Measurements in daily life - National Physical · PDF fileMeasurements . in daily life. National Measurement System. ... • use your mobile. Measurement is everywhere, playing a vital

Measurements in daily life

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•catchatrain

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Measurement is everywhere, playing a vital role in our lives. Metrology is the science of measurement and National Metrology Institutes around the world make sure that the measurements we use are fit for purpose. In the UK, the measurement infrastructure is provided by the National Measurement System (NMS).

Measurement matters

How could you do the following everyday activities without measurement?

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Measurement underpins the welfare of a modern society and touches almost every part of daily life:• Ensuringthesafetyandeffectivenessofhealthcarediagnosticsandtreatments• Measuringthecomposition,energyvalueandquantityofgaspipedtoourhomes, oroffuelinourvehicles

•Ensuringsafeoperationofaircraftinflight

• Ensuringconsistencyofinternationaltimestandardssowecancommunicatereliablyandnavigateaccuratelythroughouttheworld

• Quantifyingemissionsofgreenhousegasestounderstandandmitigateclimatechange•Ensuringthesecurityandsustainabilityofourfoodsupply•Ensuringfairnessbetweenbuyersandsellersinmarketswheregoodsaresoldbyweightorvolume

Measurement plays a fundamental part in the innovation process. To develop new products and processes, companies need to measure quantity, quality and performance. To trade successfully, companies utilise a regulatory framework, based upon measurement confidence, ensuring access to global markets that are fair and open and without unnecessary barriers to trade. Supporting this is an established infrastructure of traceable measurement linked seamlessly to the national standards maintained on behalf of the UK.

In some industries the need for accurate measurement is critical. For example, companies manufacturing precision engineering components used in aero engines will be working to tight specifications and must be able to measure size, material composition and performance to very accurate levels.

For many of us a visit to a hospital may not be desirable, but knowing that the treatment has been appropriately measured throughout its development, trials and final delivery to the patient, is vital to confidence in its application and effectiveness.

Measurement provides structure, removes chaos, reduces waste, ensures open and fair markets, supports precision where required and saves lives, money and time.

Why is measurement important?

Setting the time The NMS provides time standards for the UK and contribute to the international definition of Coordinated Universal Time. NPL maintains these standards and is responsible for the accuracy of the radio signal which is used to set the nation’s clocks. Accurate time is essential for keeping the modern world working - global navigation systems, the internet, e-mail, television, the power industry, transport, and financial systems all depend critically on time measurement. The broadcast time signal is accurate to within one millisecond of Coordinated Universal Time and supports a wide range of services. These include emergency 999 communications, train companies, cash machines and mobile phone billing systems.

Confidence in tradeWorking with local Trading Standards Officers, the National Measurement Office (NMO) ensures the UK’s system of weights and measures is fair, accurate and legal so that consumers and businesses have confidence whenever they buy and sell by quantity. Each year in the UK, over £600 billion worth of goods and utilities are sold on the basis of the measurement of their quantity¹. NMO supports Ministers in their responsibility for the legislation that governs the accuracy and fairness of these transactions and for approving weighing and measuring instruments, such as fuel pumps. Every time you fill up your car with fuel, the UK’s legal metrology system, delivered in the main by Trading Standards officers, ensures that the quantity you receive is accurate and within legally controlled tolerances. The value of most supermarket products sold can only be determined if the customer is able to compare the price per unit quantity, e.g. £ per kg or £ per litre. Ultimately it is the Weights and Measures Act and the enforcement of the Act’s provisions by Trading Standards Officers which ensures that all quantity statements and unit-price calculations are accurate.

¹Analysis of the Economics of Weights and Measures Legislation, Deloitte June 2009.

Structural healthThere are over 10,000 bridges worth more than £1 million each in the UK and millions of people cross them every day on foot, by car or by train. NPL is working to improve structural health monitoring by developing integrated systems of wireless sensors that can constantly monitor structures such as bridges. New techniques that use digital imaging to detect structural changes are also under development. The integration of these systems will potentially lead to cheaper maintenance and running costs and provide advanced warnings of failure, improving safety and providing the opportunity to repair structures before it is too late.

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Measurement makes a differenceMeasurement plays a vital role in ensuring quality of life for UK citizens. Accurate measurement is key in developing, testing and administering health treatments. The NMS supports measurement of the environment, from climate change to air quality and from posting letters to pulling pints. The network of trading standards officers oversee thousands of measurements every day, ensuring a fair legal measurement system.

Confidenceinmeasurement180,000 patients receive radiotherapy treatment for cancer in the UK each year and successful treatment is reliant upon the dosage standards delivered by the National Measurement System.

