ADAPTING CLASSICAL TAXONOMY FOR MEASURING SYSTEMS
Abstract
Classical Taxonomy is the reservoir of methods and techniques used in the life sciences to bring scientific order to the grouping of living things. Although the orders or problems of Taxonomy were not clearly described until the late 19th century the methods used can be traced back to the time of Plato and Aristotle. This paper commences by introducing the main ideas associated with classical taxonomy. A brief overview of the classification of the sciences is given. Subsequently, classification principles are used to show that Instrumentation and Measurement Technology is a sub-science of what may be called Machine Science. Taxonomy is then adapted and developed for general application in machine systems but more specifically in measuring systems. It is clearly shown that machines, and hence measuring systems should be grouped on the basis of ”what they do”, or function, ”why they do”, or purpose, ”when they do”, or signal form, ”way they do”, or energy domain, ”where they do”, or location, ”how they do”, or structure and ”while they do”, or sensors.
Event details
- Event
- XVI IMEKO World Congress
- Place
- Vienna, AUSTRIA
- Time
- 25 September 2000 - 28 September 2000