National Needs for Critically Evaluated Physical and Chemical Data.
Abstract
Reliable values of numerical data that express in quantitative terms the properties and behavior of materials are essential in all branches of science and technology and are needed to arrive at valid decisions whenever a governmental or industrial decision involves elements of science and technology. The scientific literature contains many valuable data covering a wide range of diverse fields. Unfortunately, it also contains many erroneous values. A substantial intellectual effort is required to select reliable values from the large and growing total of those reported. The selection of the best available values for data in a given field requires the background of a specialist in that field. Most users are not specialists in all the fields in which they require data. Furthermore it is inefficient for many individuals who need the same data for different purposes to each go through this selection process. For this reason, a number of specialized data centers have been established to compile and evaluate data in a systematic fashion. Typically, such a center gathers all the data applicable to its limited area, assesses the validity of the measurements on which these data are based, selects recommended or best values, and attempts to estimate how far the 'true' values are from those recommended. These results are then published and made available to all who need them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA098055
Entities
Organizations
- National Research Council