150th Anniversary Marked by the Inkling of the Metric Treaty
Unlocking the Marvels of Measurement: Kazakhstan's Quest for Unity and Precision
In a world buzzing with activity, it's the unsung, behind-the-scenes heroes that help us navigate through it all - and that's where metrology comes into play. Today, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Metric Convention, a milestone that kicked off the global pursuit of measurement unity. Countries like the USA, Japan, and Kazakhstan are part of this movement, fostering fair trade and fostering understanding.
But what exactly is metrology, and how does it impact our lives? The first metrology institution in Kazakhstan was established way back in 1923, when the Semipalatinsk branch of the Omsk Verification Chamber was formed. Today, the National Etalon Base of Kazakhstan is its modern-day counterpart, housing 104 state etalons spanning a multitude of measurements – from length and mass to pressure, electrical and magnetic quantities, and physical-chemical parameters.
Metrology is not just a lofty scientific concept, but a practical tool that impacts our daily lives in countless ways. Accurate measurements ensure the quality of goods, help us maintain resources efficiently, aid in making medical diagnoses, and enable scientific research. Even slight discrepancies in measurement equipment can yield serious consequences, ranging from financial losses to misdiagnoses and compromised safety in industries.
In recent years, Kazakhstan's metrology sector has experienced significant growth, with hundreds of verification laboratories popping up and the calibration industry developing at a rapid pace. These advancements have contributed to improving the accuracy of technological processes, fostering international trust in the country's measurement, testing, and product conformity assessment activities.
According to Zhanna Esenbekova, Chairperson of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a state-of-the-art etalon base is vital in establishing international trust in the country's measurement and testing activities. This, in turn, can help eliminate technical barriers to trade and facilitate the free movement of goods and services in the context of integration.
Safety requirements for products, services, and technological processes are enshrined in the existing regulatory framework in Kazakhstan. The country boasts over 13 foundational regulatory acts governing metrology activities, along with hundreds of national standards and 14 lists of measurements used in various sectors of the economy.
"The reliability of measurement results forms the basis of trust between all market participants – government bodies, producers, suppliers, and consumers," says Jeanne Esenbekova. "The State Scientific Metrological System ensures traceability of measurements from primary standards to working measurement tools, which is an indispensable condition for fair pricing, honest competition, and sustainable market development."
Kazakhstan is also actively developing international cooperation in metrology, having signed over 70 agreements and memorandums with leading foreign organizations for standardization and metrology, such as ASTM, API, DIN, AFNOR, and national metrology institutes of various countries.
Take CMCs as an example. At first glance, they might appear to be mere records in an international database. However, each CMC represents a substantiated, verified, and internationally recognized capability to perform accurate measurements within specified ranges with declared uncertainty. Kazakhstan, as a matter of fact, has the most CMC records among Central Asian countries.
Metrology's impact on society is far-reaching, extending from school classrooms to high-tech production facilities and medical institutions. It ensures safety, economic efficiency, and trust, forming the bedrock of sustainable state development.
Sources:- Our website, citing the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan- 1. National Metrology Institute of Kazakhstan (2022) [Retrieved on March 14, 2023]- 2. Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2022) [Retrieved on March 14, 2023]- 3. International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) (2023) [Retrieved on March 14, 2023]- 4. International Metrology Center “VNIIM” (2023) [Retrieved on March 14, 2023]- 5. Kopaeva, A. (2021) "Kazakhstan's achievements in metrology recognized at the international level" [Retrieved on March 14, 2023]
Metrology, a field that spans numerous scientific disciplines, is instrumental in shaping our daily lives, ensuring the quality of goods, maintaining resource efficiency, and aiding in medical diagnoses and scientific research. The National Etalon Base of Kazakhstan, a modern-day equivalent of its 1923 counterpart, supports environmental-science research by housing state etalons for various measurements, including technology-related quantities.
