Novel mathematical and statistical approaches to uncertainty evaluation
Short Name: Uncertainty, Project Number: NEW04
New approaches to complex risk assessment measurements
Measurement uncertainties are important in many applications, from ensuring precisely engineered components fit together to confirming batches of sensors meet specifications. Accurately determining the uncertainty or ‘doubt’ for a measured value is key to having confidence that a product meets specifications or safety criteria. New mathematical methods and statistical techniques are required to reliably extend uncertainty determination into complex areas such as risk assessments for safety or for determining smart meter testing strategies to ensure reliability.
The EMRP project Novel mathematical & statistical approaches to uncertainty evaluation (Uncertainty) developed new approaches for determining uncertainties in situations where complex simulations are combined The project also developed smart sampling techniques to reduce extensive computational times without compromising accuracy.
The Project:
- Developed statistical methods for using probability to back calculate measurement results and the associated uncertainties. These were applied to the highly accurate Digital PCR technique used for counting the quantity of specific DNA sequences in biological samples.
- Developed smart sampling methods and computer models to more rapidly determine a reliable result for computationally expensive calculations based on careful selection of input parameters and reducing the number of model iterations required.
- Extended existing approaches on measurement uncertainty to conformity assessment and decision making to link the determination of calibration frequency to risk assessment criteria as informing decision making.
The project developed new approaches to uncertainty determination and increased the number of worked examples available so that these methods could be applied to similar situations by scientists and engineers. The worked examples will be included in future revisions of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), and its supplements. The project’s best practice guidance provides examples for some frequently encountered situations where models are used to determine measurement parameters. Fluid flow calibrations for installed flow meters and biochemistry immunoassays where very small concentrations of hormones or drugs require accurate detection are two examples which now have improved uncertainty determination methods. Other areas with worked uncertainty examples based on probability include computationally expensive processes such as fire engineering safety, and conformity testing using risk assessments important for large batch production processes like the roll out of smart energy meters across the EU.
EMPIR projects 15SIP05 TBCUnc and 17SIP05 CASoft build on this work.
OIML BULLETIN
Measurement
XXI IMEKO World Congress ”Measurement in Research and Industry”
Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems Series S
Proc. SPIE 9526, Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology V, 95260U (June 21, 2015)
Metrologia
Measurement
International Journal for Uncertainty Quantification
International Journal of Computational Fluid Dynamics
Measurement Science and Technology
Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Measurement Science and Technology
Proc. SPIE 8789, Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology IV, 87890T (May 13, 2013); doi:10.1117/12.2020677
16th International Congress of Metrology
16th International Congress of Metrology