This thesis was inspired by my over 20 years’ experience of inspecting schools, including as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors from 1991 to 2000. The research’s main aims were to review the development of the criteria devised by Ofsted by which inspectors judge the quality of teaching in mainstream schools and to gain primary headteachers’ and teachers’ views on the criteria and their enactment. The thesis analyses the development of the criteria since the first Ofsted inspections in 1993, and considers possible influences of government policies and educational research. I interviewed three former and one current HMI to explore their perspectives about the development of the criteria, and ten primary headteachers and pairs of teachers from their schools to hear their views. I applied Bourdieu’s thinking tools of habitus and field to interpret the roles of the different actors involved in the preparation and enactment of the teaching criteria. The findings suggest a hierarchy in what I have called the ‘field of inspection’, with HMI wielding significant symbolic capital because of their role as authors of the criteria and overseers of quality. Since 2012, the combination of a new HMCI and government has thrown the quality of teaching into the limelight, raised the stakes of the Ofsted outcome for schools and resulted in much public criticism of Ofsted inspections. Ofsted has responded to criticism over the years resulting in frequent changes to the inspection guidance and criteria, but the language of the criteria remains imprecise and open to interpretation. The thesis concludes that the frequent changes reflect what Bourdieu called ‘misrecognition’ by Ofsted of the significance of the inspection outcome to schools and the lengths that headteachers and teachers are prepared to go to get a ‘good Ofsted outcome’.

[pt] A presente dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo analisar, à luz das funções da infraestrutura tecnológica, as proposições do novo marco regulatório europeu para a livre circulação de produtos no mercado comum. Mais especificamente responder à questão formulada pela pesquisa: conseguirá esse novo marco regulatório equacionar e mitigar as deficiências do modelo anterior? Tendo em vista a atualidade do tema, o trabalho discute a importância da metrologia, da normalização, da acreditação e da avaliação da conformidade na eficiência da fiscalização do mercado em nível global e a relevância técnica e econômica que resultam desses processos. No campo institucional, a motivação pelo tema se deu pelo compromisso do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Metrologia de contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento sobre a regulação de mercados e de explorar o tema como oportunidade de fortalecer a ponte em temas da metrologia com a cidadania. No que concerne a metodologia, a pesquisa desenvolveu-se de forma estruturada segundo as seguintes fases complementares: (i) pesquisa bibliográfica e documental dos textos legais e regulamentos europeus aplicáveis; (ii) pesquisa de campo (iii) construção e aplicação do instrumento da pesquisa (questionário) junto a especialistas atuantes nas funções da infraestrutura tecnológica para a qualidade. Consubstanciando os propósitos da pesquisa de mestrado, o trabalho explicitou os resultados mais relevantes consolidados pelo amplo e participativo processo de revisão da legislação européia para a livre circulação de produtos e disponibilizou uma metodologia de avaliação. Finalmente, como conclusão, o trabalho definiu os determinantes da revisão do marco regulatório europeu à luz das mudanças de critérios de aplicação das funções da infraestrutura tecnológica. / [en] The aim of this M.Sc. dissertation is to analyze the New Regulatory Framework for the free movement of goods in the European market, in the light of the functions of the national quality infrastructure. More specifically, to answer the question posed by the study: will the New (and recently revised) Regulatory Framework be able to mitigate the shortcomings of the previous model? Moreover, the study discusses the significance of metrology, standardization, conformity assessment and accreditation for the effectiveness of market surveillance at a global level and the economic and technical relevance of these processes. The commitment of the Postgraduate Metrology Program (Metrology for Quality and Innovation) to contribute to the improvement of technical regulation, while bridging metrology to citizenship, reflect the motivation of this work. The methodology included: (i) a review of the specialized literature (e.g.: legal documentation and applicable European regulation); (ii) a field research and (iii) the development and application of the structured questionnaire to experts in functions of the quality infrastructure and European legislation. The study highlights the most relevant results of the thorough revision of the European regulation for the free movement of goods. It also provided a methodology of assessment for related issues. In tune with the precepts of the Postgraduate Metrology Programme committed to participate in the debate of current topics in metrology and related matters, the dissertation made available to Brazilian legislators lessons learnt by the European Union on the building of a common market. In conclusion, an experience particularly valuable to those committed to make MERCOSUR a successful undertaking. An endeavor of great proportions where goods, services, capital and labor can circulate freely providing the foundation for prosperity.

