Energy-Data Validation: An Overview and Some Concepts

摘要

Energy data validation can be viewed operationally as a three-fold assessment process: (1) a determination of the quality of the data collected, i.e., an assessment of accuracy; (2) an analysis of the relevance and usefulness of the data so as to assess how closely the data collected is meeting the requirements of its users; (3) an assessment of measures that can be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the data system under study. Assessment (1) is akin to the process of critical evaluation of data in the physical sciences. Assessments (2) and (3), the more distinctive features, underlie two important goals of validation. In brief, the analyst validates both the information and the requirements for the information, and as deficiencies in these two aspects are uncovered, the validation analyst formulates and evaluates the means for correcting these deficiencies. This paper focuses upon the use of an error model for systematizing the assessment of accuracy in a data-system validation study. Other topics discussed briefly are: a capsule history of energy-data validation; ORNL studies of outlier detection methods, automatic data editing and sampling theory in support of the energy-data validation program; reviews of energy-data requirements. (ERA citation 07:061603)