Problem with a feature (normal distribution + peak around 0) I have a feature that shows a characteristic of the instances. That characteristic can be present or not. If present it shows an almost normal distribution of values (actually a bit skewed to the right, but with a log transformation it becomes normalized). When the characteristic is not present in the instance, the value of the feature is just 0.
So at the end, I have a distribution with a lot of instances with value 0 and a bit far right from it the almost-normal distribution. I would like to split it in two different features: one that shows the absence/presence of the characteristic (easy), and a second that shows only a normal distribution without the annoying peak around zero.
Aren't you providing the answer? You can split the feature in two, namely, if feature_to_split is the feature you're talking about, you can create feature_to_split_ispresent which will take either 1 or 0 depending on the presence or absence of that specific characteristic, and feature_to_split_value which will take the actual value of that characteristic.