MEASUREMENT THEORY: VIEW FROM METROLOGICAL PRACTICE

Valery Granovsky

Abstract

Measurement theory is developed as partial theory of uniform quantities group measurement and as general measurement theory. In contrast to this, the applied metrology has to ensure the quality of practical measurements supporting industrial, technical, or research activity. The mission of the measurement theory is to serve as a base for applied metrological methods and procedures. But actually the measurement theory pays just a little attention to the practical problems, and affects weakly and indirectly the applied metrology. General measurement theory has the abstract measurement equation as its object and studies special kinds of the equation. Partial measurement theory addresses to metrological measurements, which serve for unit transportation from reference standard to measuring instrument. This transportation goes on during normal conditions. Applied metrology problems are connected with that it is impossible to realize the unit with the necessary accuracy in any unique measurement act because of affecting object peculiarities and/or measurement conditions. So, there are two general methodical problems arising in practice: (i) to realise unit in the conditions different from the normal ones, and (ii) to compare the unit with the inherent characteristic of real object, which is quite different from the abstract general model of the physical quantity. So the approach to uniformity of measurements, which is alternative to the traditional one, is to use “reference object” and to certificate it metrologically under the working conditions.

Keywords

measurement object, conditions, reference object

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IMEKO TC

TC7 - Measurement Science

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