NIST Initiative on the U'S' Measurement System USMS

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NIST Initiative on the U.S. Measurement System
(USMS)
Roadmapping Americas Measurement Needs for a
Stronger Innovation InfrastructureA
Private-Public Initiative for the Future
Tim Drapela Optoelectronics Division National
Institute of Standards and Technology June 6,
2005
drapela_at_boulder.nist.gov [phone]
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Consider the US measurement system
The USMS comprises the methods, instruments,
entities, institutions, and standards both
physical and documentary involved in
measurements

• USMS stakeholders include
• Customers / potential customers for, and
  providers of, measurement improvements/services
• Major associations representing many
  measurement customers
• Decision makers guiding priorities and
  resources

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Economic returns for measurements

• Measurement cost is often significant
• 50 of the cost of specialty optical fiber is
  attributed to measurements
• 15 of semiconductor fabrication equipment cost
  is related to measurement
• Lack of traceable measurements add to these
  costs
• Expanded in-house metrology costs
• Transaction costs (additional cost of dealing
  with customers and suppliers)

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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The problem

• The USMS has become so broad, diverse, and
  disaggregated that it lacks an organizing
  coordinating element that makes it a system
• Contrast with EU countries and regional blocs
  creating more coherent, centralized systems with
  competitive advantage
• How do we effectively address current needs and
  anticipate new needs??

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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NISTs proposed solution
Create a strong private-public partnership that
identifies Americas measurement needs and
strengthens the U.S. infrastructure for innovation
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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NIST USMS initiative

• Working with others, NIST will
• Develop and publish a USMS roadmap on a regular
  basis
• a forward-looking strategic plan report to
  customers and stakeholders
• describes what needs to be done, whether by NIST
  or others, to address the needs of the USMS
• describes the consequences of not meeting those
  needs

Participants should include all private- and
public-sector entities with a stake in a strong,
responsive, and forward-looking USMS
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Information gathering is critical to success

• 1. Hold a series of workshops that
• Are publicly announced
• Seek broad customer and stakeholder participation
• Solicit written or oral input from USMS customers
  and stakeholders
• Rely on USMS customers as primary speakers
• Summarize results in 3-5 page reports
• Take place on an ongoing basis
• Cover a wide range of USMS topics

2. Obtain inputs from existing industry roadmaps
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Outputs benefits

• NIST will regularly report on the state of the
  USMS to customers and stakeholders
• The report will state the strategic challenges
• Identify systemic gaps or weaknesses in the USMS
  (both measurement science and documentary
  standards)
• allow issues to be anticipated earlier
• frame a more coordinated response
• provide USMS participants a larger strategic
  context for what they do, both individually and
  together
• Articulate the consequences of not acting

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Timetable
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Why Broadband Telecom?

• In this, the information age, the U.S. must
  maintain a leadership role in deployment and
  access
• Not doing so ? profound negative impact on U.S.
  competitiveness in global markets, not to mention
  quality of life issues, job creation, etc.
• Wide-ranging measurement issues spanning
  multiple technologies markets a perfect fit
  for NIST USMS efforts
• Critical enabling technology
• For the U.S. economy
• For national defense homeland security
• For myriad other technologies industries

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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Why TIA?
All players government, private sector and
consumers should participate in the formulation
of broadband policy.
Industry Playbook, TIA, 2004
Advances in telecommunications dramatically
transform the way people live, work, learn,
communicate and conduct business, and long-term
research is essential to insure that these
transformations serve human needs, are productive
for society and sustainable over the long term. .
. . the leadership position of the United States
in this vital area is waning, threatening our
country with potential innovation declines.
Investing in Telecom for Tomorrows Innovations
The Case for Increased Telecommunications
Research Funding, TIA, 2005
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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TIA plays a leadership role

• TIA represents virtually ALL key telecom
  stakeholders
• TIA provides valuable services
• As a standards-development organization, TIA and
  its members are the correct stakeholders to
  examine telecom measurement issues, needs, gaps,
  etc.
• As an advocate for U.S. Telecom policy, TIA can
  provide the right framework for understanding
  measurement impacts within broader policy
  discussions
• USMS participation can better align NIST with
  telecom-industry measurement needs

NIST Optoelectronics Division
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USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop
Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications
Access and Transport The telecommunications
industry is a significant and growing market in
the U.S. economy, as well as a critical enabling
technology for a wide range of industries. In
2004 President Bush called for universal
broadband access by 2007 for all Americans. The
broadband industry is unique, in that several
widely different technologies are used across
various platforms, such as DSL, fiberoptics to
the premises (FTTP), free-space optical, cable
modems, mobile and fixed wireless, satellite, and
powerline. New trends and technological drivers
include bundled services, data transport, digital
video, voice over internet (VoIP), wireless
internet (including Wi-Fi), and future military
needs such as ground-to-satellite and
satellite-to-satellite communications.
Measurement issues for broadband
telecommunications are technologically
challenging and span multiple technologies and
markets.
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop
Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications
Access and Transport . . . continued Other
countries/regions have developed strategic
visions for broadband deployment and have been
taking the lead in measurement specification and
standardization. The International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the
U.S. 16th, and declining, in broadband
deployment. Industry groups, including IEEE and
the TIA have called for a national broadband
policy, to be developed by a partnership of
government, industry, and consumers. This
workshop, as an integral part of NIST's U.S.
Measurement System roadmapping efforts, will
address the measurement aspects of such a policy
for this critical industry segment. Areas where
broad measurement issues are anticipated include
convergence (platforms and technologies),
higher-speed systems, interoperability,
upgradeability, reliability, service bundling,
security/encryption, and conformance-testing/perfo
rmance-verification.
NIST Optoelectronics Division
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USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop
Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications
Access and Transport . . . continued Workshop
Preliminary Details Date Fall 2005 Venue
one of the NIST campuses (Boulder, CO or
Gaithersburg, MD) (co-location
suggestions are still welcome) Duration 2 days
(w/plenary and breakout sessions) For more
information, or for comments/suggestions on
content, sessions, or speakers, contact
Tim Drapela, NIST Optoecectronics Division
[phone] drapela_at_boulder.nist.gov
Kate Remley, NIST Electromagnetics Division
[phone] remley_at_boulder.nist.gov For
more/updated details on the NIST USMS initiative,
visit http//usms.nist.gov
NIST Optoelectronics Division