Uncertainty Calculation for Complex Measurements

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Authors
Vanwoerkom, Pablo
Advisor
Holly Zullo
Kelly Cline
Joan Stottlemyer
Editor
Date of Issue
2005-04-01
Subject Keywords
Publisher
Citation
Series/Report No.
item.page.identifier
Title
Uncertainty Calculation for Complex Measurements
Other Titles
Type
thesis
Description
Abstract
Propagations of errors, or uncertainties, can be computed in different ways. The ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) recommends an estimate based on a first-order Taylor series expansion of the functional form of the measurement equation. However, other methods may be more appropriate depending, for example, on properties of the errors in the input quantities, or nonlinearities in the measuring function. We have implemented a new method developed by C-M Wang and Hari Iyer for calculating the uncertainty of a measurement result using principles of generalized inference. Using Microsoft Excel, we developed macros for flexible uncertainty calculations based on the generalized inference method. These macros embed scripts for the open-source R statistical software system (through R DCOM Server and an Add-in for Excel). Also available are procedures for uncertainty calculations based on the common first-order Taylor series expansion method, as well as a more accurate second-order Taylor series expansion method.
Sponsors
Degree Awarded
Bachelor's
Semester
Spring
Department
Mathematics, Engineering & Computer Science