675.792_M1-1A-MIM Triangle

Scientific Instruments for Space

Introduction to Measurements, Metrology, and Instrumentation

Audio

“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the state of Science, whatever the matter may be.”

Lord Kelvin (William Thompson), May 3, 1883

The Ecosystem that advances SCIENCE and knowledge

Measurement

Technological Development

Universal Constants

ISO

Modeling

Experimental Observations

Qualification by Measurement

Product Development

SI Conversion

Audio

Regulatory Agency

Units

Metrology

Accreditation

Instrumentation

1. Listen to audio clip
2. Explore the Measurement/Instrumentation/Metrology windows
3. Hover over the interactive texts

Standards

Professional Society

Metrology

Audio

• To establish the units of measurement
• To replicate these units as standards
• To guarantee the measurement uniformity
• To develop measurement methods
• To investigate the accuracy of methods-related errors

FUNCTION

TYPES

INDUSTRIAL

THEORETICAL

LEGAL

SCIENTIFIC

REGULATORY

• Selection of proper measuring instrument
• Proper measuring standards
• Standardization
• Maintain accuracy and precision during inspection
• Ensuring component of an instrument is reliable over time of use

OBJECTIVES

Instrumentation

Audio

• Devices and tools for indicating, measuring, and recording physical quantities
• Tends to be loosely defined because the required tasks are very domain dependent
• To maintain retroactive control of a process

FUNCTION

SCALE

ERROR

SENSITIVITY

ACCURACY

RANGE

CHARACTERISTICS

CALIBRATION

ENVIRONMENT

AUTOMATION

PORTABILITY

PRECISION

Measurements

Audio

• The basis of scientific research
• Enables understanding of the physical phenomena (measurand)
• Characterize scientific understanding with numbers and values

FUNCTION

PROCESS

PROCEDURES AND OPERATORS

DETERMINING UNCERTAINTY AND ERROR

MEASUREMENT INTERACTIONS

PROPER APPROACH

MEASUREMENT DEVICE

Applying the MIM Triangle: Measuring Distance

Figuring out distance between location A and location B

Audio

Ancient Greek Cartographers

Mercator Projection

Egyptian Royal Cubit

Gunter's Chain

UK Imperial Weights and Measurement Act

18th Century French Scientists

Electromagnetic Distance Measurement (EDM)

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Air and Space-based Imaging (GIS)

Cell Tower and Smart Phone Technologies

References

• Morris, A., & Langari, R. (2020). Measurement and instrumentation: Theory and application (3rd ed). Elsevier Inc. Academic Press
• Nadi, M. (2007). Measurement instrumentation. In D. Placko (Ed.), Fundamentals of instrumentation and measurement. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470612026.ch1
• Mekid, S. (2021). Metrology and instrumentation. Wiley-ASME Press. https://www.wiley.com/en-s/Metrology+and+Instrumentation%3A+Practical+Applications+for+Engineering+and+Manufacturing-p-9781119721734

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What is "Metrology"?

• Derived from the Greek words metro (measurement) and logy (science).
• The science of measurement and its application
• The field of knowledge concerned with measurement
• Serves as the rules for guaranteeing measurement; plays a role in international agreements joining national systems of measurement and making conversion between systems
• Metrological activities include calibrations, standard reference materials, standard reference data, test methods, proficiency evaluation materials, tools that facilitate the evaluation of measurement uncertainty, and establishing traceability of measurement results

What is "Measurement"?

• The process of experimentally obtaining one or more quantity values
• Measurement is the basis of scientific research.
• It allows us to understand the phenomena we observe in our environment by experimental deduction and verification
• It helps us keep orderly records with quantitative values assigned to observationsIt creates a reliable representation of a natural or artificial phenomenon with a group of symbols, usually numbers
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has defined measurement as “a set of operations having the object of determining the value of a quantity”

What is "Instrumentation"?

• Instrumentation comprises scientific activities and technologies that are related to measurement
• All existing tools that help us carry out measurement are part of instrumentation

• The link between physical, chemical, and biological phenomena and their perception by humans
• Instrument Society of America – “It refers to a collection of instruments or their application for the purpose of measurement, observation, and control”