New guide of metrology vocabulary

The International Organisation for Standardisation (IOS) and its partner the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have published a new guide on the vocabulary of metrology, the science of measurement and its application.

Titled the ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007, International vocabulary of metrology — Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM), this publication gives guidance on the concepts and terms used in various approaches to measurement.

Before people can communicate, they need to know and understand the words they wish to use. This is equally true in metrology, where concepts and terms such as “measurement result”, “measurement error” and “measurement uncertainty” need to be agreed upon if they are to be used in a consistent manner.

Since metrology is in an evolving state concerning what is the best approach (eg, classical versus uncertainty), it is especially important to have an international vocabulary that allows metrologists to communicate clearly about the measurement approach that they are using.

The need to cover measurements in chemistry and laboratory medicine for the first time — as well as to incorporate concepts such as those that relate to metrological traceability, measurement uncertainty, and nominal properties — led to this third edition.

In the publication, it is taken for granted that there is no fundamental difference in the basic principles of measurement in physics, chemistry, laboratory medicine, biology, or engineering. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to meet conceptual needs of measurement in fields such as biochemistry, food science, forensic science, and molecular biology.

For further information, visit ISO.