際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo
Theory of Errors in
Observations
Errors in Measurement
 No Measurement is Exact
 Every Measurement Contains Errors
 The True Value of a Measurement is
Never Known
 The Exact Error Present is Always
Unknown
Mistakes or Blunders
 Caused by:
 Carelessness
 Poor Judgement
 Incompetence
Sources of Errors
 Natural
 Environmental conditions: wind, temperature,
humidity etc.
 Tape contracts and expands due to
temperature changes
 Difficult to read Philadelphia Rod with heat
waves coming up from the pavement
Sources of Errors
 Instrumental
 Due to Limitation of Equipment
 Warped Philadelphia Rod
 Theodolite out of adjustment
 Kinked or damaged Tape
Sources of Errors
 Personal
 Limits of Human Performance Factors
 Sight
 Strength
 Judgement
 Communication
Types of Errors
 Systematic/Cumulative
 Errors that occur each time a measurement is
made
 These Errors can be eliminated by making
corrections to your measurements
 Tape is too long or to short
 Theodolite is out of adjustment
 Warped Philadelphia Rod
Precision vs. Accuracy
 Precision
 The Closeness of one measurement to
another
Precision vs. Accuracy
 Accuracy
 The degree of perfection obtained in a
measurement.
Precision and Accuracy
 Ultimate Goal of the Surveyor
 Rarely Obtainable
 Surveyor is happy with Precise Measurements
Computing Precision
 Precision:
Probability
 Surveying measurements tend to follow a
normal distribution or bell curve
 Observations
 Small errors occur more frequently than larger
ones
 Positive and negative errors of the same
magnitude occur with equal frequency
 Large errors are probably mistakes
Most Probable Value (MPV)
Also known as the arithmetic mean or average value
MPV = M
n
The MPV is the sum of all of the measurements
divided by the total number of measurements
Standard Deviation ()
Also known as the Standard Error or Variance
2 = (M-MPV)
n-1
M-MPV is referred to as the Residual
 is computed by taking the square root of the
above equation
Example:
A distance is measured repeatedly in the field and
the following measurements are recorded: 31.459
m, 31.458 m, 31.460 m, 31.854 m and 31.457 m.
Compute the most probable value (MPV),
standard error and standard error of the mean for
the data. Explain the significance of each
computed value as it relates to statistical theory.
Solution:
Measurement M - Mbar (M-Mbar)2
31.459 0 0
31.458 -0.0010 0.0000010
31.460 0.0010 0.0000010
31.457 -0.0020 0.0000040
Sum = 125.834 0.0000060
MPV or Mbar= 125.834 / 4 = 31.459 m
Solution (continued):
S.E. = +/- ((0.0000060)/(4-1))1/2 = +/- 0.0014 m
Say +/- 0.001 m
Em = 0.001/(4)1/2 = +/- 0.0005 m
Say +/- 0.001 m
Explanation:
The MPV is 31.459 m. The value that is most likely to
occur. This value represents the peak value on the normal
distribution curve.
The standard error is +/- 0.001 m . 68.27% of the values
would be expected to lie between the values of 31.458 m
and 31.460 m. These values were computed using the
MPV+/- the standard error.
Explanation (continued):
The standard error of the mean is +/- 0.001 m . The true
length has a 68.27% chance of being within the values of
31.458m and 31.460 m. These values were computed using
the MPV +/- Em.

More Related Content

Measurement Theory.ppt

  • 1. Theory of Errors in Observations
  • 2. Errors in Measurement No Measurement is Exact Every Measurement Contains Errors The True Value of a Measurement is Never Known The Exact Error Present is Always Unknown
  • 3. Mistakes or Blunders Caused by: Carelessness Poor Judgement Incompetence
  • 4. Sources of Errors Natural Environmental conditions: wind, temperature, humidity etc. Tape contracts and expands due to temperature changes Difficult to read Philadelphia Rod with heat waves coming up from the pavement
  • 5. Sources of Errors Instrumental Due to Limitation of Equipment Warped Philadelphia Rod Theodolite out of adjustment Kinked or damaged Tape
  • 6. Sources of Errors Personal Limits of Human Performance Factors Sight Strength Judgement Communication
  • 7. Types of Errors Systematic/Cumulative Errors that occur each time a measurement is made These Errors can be eliminated by making corrections to your measurements Tape is too long or to short Theodolite is out of adjustment Warped Philadelphia Rod
  • 8. Precision vs. Accuracy Precision The Closeness of one measurement to another
  • 9. Precision vs. Accuracy Accuracy The degree of perfection obtained in a measurement.
  • 10. Precision and Accuracy Ultimate Goal of the Surveyor Rarely Obtainable Surveyor is happy with Precise Measurements
  • 12. Probability Surveying measurements tend to follow a normal distribution or bell curve Observations Small errors occur more frequently than larger ones Positive and negative errors of the same magnitude occur with equal frequency Large errors are probably mistakes
  • 13. Most Probable Value (MPV) Also known as the arithmetic mean or average value MPV = M n The MPV is the sum of all of the measurements divided by the total number of measurements
  • 14. Standard Deviation () Also known as the Standard Error or Variance 2 = (M-MPV) n-1 M-MPV is referred to as the Residual is computed by taking the square root of the above equation
  • 15. Example: A distance is measured repeatedly in the field and the following measurements are recorded: 31.459 m, 31.458 m, 31.460 m, 31.854 m and 31.457 m. Compute the most probable value (MPV), standard error and standard error of the mean for the data. Explain the significance of each computed value as it relates to statistical theory.
  • 16. Solution: Measurement M - Mbar (M-Mbar)2 31.459 0 0 31.458 -0.0010 0.0000010 31.460 0.0010 0.0000010 31.457 -0.0020 0.0000040 Sum = 125.834 0.0000060 MPV or Mbar= 125.834 / 4 = 31.459 m
  • 17. Solution (continued): S.E. = +/- ((0.0000060)/(4-1))1/2 = +/- 0.0014 m Say +/- 0.001 m Em = 0.001/(4)1/2 = +/- 0.0005 m Say +/- 0.001 m
  • 18. Explanation: The MPV is 31.459 m. The value that is most likely to occur. This value represents the peak value on the normal distribution curve. The standard error is +/- 0.001 m . 68.27% of the values would be expected to lie between the values of 31.458 m and 31.460 m. These values were computed using the MPV+/- the standard error.
  • 19. Explanation (continued): The standard error of the mean is +/- 0.001 m . The true length has a 68.27% chance of being within the values of 31.458m and 31.460 m. These values were computed using the MPV +/- Em.