Foundations of Measuring

The Process of Measuring
Sophistication of measuring and its body of knowledge Economic considerations of measuring; Humans in the real world; Sub-structure of human-machine systems; Organisation of instrument science; Measures metrics, and their application

Measuring Theory and Philosophy
Introduction to measuring theory and philosophy; Formal measuring theory; Empirical relationship and scales of measuring; Indirect measuring; Applications in physical and behavioural sciences; Fuzzy approaches for measuring; Signals, information and knowledge and meaning; Hierarchical aspects of measurement systems; Typical measuring systems architectures

Environmental Factors
Reduction of influence factors; EMC and EMI

Feedback in Measuring
Nature and scope of closed loop systems; Dynamic behaviour of closed loop systems; Closed loop sampled data systems; Nonlinear closed loop systems

Messaging Theory in Human Communications
Characteristics and theory of knowledge; Principles of Semiotics as related to measuring; Principles of Epistemology as related to measuring

Signal Theory
Introduction to signals in physical systems; Signal classification; Signals in the frequency domain; Signals in the time domain; Relationship between signals in the time and frequency domain; Characteristics of signals; Discrete signal theory; Geometrical signal representation; Coding theory and its application to measuring; Modulation theory

Systems Theory
Systems in the time domain; Systems in the frequency domain; Relationship of time and frequency domain systems and their transforms; Stability issues

Sources of Information on Measurement
Characteristics of Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom; Sources of information; Terminology and Classification of measuring systems; Information databases of relevance to measuring

Measuring Theory and Philosophy
Units


Standards and Calibration

Standards of Measurement
Types of paper standards and their purpose

Calibration
Calibration process; Traceability in measurement and calibration; Calibration interval; Internet calibration


Error and Uncertainty

Errors and Uncertainty
Common sources of error in measuring systems; Explanation of key error and uncertainty concepts and terms; General characterisation of systematic and stochastic errors; Errors in analogue signal systems; Errors in digital signal systems; Uncertainty determination; Uncertainties in general, uncertainties budget and their calculation; Calculation and treatment of errors

Measuring System Specification

Measuring System Specification
Transfer characteristics of instrument stages; Static considerations of general instrumentation; Description of accuracy, linearity, drift; Introduction to the dynamic regime of measuring systems; Zero Order system dynamics; First Order system dynamics; Second Order system dynamics


Measuring System Design

Engineering a Measuring System
Outline of Systems Thinking; Nature of systems design; Phases of system life cycle; Life cycle concept; Principle of concept of operations (ConOps); Setting the system boundaries; Requirements allocation

Design Methodologies
Common design methodologies; Modelling methodology; Mathematical methods of optimisation

Electronic and Electrical Regime
Overview of electrical and electronic technique; Basic electronic components; Electronic system building blocks; Electronic systems design; Limits of detection in electronic systems; Embedded systems; Testing electronic systems

Fine Mechanical Regime
Principles of fine mechanics – kinematic and elastic designs; Principles of fine mechanics – systems considerations; Kinematical regime – members and linkages; Kinematical regime – fasteners, bearings; Kinematical regime – rotary motion; Elastic regime of design – design principles; Elastic regime of design – spring systems; Elastic regime of design – plates and bimorphs; Error sources in fine mechanics

Visible Radiation Regime
Optical materials; Optical elements; Light sources and detectors; Optical Measuring Instruments; Testing optical and other radiation systems

Human Factors Engineering
Need for human factors engineering; Man machine interface; The 6 human factors domains; Design methodology for human factors

Quality in Measuring Systems
Reliability and maintainability; Safety criteria; Terms and concepts of safety; Planning for safety; Introduction to the legal process; Public liability aspects of measuring systems


Modelling Measuring Systems

Modelling Measuring Systems
Models of the measuring process


Elements – A: Sensors

Sensor Fundamentals
Principles of sensor science; Transducer fundamentals; Structure and energy in sensor systems; Classification of sensors; Force-feedback sensors

The Sensing Interface
Models of the measuring system interface; Designing the sensor interface; Selection of sensors; Systematic description of sensors; Signal/energy matrix modelling of sensors