Air quality monitoringThe quality of the air we breathe is constantly monitored to maintain public health, especially in densely populated cities or areas close to large industrial facilities where pollution levels may be high. NPL manages networks of air quality monitoring stations for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). These stations, spread across the UK, measure the concentrations of toxic pollutants such as arsenic and mercury, and the number, size and type of particles in the atmosphere. NPL also provides support to the London Air Quality Network, operated by King’s College London, by checking and calibrating the instruments used at over 100 sites across the city.

Simple and accurate pricingEveryworkingday - Royal Mail processes over 70 million items to 28 million addresses

Eachweek - Royal Mail serves over 21 million customers through its network of around 12,000 Post Office branches

Eachyear - Royal Mail handles some 400 million parcels.

With letters and packets now being priced by size, thickness and weight, it is vital that customers can easily work out prices. NMO helped Royal Mail develop a plastic size guide (seen in the photo here) so customers could easily see which category their mail falls into. It was essential that the plastic frames were exactly the right size so NMO used laser measuring technology to ensure that the prototype was accurate – the finished results can be seen on almost every Post Office counter across the UK.

Measuring the wind of change Due to the UK’s ambitious climate change agenda, an increasing amount of energy will come from renewable sources and more people will generate energy at home using microgeneration technologies such as small-scale wind turbines. Measurement is needed to check the quality and efficiency of these technologies, and NEL, supported by the NMS, is playing a key role in developing wind turbines through improved metrology. This work, along with investment from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), has allowed the development of appropriate standards and the establishment of the National Wind Metrology Centre at NEL. Manufacturers of wind turbines can access this facility to obtain certification of wind turbines under DECC’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme, giving consumers the information they need to make an informed choice.

Ultrasound cancer screeningThe early detection of breast cancer can greatly improve the chances of beating the disease but currently only 30% of the 46,000 women diagnosed each year by X-ray mammography turn out to have malignant lesions. A team of scientists from NPL and the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust have successfully completed an initial trial of a new, potentially more reliable technique for screening breast cancer using ultrasound, and are now looking to develop the technique into a clinical device. This improved diagnosis would reduce unnecessary biopsies and the patient trauma associated with being wrongly diagnosed.

Measuring essential elements in superfoodsMinerals are essential components of what we eat, providing important nutritional value and delivering so-called ‘superfood’ properties. An example contained in our daily diet is selenium, which plays an important role in processes ranging from thyroid function and antioxidant defence, to the treatment and prevention of cancer. However, there is a fine line between beneficial levels of selenium and those that are toxic. The uptake and metabolism of selenium by the human body depends on its chemical form. LGC scientists have devised reference methods and standards to identify and measure selenium species to help develop and characterise novel selenium foods and supplements. These methods are important for product safety and provide confidence to UK suppliers seeking to distribute new selenium-enriched health foods. LGC’s capability also extends to other essential elements such as chromium.

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Measurement plays a fundamental part in the innovation process. To develop new and improved products and processes, companies are looking for:•improvementsinqualityorperformance•reductionsinwaste•useofnewmaterialsortechniquesAll of these require appropriate measurement support. For many organisations, their first interaction with measurement is through the route of compliance with a standard. NMS expertise forms an input to over 800 standards committees to ensure that the measurement requirements are appropriate and that there is an infrastructure in place to enable organisations to demonstrate compliances.

Breaking the mouldThe NMS has funded research to develop a world-leading pvT (pressure-volume-temperature) and thermal conductivity test kit that can be used to improve the design and processing of the plastics found in many everyday items such as DVDs. The equipment can measure physical and thermal properties and help improve the injection moulding process by allowing designers to find the exact pressure, volume and temperature, as well as the shrinkage properties of materials. Manufacturers can send their products to NPL for testing and the knowledge they gain ensures that materials stay in their moulds for as short a time as possible, increasing the output rate of the finished product. Although plastics are the main materials tested, other familiar materials such as soap and even chocolate have also been analysed.

In an independent survey*, companies that had improved their measurements said they benefited from:• an increase in productivity • improved quality• greater customer satisfaction• higher profitsA single year of NMS funding helps business to achieve annual financial benefits of £712 million.(*National Measurement System Impact Assessment, conducted by Databuild Ltd.)

Measurement helps innovations

Intelligent harvesting robotNPL is developing an intelligent crop-harvesting machine that could save an average UK farm at least £100,000 every year by letting them know when their crops are perfectly ripe. The ‘robot’ will use specialised imaging techniques to look beneath the leafy outer layers of crops like cauliflowers to check the size of the harvestable vegetable. NPL is one of the few places in the world with the expertise and equipment to take on this kind of technical challenge. It is hoped that this intelligent harvesting robot will improve farms’ productivity and ultimately benefit consumers through cheaper food, and it will benefit the environment by reducing the amount of watering, fertiliser and pesticides used. NPL’s research was recently nominated in the first ever ‘iawards’, celebrating the best of British science, innovation and technology.

