project settings - Cyclops Tracker
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1. YADA Visual amp Acoustic Detection and Ranging at Sea PROJECT SETTINGS VERSION 1 4 7 VADAR PROJECT FILES AND FOLDERS STARTING VADAR VADAR SURVEY FILES AND FOLDERS VADAR TRACK NAMES CHANGING PROJECT SETTINGS FOT PRO CHANGING BEHAVIOUR SETTINGS EDIT BEHAVIOUR LIST scecceceecesceeces VADAR DATA FILES cee VADAR Map FILE ccecececcececeececees SERIAL INPUT DEVICE SETUP Table of Contents VADAR PROJECT Files AND FOLDERS A unique set of project files must be created for each project VADAR cannot run without these files The Project files will contain all the data that is needed to undertake a survey such as the station position and height the reference target direction position the type of instrument and settings the layout of layers and associated behaviours tidal information vector data for displaying the map etc The main VADAR project file will be called NAME O1 VDR where NAME will be 4 characters for the name of your project The vector map file will be called NAME MAP All VADAR files need to be installed in one folder including any project files There will be one or more project files that have been created for your project Once VADAR has been started it will load the latest project files and display this information on the status bar at th2. The last 4 columns are the behaviours that are assigned to this short cut list 1 to 30 For example if you wish to assign the 3rd behaviour for row B Back to be the first in the list then put a 1 one in LIST 3 row B etc More information about editing behaviours can be found in the VADAR User Manual VADAR Pata FILES VADAR MAP FILE MAP Background graphics data are found in the MAP file The file is a text file which can be edited using a program such as notepad The VADAR Map file is a graphics vector file containing background map data points lines polygons and text Vector files are loaded into memory when VADAR is started and therefore should improve the speed of the graphics within the program It is an ASCII text file similar to a DXF file Data Exchange File The basic structure for the file is a header line followed by 2 or more lines of data then followed by the next header line etc The Header lines can be LINE CONTOUR POLYGON TEXT POINT ZONE The first line of data after the header is usually information describing the colour size and type for the header feature The next lines are normally a list of coordinates for each point located on the feature The data field can be separated with spaces tabs or commas The types of data can be IR red component of feature colour integer 0 to255 IG green component of feature colour integer 0 to 255 IB blue component of fea
3. reading just over 90 degrees as DDD MMSS in the Vertical Angle field Make sure the time for the observations is also correct and press OK The height of the survey station will be shown in the status bar This procedure should be repeated for a few different targets at different times of the day to account for differential refraction to obtain an accurate station height The project file can be edited to set the new value for the station height Changing Project Settings CHANGING BEHAVIOUR SETTINGS EDIT BEHAVIOUR LIST VADAR allows up to 104 26 x 4 behaviours to be pre defined The table lists all of these behaviours 26 rows A to Z by 4 columns 1 to 4 alternatives You can simply change the list to suit the behaviours for your project Each row letter should characterize the behaviour such as B Blow Breach Back and Belly Up Each of the behaviours also has a Behaviour Activity Level BAL associated with it this is a score of 0 to 10 of the level of activity for each behaviour which can be used in later analysis VADAR also has a short cut list presently a total of 30 of the most commonly used behaviours These are arranged in groups of 10 1 to 10 in first group 11 to 20 in second etc refer to the User Manual Each group may be organised so that they are meaningful for example the first group may be behaviours for the species listed in layer 1 and the third group may have behaviours for vessels etc
4. Each section has its own Update button and should be pressed once any changes are made The Save button at the bottom should then be pressed to accept these changes PROJECT TITLE TOP Normally only the Title may have to be changed There should be no need to change the Magnetic Declination or Time Zone Note The time zone is only used as a check VADAR uses the Time Zone reported by Windows as the real time zone setting as this will also account for daylight savings It is most important that the time and Time Zone settings in Windows are correct otherwise tides and observations taken with GPS will have incorrect times STATION VESSEL TARGET INFORMATION TOP LEFT The station height or instrument height may have to be changed type the new values into these fields and press the Update button below The Survey Station and Reference Object names can also be changed Small changes to the station position can also be made type the new East North or Latitude Longitude position values into their field delete the other values East North or Latitude Longitude VADAR will calculate the missing values and press Update The bearing to the Reference Object is shown in the field The bearing can be typed in if the co ordinates for the RO are not known or clear this filed and press the Update button to have VADAR calculate the bearing Always check these values to make sure they are correct GROUPS LAYER
