Preface

This book covers the different methodologies and technologies used for smart metering technology (SMT). The first two letters in the term "smart" generally stand for specific and measurable. The term "art" is defined as something meaningful and beautiful that is produced with creativity. Thus, "smart" refers to parameters that are specific and measurable for producing something creative and meaningful to a user.

Metering is a process used to measure a quantity to calculate a result. The quantity could be an amount of gas, water, electricity, or voltage, or an exam score, and so on. The evaluation of the metering (measurement) process (EMP) in academics is a systematic calculation of a course's merit and its importance in a particular program. EMP usually follows a pre-defined set of criteria ruled by a set of standards. The main purpose of EMP is to enable reflection of the response of utility versus consumer or teacher versus learner and help in the identification of gaps. EMP should be a continuous monitoring process and must enable a two-way communication system through a feedback system or analyzers. For instance, in an academic system, the evaluation process is a continuous process that evaluates the progress of students through assignments, quizzes, mid-semester examinations (MSEs), and end-of-semester examinations.

The way or the methods people use to creatively organize tasks is known as technology. Technology must be user-friendly and have concern for human needs while keeping in mind the objectives of science. Technology must apply scientific knowledge and include practical knowledge as well as theoretical knowledge. Here, practical knowledge refers to facts, figures, analyses, and conclusions. Furthermore, technology involves organized ways of doing things. Technology involves interactions (both direct and indirect) between products (i.e., materials and processes), operators (i.e., people), and machines (i.e., systems). It implies that technology provides an interactive platform for people who either manufacture products or use products and byproducts throughout various stages of processes. For example, many people like to dine out. The ingredients of the meal (vegetables, fruits, coffee, tea, and other drinks, etc.) may come from plants, trees, gardens, and so on that have been cultivated in one region of the world but may require fertilizer or pesticides from another region. The harvested food must be transported and distributed to restaurants or hotels that process, cook, and serve the food to customers according to certain requirements and standards. Technology is necessary throughout the food supply chain to meet these requirements.

For academic users, SMT is a set of pre-defined methodologies used to evaluate the performance of learners (students). It may relate the EMP with the attendance of students. In some cases, students complete Exit Survey Forms (ESFs), providing feedback to improve the teaching-learning system. For instance, in one Indian institute of higher learning, students indicated in their ESFs that they would prefer to have two MSEs instead of three. After considering this concern, it was concluded that two MSEs would improve student performance. Thus, the evaluation system of that institute was revised from three MSEs to two MSEs.

Similarly, in terms of electrical energy, smart metering is the main initiative for fulfilling the objectives of smart grids. Smart grids solve critical problems related to energy, customer operations, peak management, and more. Undeniably, smart metering reduces commercial losses, monitors energy (in real-time or near realtime), detects energy theft, enhances grid reliability, and leads to better revenue as well as tariff management. It encourages consumers to change behavior and optimize energy consumption, even by generating electricity at their own premises and sending it back to the grid. Thus, smart metering architecture plays a vital role in achieving the objectives of a smart grid.

I hope that this book provides a good learning experience.

**Inderpreet Kaur** Director, IGEN Edu Solutions, Chandigarh, India
