GIS software utilized in making topographic swath profiles

Most well-known geographic information system (GIS) software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS, and SAGA GIS are used for making classic rectangular swath profiles, which are considered curvilinear swath profiles with straight midlines. The SAGA GIS also allows for making curvilinear swath profiles using the “orthogonal line” sampling approach. SCPAT is a Matlab-based toolbox that uses data prepared by the SAGA GIS and processes it further by defining positional parameters along stacking lines orthogonal to the midline and through entire swath profiles. The “generalized swath profile” uses the “parallel signed distance line” sampling approach for making swath profiles, which helps to overcome the over-sampling and under-sampling problem in curvilinear features. As an ArcGIS add-Ins, the “Swathprofiler” uses the “parallel signed distance” sampling method. PyOSP is a code written in Python and rather uses the “orthogonal line” sampling approach. It overcomes the shortcoming aspect of fixed-width swath profile analysis by giving the ability to make a swath profile with variable width.