Metrological management of large-scale measuring systems

In this paper, a quality-assurance model is proposed to correctly manage large-scale measuring systems in a sustainable way. Such systems are made up of interconnected hardware devices and software programs that are distributed over a large area and act as single measuring systems. The proposed model is based on a network-assisted calibration procedure, which allows both the hardware and software sections of a large-scale measuring system to be contemporaneously verified. The calibration procedure requires the availability of programmable traveling standards, which are sent to each measuring unit and are remotely controlled through the Internet. Two application examples that refer to the metrological confirmation of distributed measuring systems that monitor the power quality and the environmental pollution are also described.