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COMPENDIUM INCLINATION MEASUREMENT
WYLER AG, WINTERTHUR / SWITZERLAND

1.13 MEASURING UNCERTAINTY

In order to perform a valid measurement, a number of conditions must be fulfilled.

A precision measurement is usually dependent on the influence of a number of different factors, such as:
• Temperature of the object and ambient temperature
• Temperature of the measuring instrument
• Linearity of the measuring instrument
• Vibrations
• Dirt, dust, and humidity
These influencing factors are generally termed measuring uncertainty.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF MEASURING UNCERTAINTY?
Measurements can never deliver an exact figure. In every measurement there is a large amount of in-
sufficient and imperfect information included. Some of these imperfections have their cause in a random
effect, such as a short-term change of temperature or other climate influence. Also errors on the part of
the person taking a measurement can be the cause of insufficient data.
The source of other insufficiencies can also be a systematic error which can not be defined exactly. Such
elements include: the zero point deviation of the instrument, the characteristic change of the date of a
master between two calibrations (drift) or the uncertainty which is defined for a certain material in a certi-
ficate or a manual at the moment of use.
Measuring uncertainty is an important byproduct of every measurement. This value is particularly im-
portant when the measurement is close to the required data limit. The publication of a measured value
including the measuring uncertainty is common practice in the field of calibration. However, a number of
laboratories common practice in the field of calibration in the proper allocation of this information. It will
certainly be common practice to include in every measured value of importance the respective value of
measuring uncertainty.

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