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Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is a widely used fluid measurement technique. Three dimensional PIV data or stereo PIV is acquired using two cameras. Stereo cameras are calibrated from camera coordinates, pixels, to real world units such as millimeters using calibration models. Stereo calibration is fundamental to the accuracy of a PIV measurement. In this thesis, the accuracy of the stereo calibration is assessed. The mean error of stereo calibration was found to be 0.23%.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand for the degree of Master of Science Johannesburg, 2015 / Quantifying or estimating emission uncertainty for particulate matter from stationary sources in South Africa. The estimation of measurement uncertainty with regards to hazardous air pollution emissions from stationary sources is currently the most uncertain element associated with obtaining relevant, valid stack emission data in South Africa. This project is aimed at developing an appropriate method to evaluate the uncertainty associated with particulate matter measurements conducted for stationary source emissions in the South African context. A series of In-Stack measurements were taken in accordance with recognized international methodology (ISO 9096:1992, and 2003) on two different industrial processes, representing a best and worst case scenario. A comparison between the two scenarios was made in an attempt to establish what components of the sampling technique have the greatest error. The effect of cumulative errors in the sampling train as well as external factors that may influence the results were evaluated and included in the final estimate of uncertainty. Some of the factors used included the sampling location, industrial process and external environmental factors. The overarching goal of this project was to establish an estimate of the cumulative uncertainty on the final emission values obtained, inclusive of both analytical, field sampling and process related variables that may result in a cumulative error associated with quantifying stationary source particulate matter emission values. The results of the study found that the estimated combined expanded uncertainty for both sets of data was calculated to be between 62 – 72%. Upon closer analysis of the data it was ascertained that the data obtained were inadequate and the calculation of the uncertainty of the results both with the compliant and non-compliant sampling campaigns revealed that the variability of the results was too great for both scenarios to make any statistically valid observations or conclusions about the data. In lieu of this, and considering the significant costs, time and labour involved in order to obtain enough data to enable adequate quantification of an uncertainty budget for the results obtained, the author has developed an alternative tool for assessing the quality and reliability of reported emission figures. The author has developed what he has named a sampling suitability matrix, this tool although subjective in nature will add significant value (in the authors opinion) to the interpretation of the quality and reliability of the final emission results reported. The intention of this tool is to be incorporated as supplementary information into all emission reports in future. This will enable the plant operator and regulator to assess the quality of reported data and final emission results, thus assisting in establishing whether the plant is in compliance with their Air Emission License (AEL) requirements or not.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 23-26, 2000 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This presentation summarizes a study characterizing strain gages and pressure transducers used to measure the fluid pressure within aircraft hydraulic lines. A series of laboratory calibrations and finite element analyses was performed to demonstrate the quality of data from both pressure transducers and strain gages under variations in both temperature and external strains on the hydraulic lines. Strain gages showed a marked susceptibility to external strains on hydraulic lines, and wide variations in susceptibility to temperature changes. Pressure transducers were found to be relatively immune to both conditions. It is recommended that strain gages be used for trend data only.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)levels in the luxury automotive industry are used by customers as a subjective method of determining the vehicle quality. This can be achieved by adjusting the vehicle design, where simulations are used to predict the NVH behaviour. Changes can be expensive and time consuming when made after the design stage has been completed, so it is important to produce accurate simulations of the product. Variability exists to some extent in all products, even those just off the production line, however, if a high level of variability exists then only a small portion of products will meet the predicted behaviour. The aim of the project is to provide information that may lead to the reduction of variability in an automotive vehicle. This is achieved by quantifying the statistical spread of FRFs (frequency response function) in a set of nominally identical vehicles. Once overall levels have been calculated, the location of the most variable sources can be identified. Project also seeks to develop new methods of analysis for the system phase response to determine whether further information may be extracted compared to the magnitude response. There are three main themes that run throughout this thesis, with the first being the quantification of variability due to the measurement taking process which is covered in chapter 3. A novel application of a method to separate the measurement variability from the overall system uncertainty was achieved as well as the quantification of the vehicle to- vehicle variability. The second theme that runs through the study concerns the identification of variability sources. This is realised in chapter 4 and chapter 6 as a set of structural and acoustic tests on a luxury sedan door. The trim was found to be held to the door panel by a series of 11 polymer clips and 4 metal screws. The variability of small changes to a significant boundary condition at the door trim was quantified, showing that the removal of rigid clips had a more significant effect on the overall variability that if a loose clip has been removed. It was also found that clips at the corners were the most sensitive to change. The final theme outlines and tests new analysis methods on the phase and compares the statistical spread of the phase with the equivalent spread of the magnitude. Data taken from the same tests was used and for most of the cases the two results were found to be approximately the same.

