Dear Ernie,
The transition from old pre-metric measures to metric measures can be
fast, smooth, and economical or it can be slow, rough, and costly.
This is a choice that each company, industry, or nation makes when
they choose the method for their inevitable metric transition.
As an example for you to consider, the Australian building industry
changed to metric units in about a year (1973) using this policy
established by the Australian Building and Construction Advisory
Committee:
The metric units for linear measurement in building and construction
will be the metre (m) and the millimetre (mm), with the kilometre
(km) being used where required. This will apply to all sectors of the
industry, and the centimetre (cm) shall not be used. *
With these words the Australian Building and Construction Advisory
Committee effectively banished centimetres from the building trades
in Australia, with the result that metric conversion in these trades
was smooth, rapid, and complete. They made it clear that the
centimetre should generally not be used, and in particular:
… the centimetre should not be used in any calculation and it should
never be written down. *
*Standards Association of Australia 'Metric Handbook, Metric
Conversion in Building and Construction 1972
Most other trades followed their example, and subsequently followed
their successful metrication program.
This policy was also used successfully, quickly, and cheaply in New
Zealand and South Africa.
In contrast, Canada chose to do their metric transition using
centimetres in the building trades. When I visited several building
sites in Toronto last year their builders will still struggling with
metric conversion calculations. As the Canadians began at the same
time as Australia (1970) the difference between the two approaches is
obvious to me.
For a full treatment of this issue see: 'centimetres or millimetres —
which will you choose' that is available at http://
www.metricationmatters.com/articles
On 2008/03/15, at 9:39 PM, ernie edwards wrote:
As I mentioned before in a previous email (Mar. 11th), I am an
architect who lived overseas in the 80's, where of course, metrics
was the norm.
To me, every single day that metrics is not the US standard is
another day we lose competitiveness and we are doing a disservice
to the young people who continue to learn as their first
language... english measure...
Right now, English is the world language, the US dollar (for a
little while longer) is the world's currency and SI is the world's
measurement tool.....
To me, to get metrics totally accepted you have to get industry and
political buy in. Who knows if any of the current Presidential
candidates have had much exposure or interest in furthering the
conversion? (maybe Obama because of where he has lived outside the
country) I'm not trying to promote one candidate over another, just
trying to point out that, ....why isn't the US complete conversion
to metrics one of the discussion issues for the current election
cycle, especially the economic benefits of conversion....
So, what I am trying to do...
1. Trying to resurrect the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
support of SI
2. Trying to build bridges (excuse the pun) with related "building"
professional groups .... NSPE and AGC
3. Trying to get my federally elected officials to be aware of the
benefits of total conversion (I live in MA)
So, what I am suggesting and hoping....
1. Suggesting we set as a goal of 10 years to complete conversion
to SI
2. Hoping any "building" professional and / or MA residents would
be interested in helping me on items 1-3 above.
3. Hoping this email generates discussion
Ernie Edwards, AIA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com/ for more metrication information,
contact Pat at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or to get the free
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