SofTools_MetroNet: Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology

Project Description

Objectives
To draw attention of mathematicians to the current state of the art in the application of mathematics, statistics numerical analysis to metrology. To draw attention of metrologists to the potential of existing/new areas of mathematics, statistics, numerical analysis in contributing to the solution of current problems of metrology. To identify and pursue new perspectives and problems of measurement, by which the collaborations and within the network will extend the scope and achievements of measurement. To harmonise the development of software components, based on sound mathematical/statistical tools specifically developed, for instrument firmware, data processing and data retrieval.To disseminate network output through meetings, publications, a regular newsletter, and an interactive web-site. To contribute algorithms and software to a web-based software library and to increase the reusability of the developed components across platforms and in computer networks. To encourage validation of the developed tools and software.

Description of the work
SofTools_MetroNet will be organised in: sub-networks from the point of view of the interaction between participants; Working Packages for covering the fields of activities. They are corresponding to the initial sub-Networks.

  • Soft Tools for Instrumentation (instruments and data acquisition): test of firmware for intelligent instruments, self-calibration, net-based acquisition and diagnostic, comparisons for quality evaluation in automated measurements
  • Mathematics applied to measurements: coordination and testing of new advanced mathematical tools, dissemination of their use, evaluation of methods for developing virtual instruments and simulation, data visualisation. This activity incorporates EUROMETROS (Project 567)
  • Statistics: evaluation of statistical tools for the MRA and the Quality Systems
  • Metrological databases: harmonisation in the development of databases and data retrieval systems
  • Measurement-software validation: identification and testing of advanced methods for software validation
     

Additional WPs are devoted to managing of the Network. The Network will keep a flexible structure and its Steering Committee will have the capacity, having informed the European Commission and obtained its agreement, to modify the structure as necessary for the best efficiency in pursuing the goals.
The activities will include:

  • an annual meting
  • a workshop
  • a training course
  • grants and short visits
  • a user

Final Report 2010-06-10

Until the end of 2002, the activities were performed in the frame of the European Network and essentially focused on: preparing questionnaires about the intended activities of the WP’s; setting up the website, www.amctm.org; promoting the network in as many relevant forums and events in as possible; using the participation at sponsored events as the main tool to give the members opportunities to meet: three events were sponsored during 2002 for this purpose; continuing to seek new members; links have been established with previous work developed nationally by Partners, some under Euromet. Presently the website can be reached from within the website of IMEKO TC21 (www.imeko-tc21.org)

In 2003–05 a grant programme took place within the International Conference on Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology (AMCTM 2003 and 2005). In 2003–­09, three books (AMCTM VI, VII, VIII) were published by World Scientific.

Six Co-Operative Projects (COP) were operating in the period 2003–05. Their key feature has been the support of a short-visit programme to further the co-operation between Members on those specific topics, initiated in the second half of 2004 and extended until 2005 In order to give the COPs the possibility to fulfil their objectives.

In late 2004 an extremely important international recognition of the work done was the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO, www.imeko.org) accepting to form a new permanent IMEKO Technical Committee, TC21 “Mathematical Tools for Measurements”, with Chairperson Dr. F. Pavese, INRIM, and Scientific Secretary Dr. A.B. Forbes, NPL. This Committee ensured the continuation of the activities of the SofTool Community, and in a worldwide frame, representing the best reward for the work done by all the participants. The new TC has established links with other IMEKO TCs and, in 2007, with ISO TC69 and with the International Network ENBIS.

A proposal for a Marie Curie RTD prepared in 2006 on training in softools (SofTOOLS-Train) was not funded: however it was a good opportunity to broaden the participation to the AMCTM Community to other groups working on similar issues, namely ENBIS (www.enbis.org) and CMMSE. In both cases, in 2005-10 they organised joint sessions in their respective congresses or joint events. A further proposal to the EC, ADMETRO (L. Pendrill (SP) coordinator), including events organised by this Community was prepared in 2006 but not funded. In 2007 a proposal of JRP on Softools (L.Nielsen (DFM) coordinator), which also involved the EUROMET Focus Group “Mathematics and Software” formed within INTMET in 2005, was prepared for the ERANET+ iMERAplus 2007 Call, not accepted for funding.

