BUT Faculty of Electrical Engineering will implement a grant from the “Polish Metrology” programme

Scientists from the research team of the Department of Photonics, Electronics and Lighting Technology of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology have received project funding in the first edition of the ‘Polish Metrology’ call. With the support of specialists from Rzeszow University of Technology, they will develop a method and a calibration station for measuring instruments dedicated to measuring luminance distributions. The value of the project is PLN 978 312.00, and the total amount of funding for research tasks carried out at Bialystok University of Technology is PLN 862 400.

Researchers from Bialystok University of Technology and Rzeszow University of Technology will work under the direction of Urszula Błaszczak, PhD, Eng.

For years, in our team we have been developing research on modern solutions and applications of light sources, and recently also UV radiation, as well as the construction of measurement apparatus dedicated to lighting technology. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to take part in the “Polish Metrology” competition, we had ideas, as well as research facilities and the necessary contacts with specialists from other centres – says Urszula Błaszczak, PhD, Eng.

Our Department grew out of the Department of Radiation Technology established by Professor Mieczysław Banach, rector of Bialystok University of Technology in the 1980s and at the same time one of Poland’s most eminent specialists in lighting technology and the domestic lighting industry. Our next head, Professor Władysław Dybczyński, was also strongly associated with the lighting industry. Therefore, we – Professor Dybczyński’s students and younger colleagues – continue this tradition and, in addition to carrying out scientific work and developing academic contacts, support representatives of the national economic environment. We serve the industry with our knowledge, experience and, above all, our team’s unique set of substantive and “soft” competences on a national scale. This is also thanks to the successive heads of our Department – Professor Jan Dorosz and Professor Andrzej Zając. I think we have already managed to develop a certain reputation and, thanks to it, entrepreneurs are willing to come to us with their problems. We have also established real cooperation with the Central Office of Measures and its Białystok branch, adds Urszula Błaszczak, PhD, Eng.

The project ‘Development of a method and a stand for the calibration of measuring instruments dedicated to the measurement of luminance distributions’ is a response to the needs of the Central Office of Measures and support for Polish enterprises using matrix luminance meters. These are among the most modern measuring instruments. They are used, among other things, to characterise all kinds of screens, to assess visual working conditions, or to study the state of illumination of roads and pedestrian crossings. At present, it is not possible to calibrate these meters in Poland, but it is worth noting that we have one of the world’s four manufacturers of these measuring instruments, which further justifies the need to implement their calibration.

Funding for the project, obtained in the ‘Polish Metrology’ competition, will make it possible to develop technical documentation and construct a prototype of a unique source to be used in the calibration process, as well as a description of the calibration method and test realisation procedure that can be implemented in the units of the Central Office of Measures.

In the implementation of the project, the scientists from Bialystok University of Technology will be supported by specialists from Rzeszow University of Technology, who will join the work at the stage of developing functional requirements, procedure and construction concepts and selected detailed construction solutions.

The “Polish Metrology” programme is a joint initiative of the Minister of Science and Higher Education and the President of the Central Office of Measures. The aim of the programme is to support entities of the higher education system and science in conducting scientific research and development work in areas related to metrology. Eighty-three applications were submitted for the first competition under the ‘Polish Metrology’ programme. The Minister of Science and Higher Education qualified 26 projects for funding with a total cost estimate of PLN 21 229 839.60. The awarded funding supports the implementation of projects aimed at increasing the research capacity of metrology institutions, strengthening intellectual capital, increasing the competitiveness of the Polish economy in areas of strategic importance to the country, developing modern technologies, stimulating the development of metrology, particularly in the areas of health, environment, energy and advanced measurement techniques, as well as the development of digital technologies.

It is worth mentioning that a member of the advisory team to the Minister of Science and Higher Education concerning the ‘Polish Metrology’ programme is Assoc. Prof. Wojciech Walendziuk, DSc, PhD. Eng from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology.

Congratulations to the scientists from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering! We wish them success in the implementation of the project!

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