If we talk about the work of international metrological organizations briefly, it is better to start with the question: "How to make the kilogram in Zimbabwe exactly the same as in Chukotka, and the Chinese millimeter exactly match the Argentinean?" But in addition to the standards of weight and length, a unified measurement system is needed a lot where. Robotics, ionizing radiation, space research - just not to list. Everywhere we need metrology - the science of measurements, their unity and accuracy.
International metrological organizations have existed for more than a hundred years. Surprisingly, everything metrology has been doing for two centuries does not just remain relevant, but becomes more important, accurate and ... more scientific. It is rare when an intellectual occupation of a person is such a long-liver. There are, of course, explanations for this. In general, the history of metrology and international metrological organizations is extremely interesting, full of sharp stories and bright solutions.
The importance of uniform standards and measurement rules in trade, economic, scientific and technical relations is growing every year. Globalization is the best engine in making common international decisions on the same principles of measurement or standardization of standards.
At first glance, the list of international metrological organizations may seem long and cumbersome. But in metrology, everything is subject to logic and a clear delineation of functions. This applies fully to the activities of international metrological organizations.
Deal with kilometers and tons
The center of world metrology in full law is Paris. From the very beginning, the French were leading in such initiatives. It was to France that other countries began to join in the 19th century in order to unify the measurements of the main quantities.
International metrological organizations are historical associations whose members are numerous countries.
The oldest and largest metrological organization in the world is the MOMV, or International Organization of Weights and Measures. MOMV is almost 150 years old, it was founded on an extremely important and interesting occasion in 1875: it was time to deal with the meter and kilogram. In other words, agree on a unified measurement method based on the meter, kilogram and SI system.
The structure and tasks of the IOMA
The main task of the MOMV is to support uniform measurement methods within the framework of the SI system. It consists of two units:
1. GKMV - General Conference on Weights and Measures. This is the supreme body for decisions and issues related to the installation or changes in definitions, units of measurement, reference samples and methods of reproduction. The conference does not meet often - once every four or six years. It defines and approves the work plan for the BIPM Bureau. The conference is always held in the same place - in Paris. The choice of the city is not accidental, more on that below.
2. BIPM - International Bureau of Weights and Measures.
There is also CIPM - the International Committee on Weights and Measures. It consists of exactly 18 people from among the most honored metrologists in the world. To make it clear with the level of members of the CIPM Committee, we give an example of one of the Russian participants - this was Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. The main tasks of the Committee are to support and implement the decisions of the General Conference. It is clear that the preparation of materials for the next conference is also the responsibility of the CIPM.
CIPM Advisory Boards
International metrological organizations, their tasks and activities today are becoming wider and cover a wide variety of applications. The list of tasks is expanding every year: metrology applies to all modern innovations and technical innovations, without unified reference standards, now it’s just nowhere ...
The names of the ten committees speak for themselves, the list of interests and the scope of activities of the CIPM is clearly visible:
- unit systems committee;
- by definition of meter, second, mass and related quantities;
- by thermometry;
- on electricity;
- by magnetism;
- by photometry;
- by radiometry;
- by ionizing radiation;
- on acoustics;
- by the amount of substance.
All ten committees themselves are international metrological organizations: the best metrology professionals from different countries work in them. The Russian Federation, for example, in these committees is represented by employees of the All-Russian Research Institute of Physicotechnical and Radio Engineering Measurements and the All-Russian Research Institute of Metrology named after Mendeleev - the oldest national institutes in the field of metrology.
The unifying idea of the work of the Committee as a whole is to compare and establish the equivalence of national standards of each participating country.
OIML - International Organization of Legal Metrology
In the 50s. it became clear that uniform standards and units of measurement required their legislative and regulatory framework. The Interstate Convention was signed in 1955, it was signed by twenty-four states (the USSR did not participate in this initiative, but now Russia has membership). As a result, a new intergovernmental international metrological organization was created under the abbreviation OIML.
Today, the OIML unites more than one hundred states, and its main goal is to standardize national rules and laws on metrology. As a result, this resulted in effective and timely assistance in the globalization of science, technology and economics. The International Organization of Legal Metrology does an excellent job of removing technical barriers to building trade and industrial relations between states.
