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Measurement uncertainty

Working Group 8.42
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Overview

Comparison of measurement results, reliable decision-making and conformity assessment require the evaluation of uncertainties associated with measurement results. The ability to compare measurements made in different places and at different times underpins international metrology. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (Opens external link in new windowGUM) provides guidance for the evaluation of uncertainties, and it has been applied successfully in many applications throughout metrology.

 

Illustration of Monte Carlo method according to Opens external link in new windowSupplement 1 to the GUM.

In recent years metrology has expanded to support new fields to address societal challenges relating to energy and sustainability, climate and environmental monitoring, life sciences and health, using measurement modalities such as imaging, spectroscopy, earth observation and sensor networks. Reliable uncertainty evaluation is particularly important in these applications, e.g. to safeguard the diagnosis of a tumor in quantitative imaging or to reliably monitor air pollution. The GUM does not adequately address the challenges arising in these applications, and the development of statistical procedures for improved uncertainty evaluation is an urgent need.

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Research

The focus of PTB’s Working Group 8.42 is on the development of Bayesian methods for the evaluation of uncertainties. The development is carried out within the context of different research areas of data analysis such as large-scale data analysis or deep learning. Bayesian inference procedures suitable for the extension of the current GUM methodology are also part of the current research in PTB’s Working Group 8.42. Examples include simple means to assign distributions representing the available prior knowledge, or procedures for the numerical calculation of results. Open source software support is provided to ease the application of the research results.