In 2006, the Journal Measurement published a Special Issue, “Advanced Mathematical Tools for Measurement in Metrology and Testing”, prepared by TC21. In 2006 and 2009, the MetroNet Community participated to the IMEKO World Congress, being the third among the TCs as to the number of contributions (27 and 46 respectively).

The AMCTM 2008 edition was held in Paris with an unprecedented number of presentations (64) and of participants (140). The testing matter was added to the Conference title. The book AMCTM VIII (420 pages + CD-ROM) was then prepared and published by World Scientific in April 2009 in the same series of the previous seven.  Other two IMEKO events, of TC4 and TC8, were co-sponsored in 2008.

Fourteen groups of authors from this Community finalised and published in early 2009 a 500-page book with a DVD for Birkhauser, “Data Modeling for Metrology and Testing in Measurement Science”.

Several Special Interest Groups (SIG) were formed on the style of the previous COPs in 2008, and they will contribute to the IX edition of AMCTM now announced for June 2011 in Sweden, where a Workshop with the Focus Group will jointly take place.

The collaboration with the Focus Group on Mathematics and Software was continuing and eventually brought to the decision, in agreement with the Focus Group Convenor, to end in 2010 the activities of this Project within EURAMET, whose themes could possibly be resumed in forms later decided by the EURAMET TC-IM Focus Group "Software and Mathematical Tools for Metrology", standing a fruitful continuing collaboration with IMEKO TC21, where in all instances these activities will also continue.


Progress Report 2009-04-02

(from 1.1.2002 for 43 months, FP5, Contract N. G6RT-CT-2001-05061 from 1.12.2004 IMEKO Technical Committee TC21)

Until the end of 2002, the activities were essentially focused on: preparing questionnaires about the intended activities of the WP's; setting up the website, www.amctm.org; promoting the network in as many relevant forums and events in as possible; using the participation at sponsored events as the main tool to give the members opportunities to meet: three events were sponsored during 2002 for this purpose; continuing to seek new members; links have been established with previous work developed nationally by Partners, some under Euromet. Presently the website can be reached from within the website of IMEKO TC21 (www.imeko-tc21.org)

In 2003-05 a grant programme took place within the International Conference on Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology (AMCTM 2003 and 2005). In 2003-06, two books (AMCTM VI and VII) were published by World Scientific.

Six Co-Operative Projects (COP) were operating in the period 2003-05. Their key feature has been the support of a short-visit programme to further the co-operation between Members on those specific topics, initiated in the second half of 2004 and extended until 2005 in order to give the COPs the possibility to fulfil their objectives.

In late 2004 an extremely important international recognition of the work done was the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO, www.imeko.org) accepting to form a new permanent IMEKO Technical Committee, TC21 "Mathematical Tools for Measurements". Its Chairperson is Dr. F. Pavese, INRIM, and the Scientific Secretary is Dr. A.B. Forbes, NPL. This Committee ensured the continuation of the activities of the SofTool Community, and in a worldwide frame, representing the best reward for the work done by all the participants. The new TC have established links with other IMEKO TCs and, in 2007, with ISO TC69 and with the International Network ENBIS.

A proposal for a Marie Curie RTD was prepared in 2006 on training in softools (SofTOOLS-Train), not funded: however it was a good opportunity to broaden the participation to the AMCTM Community to other groups working on similar issues, namely ENBIS (www.enbis.org) and CMMSE. In both cases, in 2005-07 they organised joint sessions in their congresses. A further proposal to the EC, ADMETRO (L. Pendrill (SP) coordinator), including events organised by this Community was prepared in 2006 but not funded. In 2007 a proposal of JRP on Softools (L. Nielsen (DFM) coordinator), which also involved the EUROMET Focus Group "Mathematics and Software" formed within INTMET in 2005, was prepared for the ERANET iMERAplus 2007 Call, not accepted for funding.

In 2006, the Journal Measurement published a Special Issue, "Advanced Mathematical Tools for Measurement in Metrology and Testing", prepared by TC21. In addition, the MetroNet Community participated with 27 contribution to the IMEKO 2006 World Congress.

The 2008 activity has been very dense.

