Weighted total least squares formulated by standard least squares theory

This contribution presents a simple, attractive, and flexible formulation for the weighted total least squares (WTLS) problem. It is simple because it is based on the well-known standard least squares theory; it is attractive because it allows one to directly use the existing body of knowledge of the least squares theory; and it is flexible because it can be used to a broad field of applications in the error-invariable (EIV) models. Two empirical examples using real and simulated data are presented. The first example, a linear regression model, takes the covariance matrix of the coefficient matrix as Q(A) = Q(n) circle times Q(m), while the second example, a 2-D affine transformation, takes a general structure of the covariance matrix Q(A). The estimates for the unknown parameters along with their standard deviations of the estimates are obtained for the two examples. The results are shown to be identical to those obtained based on the nonlinear Gauss-Helmert model (GHM). We aim to have an impartial evaluation of WTLS and GHM. We further explore the high potential capability of the presented formulation. One can simply obtain the covariance matrix of the WTLS estimates. In addition, one can generalize the orthogonal projectors of the standard least squares from which estimates for the residuals and observations (along with their covariance matrix), and the variance of the unit weight can directly be derived. Also, the constrained WTLS, variance component estimation for an EIV model, and the theory of reliability and data snooping can easily be established, which are in progress for future publications.