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Valid Analytical Measurement - Physical Theme

The fundamental aim of the VAM-P programme is to improve the quality and comparability of physical analytical measurements made in the UK in order to improve our competitiveness and support regulatory need. Specific objectives are:

• To enhance wealth creation, prosperity, innovation and industrial competitiveness by improving analytical measurements of input, process and output parameters and to provide leadership amongst the UK analytical science community in the application of leading-edge science and technology
• To underpin the requirements for stable and accurate analytical measurements to support fair regulation and to support the process of developing national and international regulations on a sound and cost-effective measurement basis
• To support measurements in the healthcare and environmental sectors intended to improve the quality of life throughout the UK and to contribute towards the monitoring and control of climate change
• To support trade and the comparability of UK measurements by participation in international comparisons and the development of an infrastructure for the global acceptance of measurement results

Physical analytical measurement provides vital underpinning for much of our advanced industrial society. Physical methods of analysis are the dominant technology in measurements of gases, particles, the chemical properties of surfaces and those properties of solutions measured by electro-analysis. The scope of application of these methods extends across all industrial sectors. They are of particularly critical importance in industries where emissions are regulated or in “action areas” where ambient air quality does not meet agreed levels. They are also of importance to sectors employing advanced technology where the performance of surfaces and molecules at surfaces is critical, such as the performance of novel sensors or the development of “smart” products.

The effective achievement of the programme’s objectives requires input to be made into representing the UK’s interests in various international fora where international documentary standards are developed and where the validity of the UK’s national measurement standards must be demonstrated.

The work is organised within three technical themes:

• Gas and particulate analysis
• Electrochemical analysis
• Surface and nano-analysis