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Software Support for Metrology

The objectives of the Programme are as follows:

• The promotion and development of best and good practice across all sectors in the use of mathematics, statistics and software in measurement applications
• Meeting the needs of industrial sectors upon which programme has most impact; this covers almost all engineering sectors
• Assisting those aspects of metrology where software is a critical enabling technology
• Assisting metrology areas for which regulatory impact is significant
• Facilitating measurement traceability, including the propagation of uncertainties down calibration chains
• Ensuring that software complies with international requirements and that the UK can operate effectively within the international market

Almost all areas of measurement covered by the NMS are increasingly dependent on software. Software is used in data acquisition, data analysis, modelling of physical processes, data visualisation, presentation of measurement and calibration results, calculation of uncertainties, and information systems for the effective management of laboratories. The accuracy of measurements, interpretation of measurements, and reporting of measurements are all dependent upon the correctness of the software used. Best practice in the design, development, testing and validation of software varies considerably from one field of metrology to another.

The scope of the programme includes support for all areas of metrology covered by the NMS. The results are promulgated through the programme websites, reports, published papers, best and good practice guides, newsletters, workshops and presentations. The programme will also deliver some trial software implementations of appropriate algorithms to demonstrate the feasibility of the techniques being advocated. In areas where metrologists require large software packages or databases, the programme will provide requirements specifications or guidance on the selection, use and testing of such packages and databases.

The Software Support for Metrology Programme covers the following technical themes:

Modelling Tools and Techniques
The objective of this theme is to extend, improve and make more accessible the range of tools and techniques for building, solving and analysing models important for metrology.

Uncertainties and Statistical Techniques
The objective of this theme is to extend existing best practice guidance to address a wider range of problems, and to promote the use of best practice in uncertainty evaluation at both national and international levels.

Software Development, Testing and Validation
The objective of this theme is to promote, extend and apply established best practice in software engineering within metrology. The work will concentrate on the validation of software in measurement systems, the testing of numerical software, and the development of metrology software.

Applications and supporting techniques
The objective of this theme is to investigate a number of relatively new application areas – data curation, internet-enabled metrology, signal processing – and to demonstrate the applicability of established techniques in these areas. This theme also aims to determine the extent to which further supporting techniques are needed.