Esta dissertação aborda a implantação de um guia orientativo de incerteza de medição aplicável aos avaliadores de laboratório da Rede Metrológica RS. A incerteza de medição é um importante tema para organismos de avaliação de laboratórios, como é o caso da Rede Metrológica RS, pois consiste em um dos requisitos básicos para o reconhecimento de competência de laboratórios. Dessa forma, é fundamental garantir que todos os avaliadores possuam um nível de conhecimento adequado sobre incerteza de medição. Assim, o objetivo principal deste trabalho consiste em implantar o referido guia orientativo de incerteza, propiciando melhorias no processo de avaliação da Rede Metrológica RS. Adicionalmente, foi elaborado um fluxograma explicativo dos passos para a expressão da incerteza de medição, assim como listadas componentes de incerteza típicas para áreas de ensaio e calibração e elaborada uma check-list para auxílio aos avaliadores quando da avaliação da incerteza. A implantação do guia orientativo de incerteza dos avaliadores foi realizada segundo as etapas do ciclo de melhoria PDCA. Na etapa plan foram coletados dados que corroboraram para uma necessidade de maior qualificação do grupo de avaliadores com relação à incerteza, sendo a área de ensaios a mais carente. Na etapa do, a minuta do documento foi elaborada de acordo com tópicos previamente definidos com um grupo de especialistas, que envolveu avaliadores experientes e membros da Rede Metrológica RS, assim como especialistas em incerteza do Inmetro. Na etapa check, a minuta do documento passou pela análise crítica do grupo de especialistas consultados e na etapa act foram realizados os ajustes finais e aprovado o documento. Como resultado, foi evidenciada a melhoria do nível de conhecimento dos avaliadores com relação ao tema. Tal fato pôde ser comprovado através da aplicação de provas antes e após o treinamento no novo documento elaborado, mostrando melhoria dos conhecimentos dos avaliadores com relação à incerteza. / This work is concerned with the implantation of a measurement uncertainty guideline applicable to Rede Metrológica RS' assessors. Measurement uncertainty is a quite relevant subject for all laboratory assessment bodies, such as Rede Metrológica RS, because it consists in an elementary requirement for laboratory competence recognition. Thus, it is essential to assure that all assessors have an adequate level of knowledge about measurement uncertainty. Therefore, the main objective of this work consists in the implantation of the referred guideline, yielding improvements on Rede Metrológica RS' assessment process. Additionally, a flow-chart was elaborated to help assessors better understand the procedure to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. A list of common uncertainty sources in calibration and testing fields was prepared, as well as a check-list to help assessors carry out measurement uncertainty assessment. The guideline implementation was carried out following the steps of PDCA improvement cycle. During the step 'plan', some data were collected that corroborated the identified need for better qualification of assessors with respect to measurement uncertainty theory and application. The most deficient field identified was testing assessors. On 'do' step, a guideline draft was prepared in accordance with the topics previously agreed with a group of experts, formed by experienced assessors and Rede Metrológica RS' collaborators, as well as, invited uncertainty experts from Inmetro. On the step 'check', the guideline draft was analyzed by the same group of experts and during the step act, the final adjustments were made and the guideline was formally approved. As a result, an improvement on the assessors' level of knowledge concerning measurement uncertainty was achieved. This was possible to verify by applying assessors' written exams about measurement uncertainty, before and after the training on the new guideline. The exams showed the improvement of the assessors.