Detecting allergens in foodIn the UK, 1.5 million people suffer from food allergies. In order to improve quality of life and reduce the impact on the NHS, food suppliers need to be able to offer ‘allergen free’ product lines and accurately labelled food products. In response to this, LGC, in collaboration with the food industry and regulators, has developed accurate measurement methods for the detection and quantification of allergens in foods, supported by a food matrix reference material containing peanut protein. This approach represents a major advance in ensuring food safety for allergy sufferers.

Going with the flow As the custodian of the UK National Standards for Flow Measurement, NEL plays a pivotal role in ensuring accurate flow measurement across a wide range of industries. Flow measurement underpins the valuation, for commercial and fiscal purposes, of most fluids that people buy or sell. Almost everything that flows, from waste streams and emissions, through water, oil and gas products, to high-value pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and drinks, is subject to measurement. The flow meter is the cash register for a business and it needs to be accurate. The facilities and expertise at NEL provide flow meter manufacturers with the means to develop and then verify the performance of their systems, and operators can call upon NEL’s independence for guidance on appropriate meter selection.

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The NMS has identified a set of challenges where it can support industry. The challenges are linked to government priorities and include:

Security– utilising measurement to combat security threats from either natural or malicious sourcesDigitaleconomy– keeping measurement capability and its infrastructure at the forefront of the fast moving communications and ICT industriesEnergy– developing next generation products and supporting the low carbon economyHealthcare– tackling diseases associated with our aging population and bringing best practice to clinical measurement Sustainability– ensuring the use of efficient materials and supporting the infrastructure of recycling and reuse

Confidence in weighing wasteLandfill is the most common disposal method in the UK and each year approximately 100 million tonnes of controlled waste (household, commercial and industrial) are disposed of across 4,000 landfill sites. Accurate weighing is vital in weighbridges used at landfill sites (as seen in the picture opposite), as the impact that errors can have on the environment, cost to businesses and local authorities are very significant. Local authorities must have robust information on which to base landfill charges, landfill tax and recycling targets. Recycling targets that all local authorities must meet are determined by weight and so, if targets are to be properly measured, we must be confident that the weighing equipment used to determine those targets is accurate. In order to provide this confidence, the National Measurement Office (NMO) co-ordinated a programme of inspections carried out by local Trading Standards Officers to help ensure accuracy of weighing equipment at landfill, recycling and transfer stations throughout the UK.

Tracking authenticity and originCertain naturally occurring chemical isotopes are useful indicators of geographic origin and can therefore help identify counterfeit products and support law enforcement. LGC has developed accurate forensic methods for identifying counterfeit drugs, believed by the World Health Organization to account for 10% of the global market. These cost the consumer in missed health benefits or potential health risks, and the pharmaceutical industry $46 billion annually. Isotopic composition profiling of specific elements such as sulphur can show subtle variations related to authenticity and source of origin, which provides useful evidence to support criminal investigations. Isotope ratio measurements can also distinguish between the geographic origins of plant materials. This can help validate supplier claims relating to the origin and sustainability of certain feed stocks, whether for food or biofuel applications.

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Responding to global challengesOn tap – smartly In the UK, we are used to turning on our taps without worrying whether or not water will come out. We rarely think of water as a scarce commodity but the management of water resources is becoming increasingly important. Flow measurement is fundamental to this and NEL, supported by the NMS, is playing a key role in the development of smart metering technology. Smart flow meters use modern communications technology to gather information about the behaviour of suppliers and consumers. Smart meters are gradually replacing mechanical meters in homes and businesses, resulting in improved accuracy, sustained performance and lower running costs. The technology can also improve the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of water distribution, facilitate the detection of leaks and help water supply companies estimate tariffs more accurately.

Supporting 3GThe success of the smartphone was largely dependent on the third generation (3G) mobile phone networks that allowed people to effectively browse the internet and download larger amounts of data on the move. These networks use a new type of antenna that was tested in the NMS’s antenna range to gain more detailed information about how it behaves. The information gained from these tests allowed efficiency improvements to be made on the network and helped to reduce interference between base stations in urban environments. The calibration data improvements obtained through accurate measurement were shown to have saved around 1% of network capital costs, or around £50 million. Whether using 3G to check your email or download a game, measurement has played a vital supporting role.

Validating measurements for healthcareGood quality clinical measurements ensure that doctors make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the right medicine. It is therefore essential that measurements carried out by medical laboratories are accurate and traceable to suitable measurement standards. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant drug given to patients after organ transplants and there are strict guidelines on the amount that should be present in the blood. Too much can cause serious liver and kidney complications, while too little can cause the organ to be rejected. LGC researchers have collaborated with UK diagnostic kit manufacturers and clinicians to develop a reference method and produce a reference material for tacrolimus in the blood. Patients and healthcare providers will benefit from the subsequent improved dosages and reduced healthcare costs.

