Are spreadsheet applications sufficient for estimating uncertainty?
In many cases, no. Developing and using a simplified spreadsheet or template can provide an unrealistic assessment of measurement uncertainty. Conversely, developing rigorous analysis spreadsheets requires considerable programming effort and technical expertise in the mathematical and statistical methods for estimating and combining measurement process uncertainties. This includes the evaluation of various error distributions and error correlations, and the calculation of sensitivity coefficients and degrees of freedom. When developing an uncertainty analysis within a spreadsheet application, it is difficult to ensure the integrity of equations and macros after the spreadsheet has been widely distributed. Spreadsheets developed with MS Excel are particularly vulnerable to macro viruses. Clear here to download an ISG paper that details why spreadsheets are inadequate for uncertainty analysis.
