D.12 NCSS

D.12 NCSS 8

Approximate Cost: $249 (one seat, government); complete price lists are found on the NCSS web page.

Source: NCSS, LLC (http://www.ncss.com/about_ncss.html)

Current Version: v8

Operating System Needs: Windows 32 or 64 bit

Input Structure: Similar to ProUCL in that the result column is followed by a detect column to identify if the results are measured values or detection limits.

Overview

General statistical program with a rangeThe difference between the largest value and smallest value in a dataset (NIST/SEMATECH 2012). of procedures and tools.

Statistical Functions

Statistical Method	Capability As Is	Capability with Scripts/Add-Ins
Handling of NDs
Simple Substitution	◒	N/A
Kaplan-Meier	●	N/A
ROS	◒	N/A
Cohen/MLE	◒	N/A
Exploratory/Diagnostic Tools
Summary Statistics	●	N/A
Distributional tests	●	N/A
Outlier tests	●	N/A
Data transformations	●	N/A
Statistical Design
Statistical Power	●	N/A
SWFPR	●	N/A
Contaminant ranking	●	N/A
Monitoring network optimization	●	N/A
Statistical Limits
Confidence Limits	●	N/A
Tolerance Limits	●	N/A
Prediction Limits	●	N/A
Testing Compliance Limits	●	N/A
Graphics
Plots/Charts	●	N/A
Batch plots	●	N/A
Tweaking of graphics	●	N/A
Statistical Comparisons
t-tests	●	N/A
ANOVA	●	N/A
Spatial Analysis
Geostatistics/Mapping		N/A
Kriging/Interpolation		N/A
Spatial smoothing		N/A
Regression/Time Series
Trend Tests	●	N/A
Mann-Kendall	●	N/A
Linear regression	●	N/A
Nonlinear regression	●	N/A
Theil-Sen line	●	N/A
Time Series analysis	●	N/A
Multivariate Analysis
Multiple regression	●	N/A
Factor/Discriminant analysis	●	N/A
Bootstrapping	◒	N/A

Capability Ratings:

N/A = Not applicable or not available

● = Full capability

◒ = Some capability

(blank cell) = No capability

Add-Ins Available

None

Ease of Use and Data Import

Requires a Windows 32 or 64 bit operating system. This program imports 35 different file types including Excel (all versions) spreadsheets. Data import is straightforward and examples are provided. Data may be processed or input within NCSS. The program provides drop down menus and a toolbar offers short cuts to frequently used functions. The program also provides a macro recording function for repeated procedures. Default templates are provided for typical parameters required for report tables and graphs, or you can easily create and save new templates.

Types of Distributions

NCSS 8 accepts data of any distributional type. The program provides flexibility in performing transformations and in selecting appropriate tests. The Nondetects-Data Group Comparison procedure computes summary statistics, generates EDF plots, and computes hypothesis tests appropriate for two or more groups for data with nondetectsLaboratory analytical result known only to be below the method detection limit (MDL), or reporting limit (RL); see "censored data" (Unified Guidance). (left-censored) values.

Visualization

All standard graphics are available plus some unusual ones such as empirical distribution function and violin plots.

Primary Uses for Groundwater Data Analysis

You can use NCSS 8 for any environmental statistics problem that does not require spatial analysis.

Benefits

Many advanced tests and procedures useful to expert users
Output easily inserted in reports and documents which can then be manipulated through various common Windows applications
Well documented; statistical tests clearly explained (although at a moderate to advanced level) ; introductory topics for chapters (which give an overview and comparison of different approaches)
Example problems and trial data sets provided for many procedures
Extensive built-in data transformation functions, including IF-THEN functions, from within the program (unlike some statistical programs that require all data pre-processing to occur outside the program)
Performs data simulations
Easy to convert results into a database or to combine different databases in the program

Limitations and Data Requirements

No geostatistical capabilities.

Not dedicated to groundwater monitoring applications.

Requires a moderate level of statistical expertise to use appropriately.

Publication Date: December 2013

Permission is granted to refer to or quote from this publication with the customary acknowledgment of the source (see suggested citation and disclaimer).