The NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

Uncertainty of Measurement Results
Return to
Uncertainty
home page

Uncertainty
Topics:
Basic
Evaluating
Combining
Expanded/
coverage
Examples
Background

Constants,
Units &
Uncertainty
home page

Bibliography

Sources

The information on evaluating and expressing measurement uncertainty within this reference is adapted from NIST Technical Note 1297. The publication TN 1297, prepared by B.N. Taylor and C.E. Kuyatt and entitled Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results, is in turn based on the comprehensive internationally-accepted publication, Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, or GUM. Users may access TN 1297 online in a pdf version or in an html version. Users may also download a copy of the GUM at no charge from the web site of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM).

NIST TN 1900 ("Simple Guide for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results") is a succinct guide to evaluating and expressing the uncertainty of NIST measurement results, for NIST scientists, engineers, and also for our external customers, collaborators, and stakeholders. The "Simple Guide" includes a large, varied collection of examples of application. It supplements but does not replace NIST TN 1297 ("NIST Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results"), whose guidance and techniques may continue to be used when they are fit for the purpose and there is no compelling reason to question their applicability.

Background Background information on the development of the GUM, its worldwide adoption, NIST TN 1297, and the NIST policy on expressing measurement uncertainty is given in the section International and U.S. perspectives on measurement uncertainty.

Related information Note also that a companion document to the GUM exists. It is entitled International Vocabulary of Metrology - Basic and General Concepts and Associated Terms (VIM 3rd edition) and gives the definitions of many important terms relevant to the field of measurement. The International Vocabulary of Metrology may also be downloaded at no charge from the web site of the BIPM.


Return to Uncertainty home page