Sensing Technologies
Mixed technology, traditional form, sensors; Fibre optic or optical fibre sensors; Ultrasonic sensors; Ultrasonic instrumentation principles; Ultrasonic instrumentation design

Elements – B Signal Conditioning

Analogue Signal Conditioning
Signals and noise aspects; Amplifiers; Outline of purpose of analog data filters

Electrical Bridges
Electrical bridge circuits - basic information; Balanced DC bridge; Unbalanced DC bridges

AI Signal Processing Techniques
Nature and scope of AI techniques; Artificial Neural Network (ANN); Rule based systems; Genetic Algorithms


Elements – C: Data Acquisition Systems

DAS Components
Data Acquisition Systems (DAS) in general; Quantizing theory relevant to DAS; Sampling theory relevant to DAS; Coding for data converters; Amplifiers and filters for DAS; Digital to Analog (D/A) converters; Analog to Digital (A/D) converters; Integrating type A/D converters; Analogue multiplexers; Sample-hold circuits

Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
DFT and FFTs; Z Transforms; DSP Chipsets; DSP tools; Digital filter categories; Ideal digital filter approximation; General performance of the digital filter; Low and high-pass digital filters; Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) digital filters; Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital filters; Principles of DSP hardware design

Computers in Measuring Systems
Fundamentals of the stored program digital computer; Single address instruction microcomputer; Internal operation of the microprocessor; External operation of the microprocessor; Memory management in the microprocessor; Data acceleration in computers; Microcontroller systems

Software Aspects in Measuring System Design
Designing and building software for measuring systems; High reliability software systems; Labview; Virtual Instrumentation – a nuclear physics laboratory

Intelligent Measuring Systems
Smart system features

AI Signal Processing Techniques
Knowledge Based Systems

Elements – D: MEMS

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
Principles of MEMS; Uses and benefits of MEMS; Principles of actuators


Elements – E Communication in measuring systems

Distributed and Networked Measuring Systems
Introduction to networked instrumentation; Instrument interconnection; Asynchronous and synchronous interfaces; RS 232 and EIA/TIA 232 serial interface; IEEE 488 instrumentation bus; Voltage and current loop transmission; Local Area Networks (LANs); Wide Area Networks (WANs); Fieldbus systems; Scheduling systems


Elements – F: Signals and Noise

Noise and Interference
Typical signals arising in measuring; Comparison of analog and digital signal handling; Noise sources in measuring systems in general; Signal to noise ratio for systems; Noise and noise bandwidth for systems

Signal Recovery in the Presence of Noise
Minimisation of noise in systems; Maximisation of signal/noise ratio for systems; Grounding and shielding; Nature of signals in a noisy regime; Low noise detector designs; Lock-in detectors; Boxcar and multipoint integrators; Correlators; DSP for Low S/N Systems


Common Measurands

Flow Measurement
Overview of flow meters; Differential pressure (DP) flow meters; Calibration and standards in flow measuring

Displacement and Angle Measurement
Displacement and angle sensor performance and selection; Strain gauge based displacement and angle sensors; Miscellaneous displacement and angle sensor; Large Scale Metrology

Temperature Measurement
Characteristics of temperature measuring; Thermocouple temperature sensors; Metallic Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs); Calibration and standards in temperature measurement

Time and Frequency Measurement
Characteristics of time and frequency measurement; Calibration and standards in time measurement

Electrical Quantities Measurement
Voltage measurement; Current measurement; Resistance measurement; Capacitance and inductance measurement

Pressure
Pressure; Pressure Sensor Performance and Selection

Velocity and Acceleration
Characteristics of vibration, shock and motion measurement; Vibration, shock and motion sensor performance and selection; Accelerometer theory; Motion and velocity detectors

Chemical Properties
Characteristics of chemical measurements; Optical transducers for chemical measurements; Optical emission methods in chemical measurements; Mass spectrometry; Chromatography; Electrochemical measurements


Test and Evaluation

Measurement Testing Systems
Accelerated testing; Automatic Test Systems; Test Facilities; Instrument Evaluation