Treffer: A discrete approach to surface interpolation

"An equidistant spacing of two dimensional data points is a requirement of most automated analysis routines. In this thesis, a method of generating such equispaced data from randomly spaced data is developed and implemented by a set of computer routines. The method represents the study area as a two dimensional spatial array, in which each array cell represents the data value of a subarea of the study area. A routine sorts and places the data in the array. Missing values in the array are interpolated from nearest neighbors. Filtering is used to smooth errors and a contouring routine is used to generate contour maps of the data. The results of applying the routine to actual field data are presented. To determine the accuracy of the routines an error analysis is performed. This is accomplished by assuming an analytical form for the data, sampling the assumed data randomly and comparing the results· of the interpolation routine to the actual data"--Abstract, page ii.