Esta dissertação aborda a implantação de um guia orientativo de incerteza de medição aplicável aos avaliadores de laboratório da Rede Metrológica RS. A incerteza de medição é um importante tema para organismos de avaliação de laboratórios, como é o caso da Rede Metrológica RS, pois consiste em um dos requisitos básicos para o reconhecimento de competência de laboratórios. Dessa forma, é fundamental garantir que todos os avaliadores possuam um nível de conhecimento adequado sobre incerteza de medição. Assim, o objetivo principal deste trabalho consiste em implantar o referido guia orientativo de incerteza, propiciando melhorias no processo de avaliação da Rede Metrológica RS. Adicionalmente, foi elaborado um fluxograma explicativo dos passos para a expressão da incerteza de medição, assim como listadas componentes de incerteza típicas para áreas de ensaio e calibração e elaborada uma check-list para auxílio aos avaliadores quando da avaliação da incerteza. A implantação do guia orientativo de incerteza dos avaliadores foi realizada segundo as etapas do ciclo de melhoria PDCA. Na etapa plan foram coletados dados que corroboraram para uma necessidade de maior qualificação do grupo de avaliadores com relação à incerteza, sendo a área de ensaios a mais carente. Na etapa do, a minuta do documento foi elaborada de acordo com tópicos previamente definidos com um grupo de especialistas, que envolveu avaliadores experientes e membros da Rede Metrológica RS, assim como especialistas em incerteza do Inmetro. Na etapa check, a minuta do documento passou pela análise crítica do grupo de especialistas consultados e na etapa act foram realizados os ajustes finais e aprovado o documento. Como resultado, foi evidenciada a melhoria do nível de conhecimento dos avaliadores com relação ao tema. Tal fato pôde ser comprovado através da aplicação de provas antes e após o treinamento no novo documento elaborado, mostrando melhoria dos conhecimentos dos avaliadores com relação à incerteza. / This work is concerned with the implantation of a measurement uncertainty guideline applicable to Rede Metrológica RS' assessors. Measurement uncertainty is a quite relevant subject for all laboratory assessment bodies, such as Rede Metrológica RS, because it consists in an elementary requirement for laboratory competence recognition. Thus, it is essential to assure that all assessors have an adequate level of knowledge about measurement uncertainty. Therefore, the main objective of this work consists in the implantation of the referred guideline, yielding improvements on Rede Metrológica RS' assessment process. Additionally, a flow-chart was elaborated to help assessors better understand the procedure to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. A list of common uncertainty sources in calibration and testing fields was prepared, as well as a check-list to help assessors carry out measurement uncertainty assessment. The guideline implementation was carried out following the steps of PDCA improvement cycle. During the step 'plan', some data were collected that corroborated the identified need for better qualification of assessors with respect to measurement uncertainty theory and application. The most deficient field identified was testing assessors. On 'do' step, a guideline draft was prepared in accordance with the topics previously agreed with a group of experts, formed by experienced assessors and Rede Metrológica RS' collaborators, as well as, invited uncertainty experts from Inmetro. On the step 'check', the guideline draft was analyzed by the same group of experts and during the step act, the final adjustments were made and the guideline was formally approved. As a result, an improvement on the assessors' level of knowledge concerning measurement uncertainty was achieved. This was possible to verify by applying assessors' written exams about measurement uncertainty, before and after the training on the new guideline. The exams showed the improvement of the assessors.

Esta dissertação aborda a implantação de um guia orientativo de incerteza de medição aplicável aos avaliadores de laboratório da Rede Metrológica RS. A incerteza de medição é um importante tema para organismos de avaliação de laboratórios, como é o caso da Rede Metrológica RS, pois consiste em um dos requisitos básicos para o reconhecimento de competência de laboratórios. Dessa forma, é fundamental garantir que todos os avaliadores possuam um nível de conhecimento adequado sobre incerteza de medição. Assim, o objetivo principal deste trabalho consiste em implantar o referido guia orientativo de incerteza, propiciando melhorias no processo de avaliação da Rede Metrológica RS. Adicionalmente, foi elaborado um fluxograma explicativo dos passos para a expressão da incerteza de medição, assim como listadas componentes de incerteza típicas para áreas de ensaio e calibração e elaborada uma check-list para auxílio aos avaliadores quando da avaliação da incerteza. A implantação do guia orientativo de incerteza dos avaliadores foi realizada segundo as etapas do ciclo de melhoria PDCA. Na etapa plan foram coletados dados que corroboraram para uma necessidade de maior qualificação do grupo de avaliadores com relação à incerteza, sendo a área de ensaios a mais carente. Na etapa do, a minuta do documento foi elaborada de acordo com tópicos previamente definidos com um grupo de especialistas, que envolveu avaliadores experientes e membros da Rede Metrológica RS, assim como especialistas em incerteza do Inmetro. Na etapa check, a minuta do documento passou pela análise crítica do grupo de especialistas consultados e na etapa act foram realizados os ajustes finais e aprovado o documento. Como resultado, foi evidenciada a