The background and the results of a first investigation on national foresight processes carried out in European countries, and what we learned from it, are here presented. This work is one of the basic tasks of the European project “iMERA” started in 2005. A questionnaire provided detailed information on the national activities of metrology foresight, in particular, information on:
- the number of countries performing foresight processes in metrology or in related areas,
- the number and the typologies of foresight processes in different metrology fields,
- the methodologies used,
- the frequencies of the foresight processes and the dissemination of related results,
- the level of participation of NMIs to national foresight processes and their feeling about the real utility of these kind of activities.
The survey gave an overview of the present state-of-the art of the metrology foresight processes, by focusing mainly on their characteristics rather than on their contents. The analysis show a large variety of national foresight processes on metrology R&D ranging from solid and highly formalised procedures to a much more informal and simple methodology. Many reported studies seem to have the characteristics of Forecasting and Strategic Planning rather than of Foresight exercises.

A data treatment software that serves as support for high voltage dividers in the non-invasive meters calibration is presented. This software calculates quantities like the absolute peak potential, maximum peak potential, average peak potential, practical peak voltage, ripple, average current, exposure time and current-time product through voltage and current waveforms. The software was evaluated using theoretical waveforms, where it showed that works correctly. In this work is also presented the results obtained with the analysis of voltage and current experimental waveforms.

This work tries to get better: uncertainties and accuracy for determination of bath losses. With simulation is possible to individualize calculations from all the loss components, for each specific measurement. A regression model is also evaluated based on an old and a new proposed model.

The paper presents a method of impedance spectrum measurement based on multisine signal stimulation of an object and response analysis by triangle window filter-banks. The method is directed at anticorrosion coatings diagnosis. It enables an acceleration of impedance spectrum measurement. The results concerning measurement time and impedance spectrum accuracy are discussed.

We present the theory and some applications of the synthetic aperture focusing technique applied to single transducer ultrasonic data sets. In this technique a virtual source located at the geometrical focal point of the physical transducer is algorithmically generated and thus allows for tighter focusing over a geometrically larger scan volume. We present results from a structural test phantom (two copper wires) and a delaminated specimen.