Semyon G. Rabinovich – författare

The major objective of this book is to give methods for estimating errors and uncertainties of real measurements: measurements that are performed in industry, commerce, and experimental research. This book is needed because the existing theory of measurement errors was historically developed as an abstract mathematical discipline. As a result, this theory allows estimation of uncertainties of some ideal measurements only and is not applicable to most practical cases. In particular, it is not applicable to single measurements. This situation did not bother mathematicians, whereas engineers, not being bold enough to assert that the mathematical theory of errors cannot satisfy their needs, solved their particular problems in one or another ad hoc manner. Actually, any measurement of a physical quantity is not abstract, but it involves an entirely concrete procedure that is always implemented with concrete te- nical devices—measuring instruments—under concrete conditions. Therefore, to obtain realistic estimates of measurement uncertainties, mathematical methods must be supplemented with methods that make it possible to take into account data on properties of measuring instruments, the conditions under which measu- ments are performed, the measurement procedure, and other features of measu- ments. The importance of the methods of estimating measurement inaccuracies for practice can scarcely be exaggerated. Indeed, in another stage of planning a m- surement or using a measurement result, one must know its error limits or unc- tainty. Inaccuracy of a measurement determines its quality and is related to its cost.

The major objective of this book is to give methods for estimating errors and uncertainties of real measurements: measurements that are performed in industry, commerce, and experimental research. This book is needed because the existing theory of measurement errors was historically developed as an abstract mathematical discipline. As a result, this theory allows estimation of uncertainties of some ideal measurements only and is not applicable to most practical cases. In particular, it is not applicable to single measurements. This situation did not bother mathematicians, whereas engineers, not being bold enough to assert that the mathematical theory of errors cannot satisfy their needs, solved their particular problems in one or another ad hoc manner. Actually, any measurement of a physical quantity is not abstract, but it involves an entirely concrete procedure that is always implemented with concrete te- nical devices—measuring instruments—under concrete conditions. Therefore, to obtain realistic estimates of measurement uncertainties, mathematical methods must be supplemented with methods that make it possible to take into account data on properties of measuring instruments, the conditions under which measu- ments are performed, the measurement procedure, and other features of measu- ments. The importance of the methods of estimating measurement inaccuracies for practice can scarcely be exaggerated. Indeed, in another stage of planning a m- surement or using a measurement result, one must know its error limits or unc- tainty. Inaccuracy of a measurement determines its quality and is related to its cost.

The major objective of this book is to give methods for estimating errors and uncertainties of real measurements: measurements that are performed in industry, commerce, and experimental research. This book is needed because the existing theory of measurement errors was historically developed as an abstract mathematical discipline. As a result, this theory allows estimation of uncertainties of some ideal measurements only and is not applicable to most practical cases. In particular, it is not applicable to single measurements. This situation did not bother mathematicians, whereas engineers, not being bold enough to assert that the mathematical theory of errors cannot satisfy their needs, solved their particular problems in one or another ad hoc manner. Actually, any measurement of a physical quantity is not abstract, but it involves an entirely concrete procedure that is always implemented with concrete te- nical devices—measuring instruments—under concrete conditions. Therefore, to obtain realistic estimates of measurement uncertainties, mathematical methods must be supplemented with methods that make it possible to take into account data on properties of measuring instruments, the conditions under which measu- ments are performed, the measurement procedure, and other features of measu- ments. The importance of the methods of estimating measurement inaccuracies for practice can scarcely be exaggerated. Indeed, in another stage of planning a m- surement or using a measurement result, one must know its error limits or unc- tainty. Inaccuracy of a measurement determines its quality and is related to its cost.