melhoria do nível de conhecimento dos avaliadores com relação ao tema. Tal fato pôde ser comprovado através da aplicação de provas antes e após o treinamento no novo documento elaborado, mostrando melhoria dos conhecimentos dos avaliadores com relação à incerteza. / This work is concerned with the implantation of a measurement uncertainty guideline applicable to Rede Metrológica RS' assessors. Measurement uncertainty is a quite relevant subject for all laboratory assessment bodies, such as Rede Metrológica RS, because it consists in an elementary requirement for laboratory competence recognition. Thus, it is essential to assure that all assessors have an adequate level of knowledge about measurement uncertainty. Therefore, the main objective of this work consists in the implantation of the referred guideline, yielding improvements on Rede Metrológica RS' assessment process. Additionally, a flow-chart was elaborated to help assessors better understand the procedure to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. A list of common uncertainty sources in calibration and testing fields was prepared, as well as a check-list to help assessors carry out measurement uncertainty assessment. The guideline implementation was carried out following the steps of PDCA improvement cycle. During the step 'plan', some data were collected that corroborated the identified need for better qualification of assessors with respect to measurement uncertainty theory and application. The most deficient field identified was testing assessors. On 'do' step, a guideline draft was prepared in accordance with the topics previously agreed with a group of experts, formed by experienced assessors and Rede Metrológica RS' collaborators, as well as, invited uncertainty experts from Inmetro. On the step 'check', the guideline draft was analyzed by the same group of experts and during the step act, the final adjustments were made and the guideline was formally approved. As a result, an improvement on the assessors' level of knowledge concerning measurement uncertainty was achieved. This was possible to verify by applying assessors' written exams about measurement uncertainty, before and after the training on the new guideline. The exams showed the improvement of the assessors.

Abstract Despite tightened environmental legislation, spillages of petroleum products remain a serious problem worldwide. The environmental impacts of these spillages are always severe and reliable methods for the identification and quantitative determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in environmental samples are therefore needed. Great improvements in the definition and analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were finally introduced by international organizations for standardization in 2004. This brought some coherence to the determination and, nowadays, most laboratories seem to employ ISO/DIS 16703:2004, ISO 9377-2:2000 and CEN prEN 14039:2004:E draft international standards for analysing TPH in soil. The implementation of these methods, however, usually fails because the reliability of petroleum hydrocarbon determination has proved to be poor. This thesis describes the assessment of measurement uncertainty for TPH determination in soil. Chemometric methods were used to both estimate the main uncertainty sources and identify the most significant factors affecting these uncertainty sources. The method used for the determinations was based on gas chromatography utilizing flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Chemometric methodology applied in estimating measurement uncertainty for TPH determination showed that the measurement uncertainty is in actual fact dominated by the analytical uncertainty. Within the specific concentration range studied, the analytical uncertainty accounted for as much as 68–80% of the measurement uncertainty. The robustness of the analytical method used for petroleum hydrocarbon determination was then studied in more detail. A two-level Plackett-Burman design and a D-optimal design were utilized to assess the main analytical uncertainty sources of the sample treatment and GC determination procedures. It was also found that the matrix-induced systematic error may also significantly reduce the reliability of petroleum hydrocarbon determination. The results showed that strict implementation of the ISO and CEN draft standards is necessary owing to the method dependence of the analyzed parameter. Care should be taken to ensure that the methods used for petroleum hydrocarbon determination are comprehensively validated, and that routine quality control is carried out in order to ensure that the validation conclusions are applicable in the daily work.

A globular cluster is a collection of stars that orbits the center of its galaxy as a single satellite. Understanding what influences the formations of these clusters provides understanding of galaxy structure and insight into their early development. We continue the work of Harris et al. (2013), who identified a set of predictors that accurately determined the number of clusters Ngc, through analysis of an incomplete dataset. We aimed to improve upon these results through imputation of the missing data. A small amount of precision was gained for the slope of Ngc~ R_e*sigma_ e, while the intercept suffered a small loss of precision. Estimates of intrinsic variance also increased with the addition of imputed data. We also found galaxy morphological type to be a significant predictor of Ngc in a model with R_e*sigma_ e. Although it increased precision of the slope and reduced the residual variance, its overall contribution was negligible. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)