The development of modern metrology and its role today.
Modern metrology is the result of more than 200 years of development that began with the creation of the decimal metric system at the time of the French Revolution and the beginning, at about the same time, of mass production using interchangeable parts. This article traces these developments and describes how world metrology is organized today and gives examples of applications of metrology showing how it concerns us all in many aspects of our daily life.
Quinn
Terry
T
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, 92312 Sèvres, Cedex, France. terry.quinn@physics.org
Kovalevsky
Jean
J
D007394:International System of Units / Q000592:standards*; D038622:Internationality; D010825:Physics / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012586:Science / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity