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Fundamentals of measurement
Fundamentals of measurement
From theory to practice to ensure reliable measurement results and informed decision-making
Course description
Measurement is a path toward knowledge and requires methodological rigor to achieve reliable results. This MOOC guides you through the fundamental principles of measurement science, from the basics of measurement models to the representation and evaluation of uncertainty, calibration, and traceability. Combining theoretical concepts with laboratory practice, the course is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for anyone interested in developing foundational skills for personal or professional growth.
Total workload of the course: 8 hours
This MOOC is provided by Politecnico di Milano.
This MOOC was produced as part of the Edvance project – Digital Education Hub per la Cultura Digitale Avanzata. The project is funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, Component 1, Investment 3.4 “Didattica e competenze universitarie avanzate".
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Interpret the meaning of the different elements that constitute a measurement model, describing their contribution to measurement uncertainty;
- Apply the acquired knowledge to evaluate and combine, in practical cases, the different contributions to uncertainty;
- Use calibration results to define calibration intervals and the uncertainty requirements for calibration laboratories responsible for calibrating measurement instruments;
ESCO: develop calibration procedures ESCO: write calibration report - Identify the most effective actions to ensure metrological traceability and the reliability and usability of measurement results;
ESCO: precision measuring instruments ESCO: operate scientific measuring equipment - Design a measurement system consistent with the intended objectives, ensuring proper control and management of uncertainty.
ESCO: precision measuring instruments ESCO: operate scientific measuring equipment
Prerequisites
No specific prior knowledge is required to attend the course. However, familiarity with basic concepts in mathematics and physics, as well as introductory elements of statistics and probability, is recommended.
Activities
Over and above consulting the content, in the form of videos and other web-based resources, you will have the opportunity to discuss course topics and to share ideas with your peers in the Forum of this MOOC. The forum of this MOOC is freely accessible, and participation is not guided; you can use it to compare yourself with other participants, or to discuss course contents with them.
Section outline
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This week introduces the concept of measurement and the basic vocabulary of metrology. The elements of a measurement model and the main sources of uncertainty are analyzed. A final assessment test is included.
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This week addresses the requirements for expressing uncertainty, including the transition from standard uncertainty to expanded uncertainty and coverage intervals. Type A and Type B evaluation methods are explored through practical laboratory activities. A final assessment test is included.
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This week focuses on the analysis of indirect measurements and the determination of the combined standard uncertainty, with particular attention to the transition from combined standard uncertainty to expanded uncertainty. A final assessment test is included.
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This week addresses the topic of calibration, discussing metrological compatibility, the meaning and objectives of calibration, and related practical exercises. The course then explores metrological confirmation and the definition of calibration intervals, calibration hierarchies, and metrological traceability, concluding with an overview of the international organization of metrology. A final assessment test is included.
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Video transcripts Folder
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Assessment
Your final grade for the course will be based on the results of your answers to the assessed quizzes. You have an unlimited number of attempts at each quiz, but you must wait 15 minutes before you can try again. You will have successfully completed the course if you score 60% (or higher) in each one of the assessed quizzes. The maximum score possible for each quiz is given at the beginning of the quiz. You can view your score in the quiz on your last attempt or on the 'Grades' page.
Certificate
You can achieve a certificate in the form of an Open Badge for this course, if you reach at least 60% of the total score in each one of the assessed quizzes and fill in the final survey.
Once you have completed the required tasks, you will be able to access ‘Get the Open Badge’ and start issuing the badge. Instructions on how to access the badge will be sent to your e-mail address.
The Badge does not confer any academic credit, grade or degree.
Information about fees and access to materials
The course is delivered in online mode and is available free of charge.
Course faculty
Alessandro Ferrero
Politecnico di Milano, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Retired professor
Professor Alessandro Ferrero graduated in Electrical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in 1978. He taught Electrical and Electronic Measurements at Politecnico di Milano until 2025. His research activities focused on digital signal processing, power measurements in electrical systems, methods for the evaluation of measurement uncertainty, and forensic metrology. He is the author or co-author of five books and more than 250 papers published in international journals and conference proceedings.
He is an IEEE Life Fellow, a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), a founding member of ITATEC – the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology – and a founding member of the Italian Association Group of Electrical and Electronic Measurements (GMEE), serving as its President from 2004 to 2007. He also served as President of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society from 2008 to 2009 and as Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement from 2012 to 2016.
In 2006, he received the IEEE Joseph F. Keithley Award in Instrumentation and Measurement. In 2011, he was elected Foreign Member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, Class of Technical Sciences. In 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Degree by the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. In 2023, he received the Career Excellence Award from the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society.
Contact details
If you have any enquiries about the course or if you need technical assistance please contact pok@polimi.it. For further information, see FAQ page.