5446: Basic Uncertainty Concepts

This 2 hour webinar provides a very basic introduction to uncertainty calculations and reporting using the 8-step process published in NIST SOP 29 (NISTIR 6969), beginning with some definitions and concepts from the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) with simple calculations.
NOTE: The content is similar to what is covered in the Fundamentals of Metrology seminar and is a useful pre-cursor or review for content covered during the course and will include calculations and a short application quiz. The session will end with an optional 30 minute session for Questions and Answers.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, using SOP 29, and course notes, participants will be able to:

• DEFINE: standard uncertainty, expanded uncertainty, coverage factor, Type A methods, Type B methods;
•  DESCRIBE the importance of knowing and evaluating measurement uncertainty; ;
• Be able to: SPECIFY, IDENTIFY, QUANTIFY, CONVERT, COMBINE, EXPAND, EVALUATE, and REPORT uncertainties for a simple scenario;
• EXPLAIN the concepts of uncertainty and its relationship to metrological traceability;
• IDENTIFY documentation requirements for uncertainty calculations within a calibration laboratory; and
• IMPLEMENT an uncertainty budget based on concepts presented in NISTIR 6969, SOP 29 and the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.

Materials & Supplies:

None

Prerequisite(s):

There are no prerequisites for this webinar. Knowledge of basic mathematics and statistics is expected.

Pre-Work:

Read NISTIR 6969, SOP 29.

Pre-Work Deadline:

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Post-Work:

Submit Student Notes (Highlights, Applications, and Application Quiz).

Post-Work Deadline:

Thursday, March 02, 2017

Minimum Requirement(s):

Successful Completion includes pre-work, full attendance, full participation in the session activities, discussions, calculations and submission of Student Notes with correct answers on the Application Quiz.

Audience:

Laboratory metrology staff who are new to uncertainty calculations or who would like to review the 8-step process of SOP 29. The session would also be useful for metrology staff who will be conducting on-the-job-training for new staff members.

Successful Completion

Successful Completion includes pre-work, 100 % attendance, participation in the session activities, discussions, calculations and submission of Student Notes with correct answers on the Application Quiz.

Cost:

The current fee for webinars is $199 and confirmed participants will be provided a web link to make a payment. The due date for payment is February 13, 2017. Registration fees for State weights and measures metrologists are funded by NIST OWM.

Instructor(s):

Georgia L. Harris
Office of Weights and Measures,
(301) 975 - 4014
Email: g.harris [at] nist.gov (g[dot]harris[at]nist[dot]gov)

Technology Requirement(s):

Students will need a 10-digit calculator or Excel available (on a separate screen or computer) during the session for hands-on calculations.

The webinar will be a live stream, so participants must have a constant connection during the webinar.

1. Operating System (browser) configurations:

• Windows XP (Explorer 8, 9, 10, 11; Mozilla Firefox; Google Chrome)
• Windows Vista (Internet Explorer or Firefox)
• Windows 7 or 8 (Mozilla Firefox; Google Chrome)
• Apple Mac OS 10.5x (Mozilla Firefox; Apple Safari; Google Chrome)
• Ubuntu Linux (Firefox only)

• Media players

• In order to access the event, you must have, at a minimum, Adobe® Flash® Player 11.2+ installed on your computer. Please visit http://get2.adobe.com/flashplayer/ to download the Flash Player.

• Optional: If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
  Test your connection: http://nist.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
  Quick start guides:
  http://www.connectusers.com/learning_center/getting_started/quickstart.php