A two day training course on uncertainty evaluation.

Aims & Objectives

A two day training course on understanding and evaluating measurement uncertainty, directed at practitioners concerned with more difficult measurement problems than those covered in courses on the uncertainty of measurement such as those provided by UKAS and NMO. The course gives an introduction to the philosophy behind the first supplement to the 'Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement' (GUM) concerned with using a Monte Carlo method for uncertainty evaluation, and covers material contained within that supplement.

Course Content

This course on understanding and evaluating measurement uncertainty is based on the considerable experience gained by the presenters of the more advanced needs of practitioners in the area. The course covers measurement models that are mildly or strongly nonlinear, that have one or more than one output quantity, that are real- or complex-valued, and that can or cannot be solved explicitly for the output quantities in terms of the input quantities. It also covers 'large uncertainties", correlation, distribution asymmetry, and non-Gaussian (non-normal) output quantities. Many examples will be presented, with 'live' demonstrations. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own problems, for which there will be ample discussion time.

Download sample course programme here

Intended Audience

The course is intended for practitioners who have problems in uncertainty evaluation that are not immediately or conveniently handled by the GUM. It is also intended for those who wish to learn about the recent work to produce supplements to the GUM.

Prior Knowledge

The course is complementary to the UKAS and NMO courses. Attendees would benefit from having previously attended one of those courses or having had experience in the application of the GUM or UKAS M3003 or a comparable document.

Documentation

Attendees will receive hard copies of:

• the latest edition of a best practice guide on uncertainty evaluation
• the latest edition of a report on software specifications for uncertainty evaluation
  and
• the course presentations

Lecturing Team

The course will be given by NPL's Professor Maurice Cox, Dr Peter Harris and Dr Ian Smith. Professor Cox and Dr Harris both lead projects within the MMM (ex-SSfM) programme concerned with the application of good practice in mathematics, statistics and software to measurement science. They have considerable experience of working with NPL's scientists and others on problems concerned with modelling and uncertainty evaluation in a variety of measurement applications. Maurice Cox is a member of BSI, CEN, EA, ISO and JCGM committees concerned with Measurement Uncertainty and related statistical topics. NPL makes a major contribution to the JCGM's development of GUM Supplements through the work of Maurice Cox and Peter Harris.

Further Information

For further information or enquiries about the above course, please contact: Dr Peter Harris
or
E-mail: mmm_events@npl.co.uk

Next scheduled dates:  5-6 September 2012

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 This course has been endorsed by the Institute of Physics (IOP):

• If you are a member of the IOP, you will receive a 10% discount on the course fee
• CPD points will be awarded on this course at a rate of 3 per hour