Introduction

This training course is designed to be as a guide establishes general rules for evaluating and expressing uncertainty in measurement that are intended to be applicable to a broad spectrum of measurements. The basis of the Guide is Recommendation 1 (CI-1981) of the Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) and Recommendation INC-1 (1980) of the Working Group on the Statement of Uncertainties. The Working Group was convened by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in response to a request of the CIPM. The ClPM Recommendation is the only recommendation concerning the expression of uncertainty in measurement adopted by an intergovernmental organization.

Course Objectives

• Basics of the uncertainty of measurement theory
• Methods for calculating the extension interval
• Promotion of Monte Carlo decomposition
• Procedure for estimating the uncertainty of measurement
• Examples of evaluation of uncertainty of measurement
• Discussion of the interpretation of Supplements 1 and 2 to the GUM

Course outlines

Day 1

Introduction

• Scope
• Definitions
• General metrological terms
• The term “uncertainty”
• Terms specific to this Guide

Day 2

Basic concepts

• Measurement
• Errors, effects, and corrections
• Uncertainty
• Practical considerations

Day 3

Evaluating standard uncertainty

• Modelling the measurement
• Type A evaluation of standard uncertainty
• Type B evaluation of standard uncertainty
• Graphical illustration of evaluating standard uncertainty

Day 4

Determining combined standard uncertainty

• Uncorrelated input quantities
• Correlated input quantities

Determining expanded uncertainty

• Introduction
• Expanded uncertainty
• Choosing a coverage factor

Day 5

Reporting uncertainty

• General guidance
• Specific guidance
• Examples and class work
• Summary of procedure for evaluating and expressing uncertainty