I am a software programmer who needs help embedding "The Richardson Effect" formula for a calculation on a series of XY data points. I know how to program, but I need help with how to read the formula.
Lewis Fry Richardson (1881 – 1953), The coastline paradox
Here is the formula: $$\log[L(s)] = (1 - D)\log(s) + b$$
"D" is the Fractal Dimension, But I do not know what "L", "s", and "b" are, or how to determine them.
If someone could walk me through this formula, I'll be all set.
$L(s)$ is the coast length when measured with at ruler of length $s$. The constant $b$ is determined empirically with a linear regression or theoretically with a given fractal type.
If using the empirical regression route you need a number of points $(s,L)$ to fit the line $$ \log L(s) =(1−D)\log s +b. $$ The intercept will give you $b$ and the slope will give you $(1-D)$.
For more reference see e.g. Wikipedia and http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/cogsci/chaos/workshop/Fractals.html