How can I quantify the accuracy with which I can describe the probability of a random event occurring, using ten randomly synced fixed-interval sampling devices?

Question

"Event A occurs randomly. I have ten sensors to detect the occurrence of this event, each sensor samples every ten seconds, and are randomly synced (i.e. could be simultaneous, may not be).

Describe a way to quantify the accuracy with which I can estimate the occurrence of event A.

My question is; is the above an appropriate wording for a question/does it make sense as a question (i.e. is it a logical thing to ask given the constraints and is there enough information to solve the problem?).

Answer 1

Hi Duncan M.,

I share your skepticism that this is a well-formulated problem. There's no info on the duration of event A -- so if it's only instantaneous, the odds are mathematically zero that instantaneous sensors will capture it at all. And if it's infinitely long, there's no assurance that you can distinguish that from a swarm of events that overload your sampling network. And without info on the durations of the event and of the sampler trip zone, you have nothing. The multiple sensors appear to me to be a red herring, in this context; they don't furnish additional information.

-- Cheers, -- Mr d.