Extracting the latent underlying structures of complex nonlinear local
and nonlocal flows is essential for their analysis and modeling. In this
Element the authors attempt to provide a consistent framework through
Koopman theory and its related popular discrete approximation - dynamic
mode decomposition (DMD). They investigate the conditions to perform
appropriate linearization, dimensionality reduction and representation
of flows in a highly general setting. The essential elements of this
framework are Koopman eigenfunctions (KEFs) for which existence
conditions are formulated. This is done by viewing the dynamic as a
curve in state-space. These conditions lay the foundations for system
reconstruction, global controllability, and observability for nonlinear
dynamics. They examine the limitations of DMD through the analysis of
Koopman theory and propose a new mode decomposition technique based on
the typical time profile of the dynamics.