Uncertainty analysis software comparison

Products Software UncertaintyAnalyzer 2.0 Software Comparison Type B Estimates

Type B Uncertainty Estimates

In some cases, we must attempt to quantify the statistics of measurement error distributions by drawing on our recollected experience concerning the values of measured quantities or on our knowledge of the errors in these quantities. Estimates made in this manner are called heuristic or Type B estimates.

In making Type B estimates, we begin with containment limits and a containment probability, estimate the degrees of freedom, and use these quantities to estimate the standard deviation or uncertainty of the distribution of interest.

A ü in the cell indicates that the particular capability or feature is available. Alternatively, a blank cell indicates that the capability or feature is not available. Comments and footnotes are included to clarify significant differences between software applications or to provide necessary details.

Features and Capabilities	Uncertainty Calculator 3.2	Uncertainty Sidekick 1.0	Assistant 2.2	Uncertainty Sidekick Pro 1.0	Uncertainty Toolbox 2.7	Uncertainty Analyzer 3.0	GUM Workbench 1.3
Analysis Options for Estimating Type B Uncertainty	Enter Standard Uncertainty for Selected Distribution	Enter Standard Uncertainty for Normal Distribution	Enter Standard Uncertainty for Student's t Distribution	Enter Standard Uncertainty for Selected Distribution		Enter Standard Uncertainty for Selected Distribution	Enter Standard Uncertainty for Student's t Distribution
	Enter Expanded Uncertainty & Coverage Factor for Selected Distribution	Enter Containment Limits¹ & Coverage Factor for Normal Distribution	Enter Expanded Uncertainty & Coverage Factor for Normal Distribution	Enter Containment Limits & Coverage Factor for Selected Distribution	Enter Expanded Uncertainty & Coverage Factor for Normal Distribution	Enter Containment Limits & Coverage Factor for Selected Distribution	Enter Expanded Uncertainty & Coverage Factor for Normal Distribution
	Enter Expanded Uncertainty & Confidence Level for Selected Distribution	Enter Containment Limits & In-Tolerance Probability for Normal or Uniform Dist.	Enter Bounding Limits for Other Distributions	Enter Containment Limits & Confidence Level for Selected Distribution	Enter Uncertainty Limits for Other Distributions	Enter Containment Limits & Confidence Level for Selected Distribution	Enter Bounding Limits for Other Distributions
Advanced Screens for Type B Estimates²		ü		ü		ü
Symmetric & Asymmetric Two-sided Tolerance or Error Limits		ü	ü	ü		ü
One-sided Tolerance or Error Limits		ü	ü	ü		ü
Compute Tolerance Limits from Linear or RSS Combination of Instrument Specifications		ü		ü	ü	ü
Compute Tolerance Limits from Complex Instrument Specifications³						ü
Degrees of Freedom Estimation		See Footnote⁴	See Footnote⁵	See Footnote⁴	See Footnote⁵	See Footnote⁴

1 Containment limits refer to expanded uncertainty, tolerance limits, or other error limits.

2 Specialized drill-down screens for estimating uncertainties due to resolution error, operator bias, environmental factors error, etc.

3 Built-in SpecMaster tool for computing tolerance limits from complex specifications using VB Script programming language.

4 Built-in Type B Degrees of Freedom Calculator that provides user-friendly, yet rigorous approach to simultaneously estimating uncertainty and degrees of freedom.

5 Simple calculation that requires user to enter "relative" uncertainty in the uncertainty.

Integrated Sciences Group
14608 Casitas Canyon Road • Bakersfield, CA 93306
1-800-400-7866 • FAX 1-661-872-3669 • Tech Support 1-661-872-1683

Page Updated March 23, 2008