SCPAT: a MATLAB-based toolbox for analysing swath characteristic profiles

Abstract

Swath profiling is a method of representing three-dimensional datasets on two-dimensional diagrams. However, there are common restrictions in the handling of datasets: the calculation of only statistical parameters such as maximum or mean that display variations parallel to the scan line in swath profiles (hereafter, non-positional parameters), difficulty in analysing a given parameter over a specific range of a swath profile, and exporting the results. The restrictions are mainly because tools developed for swath profile data usually depend on the scope of the given software, which usually has limited parameters of interest. This paper introduces a MATLAB-based toolbox developed for handling swath profile datasets referred to as SCPAT. The toolbox allows modification and customisation of a database, such as extracting data for an individual feature or a sub-dataset of features before starting analysis. This toolbox allows studying a dataset in various configurations of a swath profile, in both parallel and perpendicular directions to the profile’s extension. In addition to the standard non-positional parameters, we introduce two statistical-spatial measures (hereafter, positional parameters) that are sensitive to variations parallel to cross-profiles. Determining and measuring the positional parameters, derivation of various new non-positional parameters from default and pre-calculated ones, including the azimuthal property of pre-calculated parameters, visualisation of defined parameters and the ability to export them as (geo)statistical data are advantages offered by SCPAT. Some applications of SCPAT are displayed using topographic data that are commonly used in tectonic geomorphology, although the toolbox can also be used to study other three-dimensional geologic data.