We return to one of our favourite topics – the link between numeracy, units of measurement and British engineering success.
Author: Derek Pollard
New Year’s Day, and Britain late for the celebration
Those who are frustrated by the UK’s apparent reluctance to fully adopt the international system of measurement won’t be surprised to learn that this echoes events of 260 years ago, when Britain became one of the last countries in Western Europe to adopt the calendar we use today.
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Salisbury points to a solution (and to a problem)
Metric Views’ attention has been drawn to a Victorian piece of legislation under which signs may be authorised.
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Scrap optimism bias say public sector clients
This was the heading of an article in the magazine “New Civil Engineer”, published on 14 November. Metric Views looks at the effect of removing optimism bias on the estimate of the cost of road traffic sign conversion prepared by the UK Department for Transport in 2005.
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The Long Goodbye after High Noon
MV looks at the global decline of “Anglo-Saxon measures”, from dominance in 1945 to insignificance today, and draws some conclusions.
And the winner is …
This week, Metric Views takes a look at a recent awards ceremony in the construction industry.
Boost for science and engineering undermined?
A recent report published in the US suggests that the UK Government’s plans to boost science and engineering may be undermined by its muddled policies on measurement units.
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The reports of the death of the micron are greatly exaggerated
After a two month break, Metric Views returns with an article by UKMA’s new Chairman, John Frewen-Lord, about an aspect current metric usage. (With apologies to Mark Twain for the headline). Continue reading “The reports of the death of the micron are greatly exaggerated”
Metric usage by the media in Commonwealth countries
John Frewen-Lord contrasts media attitudes towards the metric changeover in Canada and Australia with those in the UK.
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Metrication in Australia
As the UK approaches the fiftieth anniversary of the commencement of its prolonged metric changeover, we draw attention to an article about a country that succeeded in making the transition in little more than a decade.
Metric Views 