Q&A with ISA author Ronald H. Dieck: Measurement Uncertainty\, Fifth Edition

ISA recently published the fifth edition of Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications  by Ronald H. Dieck. In this Q&A feature, Dieck highlights the importance of the book's new and enhanced content.

Ronald H. Dieck

Note: A working version of an uncertainty analysis template is available for download at the bottom of the page.

 

Q. What prompted you to publish an updated edition of your popular book?

A. The technology of measurement uncertainty analysis has improved over the past several years and these improved methods needed to be included in a new edition. The new book also includes several worked-out uncertainty experiments as well as several new appendices dealing with the specifics of equations and uncertainty analysis methods. 

Q. Your book is now in its fifth edition. Why do you think the subject matter of this book continues to be relevant and important as a reference resource??

A. Uncertainty analysis and methods are continuously improving. There's still a need for a well-organized and presented book for properly analyzing the uncertainty of test and experimental data.

Q. What makes this fifth edition different or more valuable than the fourth edition? What new content has been introduced and what areas have been improved?

A. The fifth edition features new appendices and more detailed examples with each uncertainty analysis and computation clearly described. The new appendices include condensed descriptions of the basics of uncertainty analysis, pinpoint the advantages and disadvantages of several uncertainty models used throughout the world, and provide key equations for uncertainty analysis-all in an easy-to-use format.

The updated book also incorporates:

• A discussion of new uncertainty technologies in US and international standards, and their strengths and weaknesses
• A discussion of the rationale for selecting a given uncertainty model, ISO or ASME
• An abbreviated approach to uncertainty estimation
• A more complete overview of the important equations in uncertainty analysis

 

New and enhanced content has been introduced on the following topics:

• The basics of the measurement uncertainty model
• Nonsymmetrical, systematic standard uncertainties
• Random standard uncertainties; the use of correlation
• Curve-fitting problems
• Probability plotting
• Combining results from different test methods
• Calibration errors
• Uncertainty propagation for both independent and dependent error sources

 

---

 

Obtain your copy of Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications, Fifth Edition
To get your copy of this informative reference manual, order it today on the ISA website.