5. S TOP RIGHT Data can be entered into a number of different Groups or Layers Some Groups can be reserved for vessels or special types of input A symbol can also be added to the front of the names for track lines in any layer to help easily identify these tracks on the map If a symbol is used then there may be only 26 names available for this layer A to Z The star symbol should be used if no prefix symbol is required and this also allows for more track names A to Z then 1A to 17 etc A default speed and course can also be set for mammals vessels in each Group Use a course of 0 0 if no default is required but do not use 0 0 for northwards movement use 1 0 instead Default track behaviour for each group can also be set Use the Update button to update these values I O SYSTEMS BOTTOM LEFT Each VADAR project can have 5 or more Input Output systems The number of I O systems shown will depend on the type of VADAR licence used The first 2 types are keyboard and or file input These may include compass binocular observations the scale of the reticules within the binoculars must be put in Scale field but this can be done by first picking the Model of the binoculars then clearing the Scale field and pressing the Update button The next 2 inputs 3 and 4 are reserved for serial inputs from electronic theodolites electronic compass GPS and AIS etc The communications port number must be ent
6. ce between the tide chart values and the VADAR value adjust this value by the mean difference between the two The time lag value can also be adjusted by finding the exact time of low high tide in VADAR by entering a number of dummy additional observations at about 15 minute intervals either side of the low high tide time Add a time lag factor decimal hours if the time of the VADAR low high tide is different than the tide charts However for surveys done in areas where these tide parameters cannot be determined or in areas of unusual or very high tide fluctuations the tide heights can be input by means of tide charts This file must be built from information obtained from tide charts over the period of the survey Usually this information is available on the internet DETERMINING STATION HEIGHT The Station height can be calculated using a technique known as trigonometric levelling This uses a known distance and height of a target to calculate the station height using vertical angles measured to the target Corrections for tides earth curvature refraction and instrument height are all included The position of a target at sea level height 0 0m tide must be measured using GPS and you must insure that the VCIC has been determined for the instrument Select Station Height from the New Obs menu Type in the East and North co ordinates or latitude and longitude for the target in the first two fields Type the Face Left vertical
7. ck on the next to Ports COM amp LPT All the serial COMS ports should now be listed along with their port number COM1 to COM You can now also right click on each device and get its properties Find the port COM number to be used for your instrument Serial to USB converters will have to be already plugged in for this to work 4 Setting up Serial Device in VADAR Start VADAR and open up the project file details Project gt Edit Project The I O systems information box is at the bottom left Devices 3 and 4 are reserved for serial input devices NOTE VADAR can only use communication ports 1 to 9 therefore if the USB to serial converter has assigned a port number higher than 9 it will have to be changed to another number usually 3 to 9 using the device manager 12 13 5 Error Messages Cannot CONNECT to Comms Port This means that the Comms Port number does not exist has not been assigned by Windows This could mean that the Serial to USB converter is not plugged in or the incorrect port number is assigned in VADAR Cannot OPEN Comms Port This means that another program already has control of this Comms Port The program could be VADAR itself one of the previous devices is using the same port Windows or some other program Sometimes Windows may see a device such as a GPS as a mouse and take control of that devices serial port you may see the mouse moving random
8. e bottom of the window You may wish to edit your project files before you start any surveys see below but this should only have to be done once One of the more important data that needs to be setup and also one of the more difficult things to be done is establishing the settings for your survey instrument VADAR will not be able to talk to your instrument until these settings are correct see Serial Input Device Setup It is most important that the time and Time Zone settings for your computer Windows are correct for your region otherwise tides and observations taken with GPS will have incorrect times STARTING VADAR Start VADAR by selecting it from the Programs menu or double click on the shortcut icon Once started VADAR will load the last project files that were used and display this in the status bar at the bottom of the window See the VADAR user manual on how to start a survey and take observations etc VADAR Survey FILES AND FOLDERS VADAR will create at least two data output files for each survey that has been started The main file has the survey observation data and is known as the Survey file The other contains the auxiliary data The name structure for the Survey and Auxiliary files are NAME_ss_yymmdd_ tt VSF and NAME_ss_yymmdd_ tt VAF Where NAME is the project name always 4 characters ss is the Survey number usually 01 except with networked projects yymmdd is the year mo