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Software

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Publications

K. Klauenberg, J. Greenwood and G. Foyer
Metrologia, 60(5),
054004,
2023.
S. Brahma, C. Kolbitsch, J. Martin, T. Schäffter and A. Kofler
Medical Physics,
2023.
M. Marschall, G. Wübbeler, M. Borys and C. Elster
Metrologia,
2023.
G. Kok, v. M. Dijk, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Metrologia,
2023.
G. Kok, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Metrology, 2
311--319,
2022.
M. Marschall, S. Sievers, H. W. Schumacher and C. Elster
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics,
1--1,
2022.
M. Marschall, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Metrologia, 59(1),
015004,
2022.
M. Gruber, T. Dorst, A. Schütze, S. Eichstädt and C. Elster
Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology and Testing XII, Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences, 90
2022.
S. Metzner
PhD Thesis
2021.
J. Martin and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 32(7),
5005,
2021.
S. Metzner, G. Wübbeler, S. Flassbeck, C. Gatefait, C. Kolbitsch and C. Elster
Physics in Medicine & Biology, 66(7),
075006,
2021.
G. Wübbeler, M. Marschall and C. Elster
Metrologia, 57(6),
065010,
2020.
J. Martin and C. Elster
Statistical Methods & Applications,
1613-981X,
2020.
S. Demeyer, N. Fischer and C. Elster
Metrologia,
2020.
G. Bartl, C. Elster, J. Martin, R. Schödel, M. Voigt and A. Walkov
Measurement Science and Technology, 31(6),
2020.
G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Metrologia, 57(1),
2020.
K. Klauenberg, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Measurement Science Review, 19(5),
204--208,
2019.
S. Metzner, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
AStA Adv Stat Anal, 103(3),
333--355,
2019.
J. Martin, G. Bartl and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 30
045012,
2019.
O. Bodnar and C. Elster
AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis, 102(1),
1--20,
2018.
G. Wübbeler, O. Bodnar and C. Elster
Metrologia, 55(1),
20,
2018.
F. Schmähling, G. Wübbeler, U. Krüger, B. Ruggaber, F. Schmidt, R. D. Taubert, A. Sperling and C. Elster
Color, Research and Application, 43(1),
6--16,
2017.
M. Reginatto, M. Anton and C. Elster
Metrologia, 54(4),
S74--S82,
2017.
S. Eichstädt and V. Wilkens
J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 141(6),
4155--4167,
2017.
O. Bodnar, R. Behrens and C. Elster
Metrologia, 54(3),
S29--S33,
2017.
S. Eichstädt, C. Elster, I. M. Smith and T. J. Esward
J. Sens. Sens. Syst., 6
97-105,
2017.
O. Bodnar, A. Link, B. Arendacká, A. Possolo and C. Elster
Statistics in Medicine, 39(2),
378--399,
2017.
K. Klauenberg and C. Elster
Metrologia, 54(1),
59--68,
2017.
G. Wübbeler, J. Campos Acosta and C. Elster
Color Research & Application,
2016.
O. Bodnar, C. Elster, J. Fischer, A. Possolo and B. Toman
Metrologia, 53(1),
S46,
2016.
K. Klauenberg and C. Elster
Metrologia, 53(1),
S32,
2016.
C. Elster and G. Wübbeler
Metrologia, 53(1),
S10,
2016.
O. Bodnar, A. Link and C. Elster
Bayesian Analysis, 11(1),
25-45,
2016.
(Open Access)
K. Klauenberg, G. Wübbeler, B. Mickan, P. Harris and C. Elster
Metrologia, 52(6),
878--892,
2015.
C. Elster, K. Klauenberg, M. Walzel, P. M. Harris, M. G. Cox, C. Matthews, L. Wright, A. Allard, N. Fischer, S. Ellison, P. Wilson, F. Pennecchi, G. J. P. Kok, A. Van der Veen and L. Pendrill
EMRP NEW04,
2015.
G. Wübbeler, O. Bodnar, B. Mickan and C. Elster
Metrologia, 52(2),
400--405,
2015.
G. J. P. Kok, A. M. H. van der Veen, P. M. Harris, I. M. Smith and C. Elster
Metrologia, 52(2),
392-399,
2015.
A. Possolo and C. Elster
Metrologia, 51(3),
339--353,
2014.
O. Bodnar and C. Elster
Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 147
106--116,
2014.
O. Bodnar and C. Elster
Metrologia, 51(5),
516--521,
2014.
B. Arendacká, A. Täubner, S. Eichstädt, T. Bruns and C. Elster
Measurement Science Review, 14(2),
52-61,
2014.
S. J. Haslett, S. Puntanen and B. Arendacká
Statistical Papers, 56(3),
849--861,
2014.
C. Elster
Metrologia, 51(4),
S159--S166,
2014.
G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 24(11),
115004,
2013.
S. Eichstädt, A. Link, P. M. Harris and C. Elster
Metrologia, 49(3),
401,
2012.
K. Klauenberg and C. Elster
Metrologia, 49(3),
395--400,
2012.
G. Wübbeler, F. Schmähling, J. Beyer, J. Engert and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 23(12),
125004,
2012.
W. Bich, M. G. Cox, R. Dybkaer, C. Elster, W. T. Estler, B. Hibbert, H. Imai, W. Kool, C. Michotte, L. Nielsen, L. Pendrill, S. Sidney, A. M. H. van der Veen and W. Wöger
Metrologia, 49(6),
702--705,
2012.
C. Elster and I. Lira
Computational Statistics, 27(2),
219--235,
2012.
G. Wübbeler, P. M. Harris, M. G. Cox and C. Elster
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.M. Limares, C. Perruchet, N.F. Zhang, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology IX of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 54, page 434
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
84 edition
2012.
S. Eichstädt and C. Elster
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.-R. Filtz, A. B. Forbes, L. Pendrill, K. Shirono, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology and Testing IX  of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 16, page 126-135
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
84 edition
2012.
T. J. Esward, C. Matthews, S. Downes, A. Knott, S. Eichstädt and C. Elster
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.-R. Filtz, A. B. Forbes, L. Pendrill, K. Shirono, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology and Testing IX   of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 19, page 143-151
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
84 edition
2012.
O. Bodnar, G. Wübbeler and C. Elster
Metrologia, 48(5),
333--342,
2011.
C. Elster and B. Toman
Metrologia, 48(5),
233--240,
2011.
G. Wübbeler, P. M. Harris, M. G. Cox and C. Elster
Metrologia, 47(3),
317--324,
2010.
S. Eichstädt, A. Link, T. Bruns and C. Elster
Measurement, 43(5),
708-713,
2010.
A. Link and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 20(5),
055104,
2009.
C. Elster and B. Toman
Metrologia, 46(3),
261--266,
2009.
I. Lira, C. Elster, W. Wöger and M. G. Cox
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.M. Limares, C. Perruchet, N.F. Zhang, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology VIII of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 31, page 213
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
78 edition
2009.
G. Wübbeler, A. Link, T. Bruns and C. Elster
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.M. Limares, C. Perruchet, N.F. Zhang, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology VIII of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 52, page 369-374
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
78 edition
2009.
C. Elster and A. Link
In F. Pavese, M. Bär, J.M. Limares, C. Perruchet, N.F. Zhang, editor, Volume Advanced Mathematical & Computational Tools in Metrology VIII of Series on Advances in Mathematics for Applied Sciences
Chapter 13, page 80-89
Publisher: World Scientific New Jersey,
78 edition
2009.
G. Wübbeler, M. Krystek and C. Elster
Measurement Science and Technology, 19(8),
084009,
2008.
C. Elster and A. Link
Metrologia, 45(4),
464-473,
2008.
I. Lira, C. Elster and W. Wöger
Metrologia, 44(5),
379--384,
2007.
C. Elster, W. Wöger and M. G. Cox
Metrologia, 44(3),
L31--L32,
2007.
C. Elster, A. Link and T. Bruns
Measurement Science and Technology, 18(12),
3682-3687,
2007.
C. Elster
Metrologia, 44(2),
111--116,
2007.
C. Elster, F. Schubert, A. Link, M. Walzel, F. Seifert and H. Rinneberg
Magnetic resonance in medicine, 53(6),
1288--96,
2005.
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