A scientific overview of requirements for IFU data reduction and analysis

Today's integral field units are opening up 3D imaging spectroscopy as a mainstream observing capability, facilitating studies of varied astronomical phenomena in unprecedented detail, whilst aiding the efficient use of large telescopes. With this capability come new requirements for data reduction and analysis tools, both as a result of the way IFUs map information to a 2D detector and in order to exploit the full scientific potential of their comprehensive 3D datasets. Here I give a general overview of science requirements for reducing and analyzing integral field spectroscopy data. Details of existing software and processes are covered separately by other speakers.