Numerical method for statistical data analysis

The principal compound analysis (PCA) is a numerical method which is applied predominantly in the statistical processing of graphical data. The goal is to reduce variables with a lot of properties to a few latent factors which determine these properties. If, for example, for a fleet of ships the attributes of length, width, water displacement, and draught have been measured, all of this information could also be described by the factor of size.

In Co-Extra, PCA is applied in one project for the interpretation of NIR data.