The AMCTM 2008 edition was held in Paris, and a book AMCTM VIII with an unprecedented number of presentations (64) and of participants (110). The testing matter was added to the Conference title. As a follow-up of the Conference, as usual, a book, AMCTM VIII (420 pages CD-ROM), was prepared and delivered in December to World Scientific for publication, foreseen in April 2009 in the same series of the previous seven. Other two IMEKO events, of TC4 and TC8, were co-sponsored by TC21 in 2008.

Fourteen groups of authors from this Community finalised in 2008 a 500-page book and a DVD for Birkhauser, "Data Modeling for Metrology and Testing in Measurement Science", now printed and available from January 2009. The discussion about the formalisation of several Special Interest Groups (SIG) progressed in 2008 and is bringing to their start from the time of the IMEKO World Congress, to which TC21 is participating with 46 presentations and a Workshop on VIM co-organised with TC7 in September 2009.

The collaboration with the Focus Group on Mathematics and Software was continuing and fruitful.


Progress Report 2007-03-15

(from 1.1.2002 for 43 months, FP5, Contract N. G6RT-CT-2001-05061).

Until the end of 2002, the activities were essentially focused on: preparing questionnaires about the intended activities of the WP’s; setting up the website, www.amctm.org; promoting the network in as many relevant forums and events in as possible; using the participation at sponsored events as the main tool to give the members opportunities to meet: three events were sponsored during 2002 for this purpose; continuing to seek new members; links have been established with previous work developed nationally by Partners, some under Euromet.

The website has been public since the end of September 2002. It required some delicate decisions, especially concerning the IPR issue. Some re-arrangements were also decided after the initial phase – e.g., the reassignment of the terms of reference of WP4.

In 2003, a grant programme was initiated, in connection with the International Conference on Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology (AMCTM VI).

In addition, six Co-Operative Projects (COP) were launched in September 2003 and the Workplan was revised accordingly. The six COPs, two for each of the three technical WPs, are as follows:

1. Data-acquisition and virtual instruments; 2. Internet-enabled measurement; 3. Best practice in uncertainty evaluation; 4. Discrete modelling, data fusion and data fitting; 5. Databases in metrology; 6. Validation framework for metrological software

A key feature of these COPs is the support of a short-visit programme to further the co-operation between Members on those specific topics. A short visit programme was initiated in the second half of 2004.

In order to give the COPs the possibility to fulfil their objectives, the duration of the activities was extended to 2005 and the AMCTM VII Conference was planned at the end of June.

In November 2004 an extremely important international recognition of the importance and quality of the work performed was obtained: the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO, www.imeko.org ) accepted to form a new permanent IMEKO Technical Committee, IMEKO TC21 “Mathematical Tools for Measurements”. Its Chairperson is Dr. F.Pavese, IMGC, and the Scientific Secretary is Dr. A.B.Forbes, NPL. This Committee will ensure the continuation of the activities of the Community having worked together so far, and in a worldwide frame. It is the best value the work done could have got and a real success for all the participants. This new TC has already established links with other IMEKO TCs and with relevant ISO Committees.

In 2005, the activities were concentrated on the short visits connected to the COPs and on the participation to AMCTM VII and the corresponding book published by World Scientific in February 2006. A proposal for a Marie Curie RTD was also prepared on training in softools (SofTOOLS-Train), unfortunately not accepted: however it was a good opportunity to broaden the participation to the AMCTM Community to other groups working on similar issues, namely ENBIS (www.enbis.org) and CMMSE.

In 2006, the Journal Measurement published a Special Issue, “Advanced Mathematical Tools for Measurement in Metrology and Testing”, prepared by TC21. In addition, the MetroNet Community participated with 27 contribution to the IMEKO 2006 World Congress. Finally, 15 group of authors from this Comminity is preparing a 400-page book for Birkhauser, “Advances in data modeling for measurements in the metrology and testing fields”. A further proposal to the EC, ADMETRO, including events organised by this Community was prepared in 2006 but not funded.