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The NMS

BIS invests around £70 million each year to make measurement more accurate for UK business and citizens.

The National Measurement System (NMS) is a network of laboratories and processes that provide measurement standards and calibration testing facilities. It maintains the measurement infrastructure, represents the position of UK measurement internationally and influences the development of standards.

The NMS is funded by BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), who invest around £70 million a year to maintain and improve the measurement infrastructure. It supports innovation in business by demonstrating the compliance of new products and processes, reducing development times, and making existing product improvements possible.

Part of the responsibility of the NMS is to ensure that trade measurements are accurate, legal and fair. Measurement underpins a wide range of public services, including consumer protection, forensic science, environmental controls, safe medical treatment and food safety regulation.

How can we help?

NMS invests in facilities and expertise to help UK organisations make better use of measurement.

It is core to the NMS to disseminate knowledge for the benefit of the UK. The right measurements enable innovation, cut waste, increase productivity, reduce new product and process development times, ensure safety and enable quality assurance.

Supportisavailablefororganisationsofallsizesandincludes:

Aproblemshared–Find out more about the research that we are doing and the problems that are facing your colleagues in other organisations. Join one of the Measurement Networks or subscribe to a newsletter to keep in touch.

Over13,000peopleattendNMSnetworkeventseachyear*

Askanexpert–There are over 500 experts across the NMS laboratories that can provide advice on measurement issues – the NMS supports two hours of free advice – and many issues can be addressed this quickly. The NMS also has a large number of publications, including Good Practice Guides on measurement techniques that you might find useful.

14,500GoodPracticeGuidesarefreelydownloadedeachyearfromourwebsites*

Getstuckintosomeresearch–The NMS actively encourages organisations to contribute to our research programmes. You can influence the priorities for our research as we formulate our programme of work or join small teams working on industry focused projects.

64organisationswereinvolvedinjointindustryprojects*

Gotaspecificmeasurementproblem?–All of our laboratories undertake commercial consultancy on specialist problems and have a range of standard test, calibration, reference artefacts or training services based on their knowledge gained via the NMS.

GetsupportfromtheNMSviathefourresearchlaboratories–Each has its own specialist areas – please see the list on the following page.

(*All figures quoted from 2009)

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Contact us

NationalPhysicalLaboratoryHampton Road

TeddingtonMiddlesex TW11 0LW

United Kingdom

Tel: +442089773222Web: www.npl.co.uk

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is one of the UK’s leading science and research facilities. It is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate standards, science and technology available. NPL occupies a unique position as the UK’s internationally recognised National Measurement Institute and sits at the intersection between scientific discovery and real world application. It maintains multi-disciplined science facilities and offers a wide range of commercial services that provide industry with the opportunity to utilise our scientific knowledge and expertise to deliver tailored solutions for product development or research programmes.

LGCQueens Road

TeddingtonMiddlesex TW11 0LY

United Kingdom

Tel: +442089437000Fax: +442089432767

E-mail:[email protected]: www.lgcgroup.com

NMS Helpdesk Tel: +442089437393

E-mail: [email protected]: www.nmschembio.org.uk

An international science-based enterprise, operating in socially responsible fields underpinning the health, safety and security of the public. As the UK’s designated national measurement institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement, LGC leads development of the bio-measurement system, focuses on high accuracy measurement research and calibration services, and strengthens the traceability of measurement science that underpins legislation, regulation and standards encompassing healthcare, environmental and food sustainability, and security applications.

NELEast Kilbride

Glasgow G75 0QFUnited Kingdom

Tel: +441355220222Fax: +441355272999

E-mail: [email protected]: www.tuvnel.com

NMS Helpdesk Tel: +441355593870

E-mail: [email protected]

NEL is a leading independent, international technology services organisation. It delivers a range of world-class research, development, modelling, calibration, measurement and testing services to clients across many sectors including energy, environmental, manufacturing and government. NEL is a global centre of excellence and designated national measurement institute for flow measurement.

NationalMeasurementOfficeStanton Avenue

TeddingtonMiddlesex TW11 0JZ

United Kingdom

Tel: +442089437272Fax: +442089437270

E-mail: [email protected]: www.bis.gov.uk/nmo

The National Measurement Office is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) with responsibility for the development of the National Measurement System and for the funding of the scientific measurement research programmes delivered by the national measurement institutes. It is also responsible for ensuring that all trade measurements are accurate, legal and fair for consumers, retailers, local authorities, businesses and enforcers.

The National Measurement System delivers world-class measurement for science and technology through these organisations