9. e old serial port system There are a number of steps that need to be carried out to get any serial communication device working properly 1 Setting up the instrument to use serial communications Theodolites GPS electronic compass and AIS devices must be setup for serial communications Different brands of theodolites and electronic compass will have their own standards for serial communications GPS and AIS will use standard protocols such as NEMA Use the instruments manual and setup procedures to insure the instrument is setup for serial communications and note down the default baud rate parity and data bits being used e g 4800 8 1 even 4800 baud 8 data bits 1 stop bit and even parity 2a Setting up the serial port connection Most old computers and some of the newer ones have a serial port connector 15 pin D shaped plugs These serial ports will be assigned ports 1 and 2 Most theodolites and GPS etc can be directly connected to the computer through this plug 2b Setting up serial communications on the computer using USB A Serial to USB converter can be used to get a serial comms port device connected via the computers USB plug This will involve setting up the converter using its install software A device driver will be installed on the windows system and each time the converter is plugged into the computers USB socket Windows will see the connection as a serial port device not a USB and a serial port number wi
10. ered into the Port field Once the Model name for the instrument is picked and the Baud and Data Bits etc fields are cleared then pressing the Update button will have VADAR fill in the default values for these The Test 3 and Test 4 buttons can be used to allow VADAR to try and determine which communication ports are available BUT the baud rate etc may still be incorrect and VADAR may report some ports available which in fact it may not be available for more detail see the Serial Import Device setup at the end of this document The fifth data time int for theodolites may be used as a horizontal offset if the bearing to the Reference Target is to be set to 0 0 in this case put the magnetic or true bearing to the Reference Target in this space as well decimal degrees More I O systems are available for cameras etc TIDE DATA BOTTOM RIGHT The harmonic tide data is generated when a new VADAR project is created This data cannot be changed except for the Mean Tide Value and Tide Time Lag parameters see the tide section for more information TIDES The tide values are shown both on the window title bar current tide value and on the information title dialog tide at time of observation VADAR will normally calculate the tide heights continuously based on the tide parameters for the job These parameters are determined for open ocean areas around the globe and are usually of s
11. ll be assigned to the connection Sometimes the driver software may report the port number assigned but usually not Different USB sockets will be assigned different serial port numbers 11 12 3 Determine the serial port number The serial port connection will be assigned a port number 1 to about 20 or more A serial port connection 2a will be assigned a number from 1 to 4 usually 1 and or 2 as most computers will only have one serial port if any But often if there is only one physical serial port connection if may be assigned as either port 1 or 2 which ever gets used first but it may appear as if there are 2 serial ports available when in fact there is only one A serial to USB converter 2b will be assigned a number from 1 onwards usually from 5 to about 16 as ports 1 to 4 may be reserved for serial ports on the PC BUT sometimes there will be no indication of what the serial port number is assigned to each USB connection and therefore this port number must be determined a Open the Windows System Properties menu by Click on Start on the Windows task bar and then click on Control Panel and then double click on System Or Right click on My Computer and then click on Properties b Open the device manager Click on the Hardware tab and then click on Device Manager Or just click on Device Manager c Expand the Ports COM amp LPT item cli
12. ly on the screen in this case It is better to start VADAR first so that it has control of the comms ports before the device is plugged in Programs such as ActiveSync will also take control of all serial ports and USB connections and in this case the serial comms port control will then have to be disabled in ActiveSync so VADAR can use it Another program may have control of the serial port and will have to be shutdown this may be shown in the Windows System Properties see above Cannot get SET Comms Port State This means that the VADAR cannot take control of the Comms port This could mean that the Serial to USB driver is not working properly a yellow triangle will be placed on the COM icon in Device Manager Caution Sometimes Comms Port numbers 1 and 2 may both be assigned to the one physical Comms port if there is only one serial port on the computer Only port 1 or 2 can be used not both Ports 1 and 2 should not be assigned to a USB to serial input 13
