Division Office

The mission of the Sensor Science Division is to develop and provide national measurement standards and services to advance physical science and technology in optical radiation, temperature, pressure, vacuum, flow, and related physical phenomena.

Strategic goals:

1. Advance, maintain, and disseminate standards for the kelvin (unit of temperature) and candela (unit of luminous intensity) SI base units and for various optical, humidity, pressure, vacuum and flow quantities.

2. Advance applications of optical, temperature, humidity, pressure, vacuum and flow measurements and sensors in technology areas of national importance, including climate-change research, environmental monitoring, greenhouse gas measurement, defense and homeland security, lighting, astronomy, and health and safety.

3. Build and maintain state-of-the-art measurement infrastructure to meet the emerging optical power, temperature, humidity, pressure, vacuum, flow and related measurement needs of industry, government, and academia.

4. Support international efforts through the Consultative Committee for Photometry and Radiometry (CCPR), for Thermometry (CCT), and for Mass and Related Quantities (CCM), including participating in appropriate measurement comparisons designed to secure the worldwide acceptance of US products and practices that are reliant upon NIST measurements.

Groups:

	Thermodynamic Metrology – The Thermodynamic Metrology Group realizes, maintains, and disseminates the national measurement standards for temperature and humidity. The Group advances temperature and humidity measurements and...
	Fluid Metrology – The Fluid Metrology Group provides calibration services for fluid flow, airspeed, liquid density and volume measurements. The Group develops models, reference data, and novel techniques...
	Optical Radiation – The Optical Radiation Group maintains, improves, and disseminates the national scales for the candela (SI unit), spectral responsivity, reflectance, transmission, color, and appearance.  Our staff...
	Infrared Technology – The Infrared Technology Group develops and disseminates the measurement science and standards for infrared radiation and infrared materials properties. In support of this effort...
	Laser Applications – The Laser Applications Group advances the application of laser technology in optical radiation and optical properties of materials measurements. The Group uses laser technology to...
	Ultraviolet Radiation – The Ultraviolet Radiation Group Provides the national basis for absolute radiometric measurements in the ultraviolet, extreme ultraviolet, and soft x-ray spectral regions. In support of...