Measured to perfection, professor’s three-year research project to go online for firms

Prof Paul Scott, of the University of Huddersfield, was awarded a grant of 130,000 euros by the European Association of National Metrology Institutes for his part in a major project designed to demonstrate that metrology software is fit for purpose.

Metrology is the science of measurement, and includes all theoretical and practical aspects. The work by Prof Scott will be of particular use to advanced manufacturing companies.

Prof Scott has now completed his component of the research by developing the mathematical fundamentals for a new system that is due to be put online by the German institute PTB.

Manufacturers, software developers and a wide range of researchers in fields where metrology plays an important role will have paid-for access to a webpage that can generate data, which will allow them to assess the accuracy achieved by their current software. They can then make adjustments required to improve the performance of the software.

Prof Scott is a mathematician who previously worked as a researcher for the firm Taylor Hobson, renowned for the design and development of ultra-precision metrology instruments.

He applied mathematical ideas and concepts to the development and improvement of measuring instruments.

He has provided a detailed account of his research in a paper delivered at the University of Huddersfield when it hosted the 2015 Laser Metrology Coordinate Measuring Machine and Machine Tool Performance conference, a major international event in its field.