Recommended practice; symbols, terms, units and uncertainty analysis for radiometric sensor calibration
Clair L. Wyatt, Victor Privalsky, Raju V. Datla · 1998
Uniform terminology and common practices of uncertainty analysis are absolutely crucial for the ground based or space based radiometry projects of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to exchange scientific data and results without the need for duplication and repetition.The economic impact is even greater for exchanging data and results around the world on global studies which is only possible through uniformity of terminology and data analysis standards.This need for developing a common practice for quantities, symbols, units and uncertainty analysis has been recognized by scientists and engineers around the world.The first step taken to my knowledge recently was the establishment of Space Based Observation Systems Committee on Standards (SBOS COS) in 1988 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).As a historical perspective, the letter by Christopher Stevens of Jet Propulsion Laboratory that shows various meetings in this endeavor and the overview on "AIAA activities in Calibration Standards" by Edward Koenig of ITT Aerospace/ Communications Division is reproduced in Appendix 1.It also lists the members of the subcommittee on sensor systems.I would like to join with Clair Wyatt, the principal author of this document, in acknowledging the efforts of various people in that list who helped in preparing this document.It is being published as a NIST Handbook recommending it to be a common practice for optical radiation metrology.It primarily deals with terms, symbols and definitions in radiometry based on the International Standards Organization (ISO) definitions of basic radiometric quantities.The sensor systems calibration methodology is based on the measurement equation approach that has been in practice from the beginning at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).The uncertainty analysis is based on the ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, ISO/TAG 4/WG 3.