Finally, this Community agreed to take the opportunity of the iMERA call for Joint Research Projects and one such project was established, grouping most of the #668 participants, as the foundation of a possible project to be later proposed under the new EU FP7. In fact such a possibility seems now close to become a reality under the ERANET 2007 Call being prepared by EURAMET, which will also involve the Focus Group “Mathematics and Software” formed within INTMET in 2005.


Progress Report 2004-05-24

The project started with the kick-off meeting, held in Torino in January 2002, limited, as planned, to the Steering Committee members. The actual start of the activities was decided at the first Annual Meeting, held early, in May 2002.In fact, as indicated in the Workplan, there has been an initial period in which new industrial Partners were sought to join the Project. This initial period ended at the first Annual Meeting in mid May 2002, which acted as the real kick-off meeting of the Network.

During the first year the activities were essentially focused on:

  • preparing a first questionnaire about the aimed activities of the WP’s
  • setting up the Network website, www.amctm.org ;
  • introducing the network in as much as possible frames and events in the same field
  • using the participation to sponsored events as the main tool to make the members to meet
  • search for new members (five joined the Network), especially through the acquisition of Partners (for which the network has not financial obligations), 15 of which, including some non-EU, are presently joining the Network
  • links have been established with previous work developed nationally by Partners or in the Euromet frame to the Network master website www.amctm.org for qualified software that will be made available to members and partners
     

The preparation of the website, made available since end of September and requiring delicate decisions, especially concerning the IPR issue, and some re-arrangements decided after the initial phase –e.g., the re-assignement of the term of reference of WP4, limited the activities to actually the last quarter of 2002.

In 2003, the activities were essentially focused on:

  • preparing questionnaires about the intended activities of the WP’s
  • setting up the Network website, www.amctm.org
  • promoting the network in as many relevant forums and events in as possible
  • using the participation at sponsored events as the main tool to give the members opportunities to meet: three events were sponsored during 2002 for this purpose
  • continuing to seek new members (the Network is now at full rank, 24, with the last member expected to join in late 2003), especially through the initial acquisition of Partners (for which the network has no financial obligations), 16 of which, including some non-EU, have currently joined or are in the process of joining the Network, in addition to members
  • links have been established with previous work developed nationally by Partners, some under EUROMET
     

In 2003, a grant programme was initiated, in connection with the Annual event, the International Conference on Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology (AMCTM 2003, the book AMCTM VI is in press). In addition, agreement has been reached on how to organise co-operation within the Network, resulting in six co-operative Projects (COP), which were launched at the Annual Meeting in September 2003. This has resulted in a corresponding revision of the Workplan. The six COPs are as follows:

  • Data-acquisition and virtual instruments
  • Internet-enabled measurement
  • Best practice in uncertainty evaluation
  • Discrete modelling, data fusion and data fitting
  • Databases in metrology
  • Validation framework for metrological software

They have been programmed in detail by the leaders and participants for an initial 12-month period. A key feature of these COPs will be the Network’s support of a short-visit programme to further the co-operation between Members on those specific topics. Also the training activities of WP4 will now be linked to the COPs, it being expected that each COP will result in agreement on relevant training material. In order to give the COPs the possibility to fulfil their objectives, and considering the time shift of the activities from what was originally envisaged, the Commission agreed to extend the duration of the Network by 6 months to the end of June 2005, at no additional cost.

Further Information

At present, there are 25 direct members and 25 further institutions, some in non-EU countries, participating in the activities. Some industries joined the activities at different times: NAG, MathWorks, Zeiss, Fluke, MEMC, Mitutuyo. Also participating: University of Genova, Politecnico di Milano, University of Lodz (PL), Université de Aix-les-Bains, University of Huddesfield, Polish Metrological Society, INTiBS (PL)

Subjects
Interdisciplinary Metrology (IM)
Coordinator
Franco Pavese, INRIM (Italy)
Phone: +39 011 3977 341
Fax: +39 011 3977 347
E-Mail: f.pavese@imgc.cnr.it
Coordinating Institute
INRIM (Italy)
Further Partners
IAC-CNR (Italy)
VNIIM (Russia)
CERN
NRC (Canada)
INMETRO (Brazil)
IRL
NIST (United States of America)
MSL (New Zealand)
AIST-NMIJ (Japan)
JRC-Geel (Belgium)