Computer Applications in Materials Engineering

CS 325

Session: 2020-2024

Submitted to:
Dr. Ing. Waseem Amin

Submitted by:
Talha Rasheed (20MME-S1-323)
Muhammad Nauman (315)
Sehar Khalid (304)

Submitted date:
22-05-2023

Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of the Punjab Lahore
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 Lab Report # 2
Data extraction from a given graph using a plot digitizer
regeneration of the plot using the extracted data and
Gnuplot.

Objective
The objective of the lab activity is to extract data from the literature for the
sake of the scientific analysis.

Theory
Plot digitizer
Plot Digitizer is a computer program or tool that allows users to extract data points
from graphs, charts, or images and convert them into numerical data. It is
particularly useful when you have a graph or an image that contains data points but
lacks the original numerical values or the data is not available in a digital format. [1]

Applications
Plot Digitizer is commonly used in scientific research, data analysis, and other fields
where it is necessary to extract data from visual representations. It saves time and
effort compared to manually reading values from graphs and helps in accurately
digitizing data for further processing or analysis. [1]

GNUPLOT
GNUplot is a powerful command-line plotting program that allows users to
generate a wide variety of graphs and visualizations. It is free and open-source
software that is widely used in scientific and technical fields for data visualization
and analysis. [2]

GNUplot provides a simple and flexible syntax for creating plots from numerical
data. It supports various plot types, including 2D and 3D plots, scatter plots, line
plots, bar graphs, histograms, and more. It can handle both numerical data and
functions, making it suitable for visualizing mathematical equations and functions.
[2]

Key features of GNU-plot

Some key features of GNU-plot include:

1. Customization: GNU-plot offers extensive customization options, allowing

users to control every aspect of the plot, including axes, labels, titles, colors,
line styles, and fonts.

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 2. Output formats: It supports a wide range of output formats, including
interactive displays, images (such as PNG, JPEG, and GIF), vector graphics
(such as SVG and PDF), and even animated plots.
3. Scripting: GNUplot can be scripted using its own scripting language. This
enables users to automate the creation of plots and generate multiple plots
with different settings or data.
4. Data manipulation: It provides basic data manipulation capabilities, allowing
users to perform mathematical operations on data, filter and subset data, and
transform data before plotting.

Applications
GNU-plot can be used on various operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and
Windows. It is often used in conjunction with other scientific computing tools and
programming languages like Python, MATLAB, or R to generate and analyze plots
based on numerical data. [2]

Overall, GNU-plot is a versatile and widely-used plotting tool that offers a rich set of
features and flexibility for creating high-quality graphs and visualizations for
scientific, technical, and data analysis purposes. [2]

Procedure
1. First of all, open the plot digitizer application in your browser.
2. Load or import the graph or image into the Plot Digitizer software as you can
see in figure 01.

Figure 1

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 3. Define the coordinate system or scale of the graph by providing reference
points or measurements.

Figure 2

4. Identify and mark the data points on the graph by clicking or selecting them
using the software's tools.

Figure 2

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Figure 3
 5. Once all the desired data points are marked, the software will convert the
positions of the marked points into numerical values based on the defined
coordinate system.

Figure 4

6. The extracted data points can then be exported or saved in a digital format
such as a spreadsheet or a CSV file to make a graph in gnuplot software.

7. Now open the gnuplot software in your computer.

8. Change the directory from the file option to the specific folder where you save
the data.

9. Now write command plot ‘filename’ us 1:2 w lp lw 1.5 lc 8 in Gnuplot

software.

Figure 5

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 10. Run the command by press the button Enter.

Figure 5

Discussion
By performing the activity of extracting data from a graph using a plot digitizer and
regenerating the plot using the extracted data with Gnuplot, we can gain several
insights and benefits:

1. Data extraction: You learn how to extract numerical data points from graphs
or images that lack the original digital values or when the data is not readily
available. This skill is particularly useful when working with data that is only
presented visually.
2. Accuracy and efficiency: Using a plot digitizer allows for accurate and
precise extraction of data points from graphs. It eliminates the need for
manual reading or estimation of values, which can introduce errors.
Additionally, the digitization process saves time and effort compared to
manually recording data points.
3. Visualization and analysis: Regenerating the plot using Gnu-plot enables
you to visualize the extracted data in a clear and understandable manner.
This visualization can help identify trends, patterns, or relationships in the
data and facilitate further analysis or interpretation.
4. Customization and exploration: Gnu-plot provides extensive customization
options for plots, allowing you to tailor the visualization to your specific

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 needs. You can experiment with different plot styles, colors, labels, and axes
settings to enhance the clarity and impact of the plot.
5. Data integration and further analysis: Once the data is extracted and plotted
with Gnu-plot, you can integrate it with other data sets or perform additional
analysis using various statistical or mathematical techniques. This can lead to
a deeper understanding of the data and facilitate decision-making or
hypothesis testing.

Conclusion:
Overall, this activity teaches you practical skills in data extraction, visualization, and
analysis. It empowers you to work with visual data, convert it into numerical form,
and leverage the power of tools like Gnu-plot to explore and derive insights from the
extracted data.

Selected Reference’s:

1. https://tldp.org/
2. https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/
3. https://ss64.com/
4. https://linuxcommand.org/
5. https://linuxize.com/
6. https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/
7. https://www.tecmint.com/
8. https://automeris.io/WebPlotDigitizer/
9. https://plotdigitizer.sourceforge.io/
10. http://www.gnuplot.info/documentation.html
11. https://pypi.org/project/pygnuplot/
12. https://datatofish.com/
13. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/
14. https://medium.com/

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