A computer-implemented method for computing ridges and valleys of a height field includes a computing platform receiving a plurality of sample points associated with a dataset and an indication of an orientation for referencing the plurality of sample points and applying an interpolation function to the plurality of sample points to determine the height field. The computing platform selects a plurality of seed points associated with the height field and calculates a Hessian matrix of the height field. The Hessian matrix is used by the computing platform to trace (a) one or more ridge curves associated with the height field and (b) one or more valley curves associated with the height field using the plurality of seed points.