability of results and interpretation in terms of fact finding and decision-making still remains.
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 of units 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, based on large number of experiments are not reliable, if they are not accompanied with some metrological information (measurement uncertainty, repeatability, traceability) regardless the scientific discipline.
In the proposed fields of research programme Metrology and quality the scientific importance is mainly in the field of theory of measurement (concept of measurability), measurements of high precision electromagnetic and thermodynamic quantities and in interdisciplinary measurements (biomedical and sensory measurements).
In the field of thermodynamic measurements important findings are from accuracy of primary temperature measurements, modelling of thermal processes, development of novel temperature fixed points, complex temperature media, improvement of absolute accuracy of measurements with thermal imagers, primary level generation of gas humidity and measurements of material water content (moisture).
Electrical measurement include research in the fields of measurement of alternating quantities, phase, electrical power, acoustics, electrical safety testing and new concepts of analogue-to-digital conversion for very fast sampling and signal processing. Additionally relevant is introduction of scientific approach for confirmation of correctness of testing and applied test methods in the field of testing of safety of electrical appliances
Group’s interdisciplinary approach enables research in various fields, from the influence of electromagnetic fields on measuring instruments (thermometers, generators, simulators), new methods of physiological measurement (thermography in medicine and sport, contactless measurement of physiology, non-invasive measurements) to psychophysiological measurements which in conjunction with data mining assess human perception and psychological state. In the field of psychophysiology due to the problem of measurability a broader study of the mathematical model of the measurement is planned. After creating a model principles of classical metrology will be used to analyse the uncertainty budget.
Significance for the country
Direct importance of the programme
Metrology is a generic scientific discipline. It is, therefore, present in many fields of science and of society and very important for qualitative progress of society and 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 every, including Slovenian society is based also on metrology as an infrastructure activity in the form of traceable measurements controlling technological processes in industry. The group, being holder of primary national standard disseminates values for measuring devices in different branches of economy directly through transfer standards.
Safety of electric appliances is of great importance for every country and its citizens. To ensure this, an infrastructure using adequately prepared and uniformly understood standardised procedures, is needed. The group research is focused on field of uniform comprehension and correct usage of the relevant documents.
An important field of research of the programme group with a direct social-economical effect is research on calibration procedures and traceability problems of thermal imagers within determination of energy efficiency of buildings, which involves thermography.
In the field of biomedical instrumentation the group's work is focused mainly on metrological evaluation of medical measuring devices, enabling accurate, reliable and repeatable measurements of physiological parameters, thus enabling optimal decision-making by medical personnel.
Indirect importance of the programme
Programme group leads and coordinates an undergraduate study programme of Technical Engineering in the scope of University of Ljubljana and lectures a number of graduate, university and postgraduate courses from various fields of measuring techniques, measuring instrumentation, measuring systems, standardisation and quality assurance. Proof of qualification of our students is the fact that most of our graduates, MSc and PhDs were employed in the R&D departments of successful domestic companies. The analysis of groups pedagogical activities showed that about 88% of thesis were directly or indirectly related to basic research work of the group, i.e. metrology, testing and technical quality. Within the program group 12 PhDs were defended and all of them are employed in the fields where they can use the skills and knowledge they have acquired in the laboratory LMK, meaning the group generated useful knowledge.
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).
Members of the programme group are active in EU Framework programmes since 1994 and in this way enrich scientific and research capacity of the Slovenian society.
Impact on the development of the profession and engineering practice
The group's work and proposals of the research program Metrology and Quality are among the few who are dealing with the fundamental challenges of metrology, i.e. the establishment of measurable so far non-measurable ph
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report,
final report
