12 December 2014

News from JCGM WG2

December 2014

Executive Summary

The 2014 activities of JCGM WG2 centered primarily on four key topics: 1) analysis of feedback

from the JCGM Member Bodies on the “Proposed Modified JCGM WG2 Plan of Work (from

JCGM WG2 to the JCGM” (MPOW), 2) analysis of work in ISO/REMCO and IUPAC/IFCC

concerning terminology work on nominal properties, 3) finalizing the electronic product and

developing annotations for inclusion in the Annotated VIM3 (now called “VIM Definitions with

Informative Annotations”), for posting on the JCGM web site hosted on the newly revised BIPM

web site, and 4) continuation of planning for the VIM4.

Brief Report

Concerning the first topic, the only significant feedback received on the MPOW (other than

explicit support from BIPM, OIML, IUPAC and IFCC) was from ISO, which commented on

both the Annotated VIM3 and on the VIM4. ISO favored development of the Annotated VIM3

as long as it did not significantly impede the work on the VIM4 (see comment on this below).

WG2 thanked ISO and prepared and sent a response to ISO’s comments, to which ISO replied

favorably. ISO suggested that WG2 pursue adding to its membership an expert in “organic”

chemistry and biology, as well as a terminologist, however ISO cannot provide such experts

directly. WG2 is pursuing whether any other JCGM Member Organizations are able to provide

such support.

Concerning terminology work on nominal properties, the ISO representative to WG2, who

herself chairs an ISO/REMCO working group, provided to WG2 an early version of an

ISO/REMCO Draft Technical Report (DTR 79; now entitled Reference Materials – Examples of

reference Materials for qualitative properties) that contains examples on the use and

characterization of nominal properties in reference materials. WG2 carefully evaluated this early

version of DTR 79 and came to the conclusion that there is not enough commonality concerning

vocabulary in the reference materials community to form a basis on which WG2 can come to

clear decisions on how to treat nominal properties in the VIM4 (ISO/REMCO had come to a

similar conclusion when investigating the possibility to develop guidance for the development of

qualitative reference materials). It was reported that at a meeting of ISO/REMCO this year it was

decided that the term “qualitative properties” is preferred over “nominal properties”, and that the

term “measurement” should be used for only quantitative (and not qualitative) characterizations,

so WG2 will try to build on at least these two ISO/REMCO decisions. The work in IUPAC/IFCC

12 December 2014

continues in developing a next draft of the International Vocabulary of Nominal Examinations

(VIN), but it was reported that the document has now taken a turn in direction where its entries

might not be directly transferrable to the VIM4 (e.g., it is no longer just a global document on

nominal properties, rather the focus is now primarily on clinical chemistry). However, as DTR

79 does not contain an example from the clinical area, the revised VIN may be used together

with DTR 79 to reflect upon the different ways in which nominal properties are currently

understood and applied. DTR 79 is now being published by ISO as TR 79.

Concerning the third topic, WG2 has finalized about 60 annotations for the electronic “VIM

Definitions with Informative Annotations” (also known as Annotated VIM3), which is now

publically and freely accessible from the JCGM web site hosted by BIPM

(http://jcgm.bipm.org/vim). Developing these annotations has proven to be very useful to WG2

in considering possible changes to VIM3 definitions in the VIM4, and so this work should not be

viewed as hindering development of the VIM4.

Concerning development of the VIM4, WG2 has given significant consideration to key aspects

of the VIM4 such as structure and underpinning principles. However, noting the relative

immaturity of the topic of vocabulary for nominal properties compared to the topic of vocabulary

for quantities, WG2 decided that it is too early to finalize a structure for the VIM4 (e.g., a single

document with two parts, or intertwining definitions in only one part). Rather, WG2 is

continuing to follow the work of IUPAC and IFCC in developing the VIN, as well as the efforts

of ISO/REMCO related to TR 79 and possible follow-up documents, in order to come to a

decision on the VIM4 structure. WG2 is also considering the use of principles of elementary set

and function theory to underpin the VIM4, although the VIM4 definitions themselves would

(likely) not use the more detailed language of that discipline. It is the intention of WG2 to

develop a Draft Outline of the VIM4 by the end of 2016, and then a first Committee Draft of the

VIM4 by the end of 2018.