13. n TimeZone 10 0 E Tite VADAR Project Station Yessel Target information Groups Layers Type Latitude Longitude Station Height Inst Height East i Name Symbol Speed Course Track Behaviour Survey Station STATION 03256 4 412 151 4647 369 54 255 1 500 385928 65 6355307 43 Humpback S 180 0 Reference Obiect RO 0325555 071 151 46 43 8174 0 000 385833 00 6355594 03 Bo fo Noe so 800 Movina Ean lolphins PT PT I EER oving West dolphins RO o oving South umpback N oving North ving Bo OAT HP mo Bo po ot Moving oving Fast oo oo oo 00 AtAnchor oo po E es Vessel i ollowing Pod me Use CAPITALS for Survey Vessels TRACKS Latitude Longitude format is DDD dddd If co ordinates for RO are not known then put Bearing in field is multilevel NAME Symbol A 14 24 etc i 0 0 w D 0 A w M arget Only ONE Station or Survey Vessel and ONE Reference Object to be selected Use Marker as others can be Target AIS 1 Start at Level 1 14 24 etc Default Group Port Scale Baud Data Bits Parity Stop Bits Time int FL1 Dist int FL 2 Wenn Tide value 2000 280 000 0000 16 000 Tide Time Lag 0 0000 Get GPS fix before obs To Update Data Clear data cell before pressing Update Test 3 Test 4 The Edit Project dialog box is broken into a number of sections
14. nth and day tt is the start time nearest hour of the survey is always 01 with network surveys The VSF file is the survey file containing all records observations for the survey The VAF file is the auxiliary file containing other information such as weather start stop survey times etc All output survey files are stored in a folder called NAME which is created under the main folder containing the VADAR program VADAR Track Names Each observation to a pod or vessel will be assigned to a Track number and name VADAR will automatically name new tracks when they are observed Pod tracks are labelled A to Z prefix is a space then followed by 1A to 1z then 2A to 2Z etc Vessel Tracks are labelled lt 1 gt to lt 999 gt If VADAR determines that a new observation is to a new track line it will give it the next available label otherwise the observation will be assigned to an existing track Any incorrect labelling can be quickly fixed by editing the observed data The track name for any pod or vessel can be up to 10 characters including any prefix The name can be changed using the edit functions The names for track lines in other groups layers can have a prefix symbol at the front see below CHANGING PROJECT SETTINGS GA vapar a EDIT PROJECT Edit PROJECT details Type of Survey Licence Magnetic Declination 13 00 UTM Zone 56 E 5 H ame DEMO SuveylDi 1 Land Station STUDENT Editio
15. ture colour integer 0 to 255 IT thickness or size of feature integer 1 or greater IS style of feature integer 1 or greater X X coordinate East m or Latitude decimal degrees real decimal number y Y coordinate North m or Longitude decimal degrees real decimal number h height coordinate metres real decimal number text text up to 40 characters The structure for each feature is LINE IR IG IB IT IS IT line thickness IS line style 1 continuous X y X yY CONTOUR IR IG IB IT IS h IT line thickness IS line style 1 continuous X y X y POLYGON IR IG IB IT IS IT ine thickness IS poly fill style 1 solid fill X y X y etc TEXT IR IG IB IT IS_ IT character height IS 1 X y text POINT IR IG IB IT IS IT symbol height IS symbol type 1 2 x 37 0 474 etc X y h 10 10 11 ZONE IR IG IB IT IS IT line thickness IS poly fill style 1 solid fill X y X y etc SERIAL INPUT Device SETUP One of the more difficult tasks is to get a serial input device setup and communicating with VADAR Most devices such as theodolites GPS electronic compass and AIS use the old serial port 15 pin D plugs for communications This system has been replaced with USB Universal Serial Bus and now only a few computers have serial ports although most of the instruments still communicate with th
16. ufficient accuracy needed for theodolite tracking These tide heights are computed as oscillations from mean sea level and therefore can be either a positive or negative value Tide charts usually have all tides shown as positive numbers Therefore VADAR adds a correction value mean tide value to the computed values so that they can be comparable to the values shown in tide charts But the correction value mean tide height may only be an estimated value and can be in error which may appear as a shift between the VADAR tide values and those displayed in tide charts but values used by VADAR will be correct Any small error in the tide heights can be adjusted by changing the mean tide value A time lag value can also be entered if there is a time difference between the VADAR computed tide heights and the tide chart values This may occur in places where the survey area is some distance from open ocean waters The value of these two tide parameters can be determined by comparing the VADAR predicted tide height to that from local tide charts over a number of days Tide charts normally show the times for the low and high tides along with the tide height Dummy additional observations can be entered into VADAR changing the observation time to equal the times for the low and high tides Compare the VADAR tide values with that of the tide charts The mean tide value in the Project Edit Dialog can be adjusted so that there is a minimal differen
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