Finding relative max values from a 3D plot

[AlexP1]

Hello everyone,

I'm analyzing a data file from a recent experiment, in which I am measuring the depth of a metal indent.  For a specific indent, there are a number of pits, of which I'm trying to find the relative depth of.  I think the max pit depth should be easy enough to find, but does anyone have suggestions on how to find the max pit depth of the surrounding peaks?  I also have access to DIAdem if there are better tools in there to perform this analysis.  

I only included a picture of the 3D plot below, since the data set is too large to attach.  Right now my VI is mostly opening the data and plotting it anyways.  

Thanks!
Alex

[Vivek_N]

Hello Alex,

From what I understood, you are getting a 3D set of data as measurement of the depth of a metal indent. By pit depth from this data, do you mean the z value in the plot you attached? If so, wouldn't sorting the z data from max to min give you the maximum pit depths? Is this not an option for you?

Please let me know if I have misunderstood your question.

[AlexP1]

Hi Vivek,

Sorry it took me so long to respond, but my hard drive crashed and it took me a while to get things fixed and up and running again. 

You are correct in understanding that the z values in the plot correspond with the depth of the overall indent.  I've defined "pit depth" as the relative peaks that can be seen.  Sorting the data would seem to only give me the maximum z value (depth) of the overall indent.  I'm looking for the z values of the relative peaks as well. 

I reattached the picture with some circles to show you which values I'm looking for.  Those are the relative peaks I'm interested in.  

Thanks for the help,

Alex   

[Vivek_N]

Hi Alex,

Will the Peak Detector VI work for you? Please take a look athe following link: http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361F-01/lvanls/peak_detector/

If this is not what you are looking for, I am not aware of a specific function that will be able to automatically find the relative pit depths. The best way I can see is to try and programmatically distinguish between the different pit depths based on their x and y values.