Initiativet till detta projekt togs av PitchUp AB, då efterfrågan av en bättre drönare förinspektion till industri framkommit.För att utföra inspektioner i trånga miljöer krävs idag mycket arbete, då delar avindustrin måste stängas ner under utförandet. Många arbetsplatser kräver även attställningar monteras på plats som tillträde för inspektionen, vilket utgör större resurserför personal, tid och kostnader.Fokus i projektet har varit att ta fram ett designkoncept till en ny drönare som skallanvändas vid inspektion för underhållsarbeten inom industri i trånga och mörka miljöer.För att förbättra resultatet i projektet har projektgruppen varit på besök hos Södra CellVärö i Varberg, för att få en större inblick i vilka typer av invändiga miljöer en drönareskulle kunna användas och underlätta en inspektion för de anställda.Projektet har resulterat i en 3D-modell samt ett designkoncept i form av en prototyp,där gruppen fokuserat främst på tre viktiga komponenter utifrån krav och önskemål.Dessa är utformningen på gimball, chassit samt propellerskydden. / The initiative to this project came from PitchUp AB, as the demand forth drones forinspection within industrial environments has arisen.Inspections in enclosed environments are often difficult to execute and demand a lot ofresources in planning, time and staff. Many companies require as well that scaffoldingsare set up when an inspection is to take place, which requires even more resources.This project has had its focus set on developing a new design concept for a drone thatshall be used for preliminary inspection in maintenance of dark, enclosed industrialenvironments. For further research a field trip to Södra Cell Värö in Varberg has takenplace to reach a better understanding in the actual environments. This gave an insight ofhow the drone could be used to relieve the workers of the physical danger and help reachresults more effectively.The result of the project has concluded in a design concept projected as a 3D-model anda prototype, whereas the three key areas has been targeted of importance from thedemands; the configuration of the gimball, main body and propeller protection.

Neste trabalho é proposto a técnica da Transformada de Hough para a Inspeção Visual Automática de placas retangulares, visando a determinação de características tais como perímetro, ortogonalidade, centro de massa, área, independente de rotação e translação do objeto dentro da imagem. Os resultados obtidos por essa técnica são avaliados pela comparação com o método dos Momentos, o recurso mais utilizado para a determinação de área e centro de massa para imagens bi-dimensionais. A análise estatística dos dados mostra a robustez da técnica da Transformada Hough para imagens ruidosas. / In this work, is proposed the Hough transform method for the Automated Visual lnspection of rectangular boards. The aim is to extract features such as position, perimeter and area, despite of object translation and rotation. The results obtained by this method are evaluated by comparing them with the method of Moments, the most used method to determine the area and center of mass for bi-dimensional images. Statistical analysis show the robustness of Hough transform for noisy images visual inspection.

Although concrete tunnel structures can lose strength and long-term durability due to fire, the literature on the remaining capacity of structures after fire events is very scattered, and no published post-fire inspection protocols specifically for concrete tunnel structures are available. This work aims to summarize and synthesize the current state of knowledge of the deleterious effects of fire on the residual condition of concrete tunnel structures and how the extent and degree of fire damage can be assessed. The scope of this work includes an extensive literature review, heat testing of some common tunnel elements, and residual strength testing of a tunnel wall panel. The literature review includes a review of published standards, technical reports, academic papers, and a survey of post-fire inspection practices at other state DOTs and transit organizations. Topics covered in the review include the residual mechanical properties of concrete, steel, and the concrete/steel bond after fire, the residual strength and stiffness of structural members after fire, existing inspection tools and methods for assessing concrete structures after fire, and repair methods for fire-damaged concrete structures. The outcomes of the heat testing are presented, including the setup of a radiant heating system (which does not use a flame), procurement of sample specimens for testing, thermal and physical testing of specimens, and evaluation of results. Lastly, based on the literature review and experimental testing, recommendations for future work are presented.

This diploma thesis deals with concept of automatic inspection workplace for fitting car at assembly inspection line at TPCA as a car manufacture company. Theoretic part is focused on the assembly inspection at TPCA and also presents a current optical inspection at the industry with regard to the topic of this thesis. Practical part contains analysis of the current condition and workplace concept of automatic inspection and measuring method of complete car. Thereafter it brings the technical and economical contributions for this company when my concept implemented.

Animal by-products (ABPs) can be a source for infectious diseases like BSE (mad cow disease) and to prevent spreading infectious diseases inspection of ABPs are necessary. The purpose of this study was to identify the problems that municipalities in Sweden experience with the inspection of ABPs and develop some solutions for these problems. The purpose was also to investigate whether amount and type of problems experienced by municipalities are depending on population size. The study was carried out in collaboration with Piteå municipality, with the aim to support municipalities and other central authorities in their work with inspection of ABPs. Data were collected through a survey that was sent to all municipalities in Sweden and approximately 60% of the municipalities participated in this study. Lack of knowledge, lack of time due to high workload and lack of support from central authorities were some of the most common problems that municipalities experienced. As a consequence, inspections get down prioritized or are not carried out at all. The study shows that there is a significant difference in the amount of problems that municipalities experience depending on the population. Large municipalities experience more problems than small and medium sized municipalities. The study also shows how municipalities can identify companies that manage ABPs. This study highlights that municipalities urgent need effective guidelines and support from central authorities, otherwise the control of ABPs is neglected, which - in worst case scenario - can lead to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

This master's thesis deals with proposal and realization of electromechanical positional system for automatic optical inspection PCB bigger proportions and solution of automatic optical inspection. Problems are dispersed into of several prime area namely on mechanical part, driving hardware and software part. In every part is performed analysis problem and choice optimal solution.

This work deals with the construction of a specific device for handling batching, such as paper rolls wound on a paper tube. It is included in the structural design of the device, control engineering calculations nodes developed basic drawing documentation manipulator.

This study is based on a detailed literature review of the approaches that are being used for inspecting cargos. It was concluded that especially X-rays are suitable for precise inspection of cargos due to high-quality output images. The images captured with X-Ray scanning methods are sufficient for discriminating various materials. Methods for the inspection of cargos with the help of electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies are also discussed.