FORUM-MD ad hoc Task Group on Metrological Semantics (FORUM-MD-TG-MS)

Terms of reference

The Terms of reference of the FORUM-MD-TG-MS (version 1.0, approved on February 21, 2025) are the following:

Membership:

• Representatives and individual scientists from NMIs members/observers/liaisons of FORUM-MD.
• Individual scientists from NMI that are not members/observers/liaisons which expertise coincides with term of references of the TG/WG.
• Guests can be invited by the chair on a one-off basis.

Members are appointed by the Chair of the FORUM-MD, in consultation with the TG/WG chairperson.

Chairperson:

The TG/WG chairperson is appointed by the Chair of the FORUM-MD, with the agreement of the FORUM-MD (for all).

The mandate of the chairperson is 2 to 4 years.

Area:

The purpose of this group is to foster harmonization and consistency across FORUM-MD working groups with conceptual modelling and software architectures methodologies.

• Explore the need for and benefits of using a broad enterprise architecture (EA) to foster harmonization and consistency across Forum-MD working groups.
• Develop semantic models, including provenance, that provide a semantically sound and sufficient context of measurement data and quality management system records (calibration certificates, calibration and measurement capabilities, scopes of accreditations, equipment classes, etc.).
• Ensure that semantic models represent broader concepts inherent in quality management system records, processes, data and information management.
• Ensure that semantics represent concepts specific to metrology and science, such as quantities and units of measurement.

Activities:

• to recommend semantic models
• to develop metrology-specific semantic models
• to identify use cases in metrology
• to contribute to key international metrology workshops, conferences, and journals

Definitions:

“Enterprise Architecture is a set of abstractions and models that simplify and communicate complex structures, processes, rules, and constraints to improve understanding, implementation, forecasting, and resourcing”. ─ Department of Defence Architecture Framework (DoDAF)

“Provenance is information about entities, activities, and people involved in producing a piece of data or thing, which can be used to form assessments about its quality, reliability or trustworthiness”. ─ Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) Provenance Working Group