Step detection

<p>In <a href="/facts/Statistics/DNPsKGYU">statistics</a> and <a href="/facts/Signal_processing/Npaja6zb">signal processing</a>, step detection (also known as step smoothing, step filtering, shift detection, jump detection or <a href="/facts/Edge_detection/9VplpIcS">edge detection</a>) is the process of finding abrupt changes (steps, jumps, shifts) in the mean level of a <a href="/facts/Time_series/fSXPR817">time series</a> or signal. It is usually considered as a special case of the statistical method known as <a href="/facts/Change_detection/mgG0M0el">change detection</a> or change point detection. Often, the step is small and the time series is corrupted by some kind of <a href="/facts/Noise/aUstHDqU">noise</a>, and this makes the problem challenging because the step may be hidden by the noise. Therefore, statistical and/or signal processing algorithms are often required.
</p><p>The step detection problem occurs in multiple scientific and engineering contexts, for example in <a href="/facts/Statistical_process_control/Qwkqg5d4">statistical process control</a> (the <a href="/facts/Control_chart/mY27mrUe">control chart</a> being the most directly related method), in exploration <a href="/facts/Geophysics/ywVQ1sAQ">geophysics</a> (where the problem is to segment a <a href="/facts/Well_logging/W0l6xDeG">well-log</a> recording into <a href="/facts/Stratigraphy/o3J6Ij3R">stratigraphic zones</a>), in <a href="/facts/Genetics/bu8wne0A">genetics</a> (the problem of separating <a href="/facts/Microarray/LvJeNodc">microarray</a> data into similar <a href="/facts/Copy-number_variation/g7GPKrsx">copy-number</a> regimes), and in <a href="/facts/Biophysics/l9u5gqCy">biophysics</a> (detecting state transitions in a <a href="/facts/Molecular_machine/5VvXFnoq">molecular machine</a> as recorded in time-position traces). For 2D signals, the related problem of <a href="/facts/Edge_detection/9VplpIcS">edge detection</a> has been studied intensively for <a href="/facts/Image_processing/zenalNCf">image processing</a>.
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Step detection open-in-new

Step detection