From VIM3 toward the next edition of the International Vocabulary of Metrology

Abstract

The International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM) is presently at its third Edition (2012) (VIM3). VIM3 was a major achievement done with an important contribution of Paul De Bièvre. Numerous comments can be found in the literature concerning the evaluation of VIM3 that will be taken here as a reference for the future developments. The present paper is based mainly on the concept that such a vocabulary is assumed to be of great help for the practitioners of metrology, i.e., in general of people that must correctly apply the idiom of metrology according to the current meaning of its terms. The core of VIM3, i.e., its few basic terms, which are those currently used in metrology (defined according to paper’s Glossary), is identified, and their current meaning recalled together with the rationale for their choice. The above illustration is compared with recently proposed changes of several of them, and with some terms newly proposed.