“Evaluating Measurement Accuracy, 2nd Edition” is intended for those who are concerned with measurements in any field of science or technology. It reflects the latest developments in metrology and offers new results, but is designed to be accessible to readers at different levels: scientists who advance the field of metrology, engineers and experimental scientists who use measurements as tool in their professions, students and graduate students in natural sciences and engineering, and, in parts describing practical recommendations, technicians performing mass measurements in industry, quality control, and trade. This book presents material from the practical perspective and offers solutions and recommendations for problems that arise in conducting real-life measurements. This new edition adds a method for estimating accuracy of indirect measurements with independent arguments, whose development Dr. Rabinovich was able to complete very recently. This method, which is called the Method of Enumeration, produces estimates that are no longer approximate, similar to the way the method of reduction described in the first edition removed approximation in estimating uncertainty of indirect measurements with dependent arguments. The method of enumeration completes addressing the range of problems whose solutions signify the emergence of the new theory of accuracy of measurements. A new method is added for building a composition of histograms, and this method forms a theoreticalbasis for the method of enumeration.Additionally, as a companion to this book, a concise practical guide that assembles simple step-by-step procedures for typical tasks the practitioners are likely to encounter in measurement accuracy estimation is available at SpringerLink.

“Evaluating Measurement Accuracy, 2nd Edition” is intended for those who are concerned with measurements in any field of science or technology. It reflects the latest developments in metrology and offers new results, but is designed to be accessible to readers at different levels: scientists who advance the field of metrology, engineers and experimental scientists who use measurements as tool in their professions, students and graduate students in natural sciences and engineering, and, in parts describing practical recommendations, technicians performing mass measurements in industry, quality control, and trade. This book presents material from the practical perspective and offers solutions and recommendations for problems that arise in conducting real-life measurements. This new edition adds a method for estimating accuracy of indirect measurements with independent arguments, whose development Dr. Rabinovich was able to complete very recently. This method, which is called the Method of Enumeration, produces estimates that are no longer approximate, similar to the way the method of reduction described in the first edition removed approximation in estimating uncertainty of indirect measurements with dependent arguments. The method of enumeration completes addressing the range of problems whose solutions signify the emergence of the new theory of accuracy of measurements. A new method is added for building a composition of histograms, and this method forms a theoreticalbasis for the method of enumeration.Additionally, as a companion to this book, a concise practical guide that assembles simple step-by-step procedures for typical tasks the practitioners are likely to encounter in measurement accuracy estimation is available at SpringerLink.

This book presents a systematic and comprehensive exposition of the theory of measurement accuracy and provides solutions that fill significant and long-standing gaps in the classical theory. It eliminates the shortcomings of the classical theory by including methods for estimating accuracy of single measurements, the most common type of measurement. The book also develops methods of reduction and enumeration for indirect measurements, which do not require Taylor series and produce a precise solution to this problem. It produces grounded methods and recommendations for summation of errors. The monograph also analyzes and critiques two foundation metrological documents, the International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM) and the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), and discusses directions for their revision.This new edition adds a step-by-step guide on how to evaluate measurement accuracy and recommendations on how to calculate systematic error of multiple measurements. There is also an extended section on the method of reduction, which provides an alternative to the least-square method and the method of enumeration. Many sections are also rewritten to improve the structure and usability of the material. The 3rd edition reflects the latest developments in metrology and offers new results, and it is designed to be accessible to readers at various levels and positions, including scientists, engineers, and undergraduate and graduate students. By presenting material from a practical perspective and offering solutions and recommendations for problems that arise in conducting real-life measurements, author Semyon Rabinovich offers an invaluable resource for scientists in any field.

This book presents a systematic and comprehensive exposition of the theory of measurement accuracy and provides solutions that fill significant and long-standing gaps in the classical theory. It eliminates the shortcomings of the classical theory by including methods for estimating accuracy of single measurements, the most common type of measurement. The book also develops methods of reduction and enumeration for indirect measurements, which do not require Taylor series and produce a precise solution to this problem. It produces grounded methods and recommendations for summation of errors. The monograph also analyzes and critiques two foundation metrological documents, the International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM) and the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), and discusses directions for their revision.This new edition adds a step-by-step guide on how to evaluate measurement accuracy and recommendations on how to calculate systematic error of multiple measurements. There is also an extended section on the method of reduction, which provides an alternative to the least-square method and the method of enumeration. Many sections are also rewritten to improve the structure and usability of the material. The 3rd edition reflects the latest developments in metrology and offers new results, and it is designed to be accessible to readers at various levels and positions, including scientists, engineers, and undergraduate and graduate students. By presenting material from a practical perspective and offering solutions and recommendations for problems that arise in conducting real-life measurements, author Semyon Rabinovich offers an invaluable resource for scientists in any field.