Currently, SWD is measured with electronic sensors and a
variety of types are available. Since no measurement is complete
unless it includes an estimate (necessarily in statistical terms) of the
probable magnitude of the uncertainty (Anon 1983), the uncertainty of SWD
measurement also needs to be described. In the measurement of SWD, the
total uncertainty can be written as the sum of the uncertainties due to
precision, accuracy,
protocol, and scale (Russo
et al. 1993). Consider an archer shooting arrows at
a target. The closeness of the arrows together is the precsion,
the closeness of the arrows to the bull's eye is the accuracy.
Protocol refers to how the two different archers
shoot the arrows, for instance one may stand and the other may kneel. Scale
referes to uncertanties due to spatial or temporal scale for
example one archer uses arrows that have larger tips or if two targest
were of different areas. Information on all four of these areas have
been compiled for SWD sensors.
Precision
Accuracy
Protocol
Scale
Next section a measurement standard for surface
wetness duration
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