Electromagnetic Measurement Technologies: Expanding the Use of the Electromagnetic
Spectrum
Project outline
This project provides the underpinning metrology required for UK national infrastructure
(communications and smart grids), develops new methods to accelerate innovation (smart
antennas, and exploitation of microwave systems), and delivers traceable measurement services
and expertise across the electromagnetic spectrum from DC to THz frequencies to enable trade,
validate research and development, and ensure health and safety regulation can be met.
The aim of this project is to provide the measurement capability necessary to underpin UK
science, engineering and technology that exploits the use of the electromagnetic spectrum with
the following aims:
1. Improving energy efficiency of smart-grid technologies
2. Establishing new measurement facilities for next-generation communications
technologies
3. Extending measurement bandwidths for space technologies
4. Improving efficiency and the cost-to-accuracy ratio for metrological traceability
Although there is much overlap with the spectral usage of these four science areas each area can
be viewed as covering a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum: Smart Grids and Sensor
Networks tend to be focused on very low frequencies up to RF; Communications and Electronics
usually exploit the microwave and millimetre-wave frequency regions; Space and Medical
Applications often impact the terahertz, infrared and optical regions. Measurement Traceability
impacts all these frequency ranges, because traceability is a fundamental requirement for all
technologies exploiting the electromagnetic spectrum.
Planned Outcomes
1
Start: 04/2016
End: 03/2017
Outcome 1: Provision of traceability to laboratories accredited to international quality standards UK SMEs
and other UK government agencies, and NPL researchers to increase trade, shorten time-to-market, improve
product quality, and reduce costs.
1. Maintain and upgrade facilities to an accredited level to satisfy customers.
2. Review customer needs and the relevance of the services offered and introduce new capabilities from
the research programmes.
3. Ensure that services critical for NPLs operation are maintained (e.g. for radiometry, in relation to the
dissemination of standards and the SI).
4. Support the NMS investment through revenue generation by offering commercial services.
2
Start: 04/2016
End: 03/2017
Outcome 2: Support the creation of a cleaner, black-out free power grid that incorporates renewables and
other clean energy sources by providing measurement capability to implement energy policy and regulations.
1. The new capability will comprise a set of measurement tools that will contribute towards managing
and operating future power and electricity distribution networks.
2. Collaborative R and D with network operators and other stakeholders to deliver and demonstrate cost
effective monitoring and control methods for the power grid.
3. Development of metrology hardware, software, algorithms and protocols to deliver traceable
measurements in situ.
4. Knowledge transfer to key industry players through continuous engagement for example with
Strathclyde University’s Power Network Demonstration Centre and NPLs Centre for Carbon
Metrology.
5. Dissemination of best practice and awareness raising through publications, standards committees,
web articles, conferences.
3
Start: 04/2016
End: 03/2017
Outcome 3: Acceleration of commercialisation of the R&D of Electromagnetic Technologies by UK
organisations and commercial companies by validating the performance and ensuring compatibility,
compliance with protocols for interoperability, and health and safety of electromagnetic devices and systems
1. Development and demonstration of traceable metrology at higher frequency ranges, for specific
applications and sections of the bandwidth that need to be exploited where the metrology does not
exist.
2. Engagement with international bodies producing document standards, (IEC, IEEE and ETSI).
3. Ensuring international metrology policy, sponsored by CIPM-CCEM, BIPM-JCGM, EURAMET TC-EM,
supports and is relevant to the UK.
4. Participation in European research projects (EMPIR), in partnership with other European NMIs,
universities and industries.
5. Engagement with UK stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem and government departments where
EM technologies can help to deliver economic growth and government policies (e.g. defence, health
and safety, climate change, satellites, and aerospace industries) with the aim of forming new
government/industry partnerships to sustain facilities.
6. Working with other NMIs to ensure that the capability forms part of an international system
supporting trade.
4
Start: 04/2016
End: 03/2017
Outcome 4: Increasing the innovation opportunity for the UK science community (i.e. university research
groups and researchers in industry) by providing new metrology capability for R and D and access to this at
the point of innovation
1. Development of new sensors, sources, detectors and metrology systems with collaborators.
2. Providing access to, and knowledge of, the state-of-the-art electromagnetic metrology research
located in centres of excellence (e.g. in MW and THZ research with Surrey University).
3. Papers published in high-impact scientific journals and at leading international scientific conferences.
4. Key-note speeches at a leading international conferences and organisational roles in at least four
international conferences.