Metrology: VTT MIKES

Industry and society today simply could not function without the effective ensuring of the reliability of measurement units and of the measurements made using them. Fulfilling the quality requirements for measurement data requires an internationally accepted and scientifically valid system of measurement units. 

There are seven base units in the SI system – second, metre, kilogramme, ampere, kelvin, mole and candela – and a large number of derivative units. All the base units are defined with reference to seven natural constants. As the name indicates, a natural constant is one that is invariable regardless of place or time. This ensures that measurement units based on such constants will remain similarly constant everywhere and for all time.

Finland is a member of the General Conference on Weights and Measures, which administers the maintenance and development of the International System of Units (SI system). National metrology institutes, such as VTT MIKES in Finland, see to the practical realisation of measurement units and accuracy of measurement results. Some measurement units are realized outside VTT MIKES: Aalto University (optical quantities), Finnish Environment Institute (water quality), Finnish Meteorological Institute (air quality), Finnish Geospatial Research Institute at National Land Survey (length in geodesy and acceleration of free fall) and Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (ionising radiation).

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