Data quality assurance for thermophysical property databases--applications to the TRC SOURCE data system

To a significant degree processes of database development are based upon human activities, which are susceptible to various errors. Propagation of errors in the processing leads to a decrease in the value of original data as well as that of any database products. Data quality is a critical issue that every database producer must handle as an inseparable part of the database management. Within the Thermodynamics Research Center (TRC), a systematic approach to implement database integrity rules was established through the use of modern database technology, statistical methods, and thermodynamic principles. The four major functions of the system--error prevention, database integrity enforcement, scientific data integrity protection, and database traceability--are detailed in this paper.