Information-rich surface metrology

Information-rich metrology refers to the incorporation of any type of available information in the data acquisition and processing pipeline of a measurement process, in order to improve the efficiency and quality of the measurement. In this work, the information-rich metrology paradigm is explored as it is applied to the measurement and characterisation of surface topography. The advantages and challenges of introducing heterogeneous information sources in the surface characterisation pipeline are illustrated. Examples are provided about the incorporation of structured knowledge about a part nominal geometry, the manufacturing processes with their signature topographic features and set-up parameters, and the measurement instruments with their performance characteristics and behaviour in relation to the specific properties of the surfaces being measured. A wide array of surface metrology applications, ranging from product inspection, to surface classification, to defect identification and to the investigation of advanced manufacturing processes, is used to illustrate the information-rich paradigm.