Curvature
The Grids | Calculate | Calculus directional derivative, Curvature, is a measure of the rate of change of the inclination angle of tangential planes on a profile line defined by the surface along a specified direction. Curvature is reported as the absolute value of the rate of change and is, therefore, a positive number. Curvature is similar to the Second Derivative.
The directional curvature is the absolute value of the rate of change, in a specified direction, of the inclination angle of the tangent plane.
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The contour map of the original grid file is overlaid with a filled directional curvature map. The maximum curvature in the X direction (as indicated by the darker gray contour fill) occurs at valleys and ridges. |
The mathematical formula for the directional curvature of a surface f(x,
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(see Schwartz, 1974, p. 592).
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