OIML Functions
One way or another, all functions are related to the norms, rules and “drafts” of national legislative initiatives. The main ones are as follows:
- development of standards and regulatory documents for metrology in industry;
- reducing global trade barriers by coordinating and supporting mutual recognition of measurement results;
- advisory and technical assistance to national metrology bodies;
- facilitating the international exchange of experience on metrological legislation at all levels of existing organizations;
- interaction with state and international bodies.
WTO and globalization support
Given its primary function of legislative “alignment," the OIML has observer status in the World Trade Organization. In particular, they work together with the Committee on Technical Barriers.
The objectives of the WTO are the formation and support of mutual trust in the measurement results, the characteristics of raw materials and finished products of the participating countries. This is ensured by setting common legislative requirements for metrological methods, accuracy criteria, control methods, etc.
Modern international trade is in principle impossible without metrological control, standardization and ensuring unity abroad. Thus, international metrological organizations act as promoters of effective international cooperation - “not in word, but in deed”.
OIML structure and management
The supreme body is the International Conference of Legal Metrology, which meets once every four years. It is invited not only to the states - official members of the OIML, but also to any other countries or organizations that are associated with a particular issue of legal metrology.
An important feature of the work of the OIML is the advisory rather than the binding nature of its decisions. An example of this is an excellent document entitled "Elements of the law on metrology." Launched in 2004, it contained well-formulated rules and regulations that helped develop its own national metrological laws, including the principles and types of state supervision.
The work between legislative conferences is carried out by the International Committee of Legal Metrology of the ICBL.
IMECO: scientific and engineering communities
IMECO is a major metrological institute called the International Conference on Measuring Technique and Instrument Engineering. This is a non-governmental organization, under the auspices of which scientists and engineers gather and work on measurement issues in the field of science and technology. More than thirty countries participate in it.
The supreme body is the General Council, and the IMECO Secretariat with headquarters in Budapest acts as the executor of IMECO decisions and initiatives.
IMECO activities are distributed among ad hoc technical committees, the number of which is already more than twenty. Here are just a few of them:
- TK 2 photon measurements.
- TK 16 measuring pressure and vacuum.
- TC 17 measurements in robotics.
- TC 21 mathematical methods in measurements.
The committees employ renowned scientists, employees of the industrial transatlantic giants, and professors of world leading universities.
COOMET - regional Euro-Asian cooperation
Historically, in Europe, international and regional metrological organizations are divided in half - exactly in two. It is all a legacy from the socialist European camp. COOMET used to be called the “CMEA Metrology Section”, and after the collapse of the USSR it was renamed Euro-Asian cooperation.
The headquarters is located in Bratislava, as part of the organization of 14 participating countries. COOMET operates under the supervision of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and has a clearly defined goal. This helps to remove technical barriers to trade and cooperation between countries through the unification of national norms and rules on metrology.
The organization constantly has four technical committees:
- TC on legal metrology under the leadership of Germany.
- TC on standards led by Russia.
- Quality Forum led by Slovakia.
- TC on information and training under the auspices of the Republic of Belarus.
EUROMET in Western Europe
The second half of European metrologists is united in the European metrological organization, which includes the countries of the European Union. There are fifteen participating countries. The main tasks and functions of EUROMET also do not differ from the Eurasian ones: it is a single reference base, a unity of methods and approaches, cooperation and the removal of international barriers. The directions of work of EUROMET are as follows:
- coordination creation of national standards;
- examination of standards at various levels;
- coordination of individual national projects;
- information support of participating countries;
- publication of a directory of metrology in Europe.
EUROMET does not have a permanent headquarters. There is no permanent budget: everything is subordinated to specific projects and developments, which are financed by members of the organization in accordance with the needs and circumstances.
Metrology in the CIS countries
Located on different continents and in different regions, international metrological organizations, their tasks and functions are not much different from each other. This is quite natural and correct, because it is easier to work in a compact union of countries with a similar history of metrological activity, the mentality of performers, the model of public administration, etc.
This approach is fully suitable for the CIS countries, between which there is a special agreement on coordinated actions and policies in the field of standardization, metrology and certification. The unity of measurements is based on the “rich inheritance” —the USSR reference base. The Interstate Scientific and Technical Commission coordinates these activities.