Field Setup

Initial blurb here

Hardware Setup

Necessary Field Components

  • Deck Cable with enough length to run from lab to deployment deck
  • Tow cable at least 1.5 times the length of desired tow distance
  • Winch on deck to tow the cable and array best for larger vessel setups
  • Towed Array or single hydrophone acoustic recording device - for more information on towed arrays and hydrophone, see the Array Models section - link
  • ‘ARS’ “Acoustic Recording System” consisting of at a minimum a soundcard and power source
  • GPS connection to determine current location
  • Computer System used for real time monitoring and data collection
  • Data storage typically consisting of external drives or NAS solutions

The necessary setup will vary significantly based on the scale of the system and size of the vessel, however the following process remains similar

Run Deck Cable

Starting from the ‘lab’ location on the vessel, begin by running the deck cable from the lab to the deployment location on the back deck. Pay attention to each end of the deck cable to ensure the appropriate end connections are in the correct orientation.

A couple general rules include:

  • When running cable along the deck, it is best practice to run on the outside of railings and poles to avoid trip hazards, do not run across busy passageways or deck space without a cable cover. Avoid any pinch points such as doors hinges, tight corners, or crane junctions

  • Secure the cable gently but securely with zip ties, allowing for natural movement with ship movement

  • Leave plenty of cable on the back deck to comfortably connect to the tow cable, locate a safe space to store connector end when not in use

Winch and Tow Cable

  • If using a winch, station securely on the back deck at the desired location, preferably as close to center deck width as possible

  • Spool the tow cable onto the winch by securing the attachment end to the winch for easy access, then carefully feeding the cable onto the moving winch ensuring the cable is not tangled

Towed Array

Attach the towed array to the end of the tow cable and secure connection with water tight tape such as electrical tape, self amalgamating tape, or Christy’s plumbers tape - If desired, pin test prior to connection using the guide linked here - link - If desired, secure a tail line to the end of the array to reduce drag movement

Lab Setup

  • Acoustic Recording System Setup ARS based on specification and complexity of the system, and connect the deck cable end to the ARS soundcard. Ideal power sources can vary based on the ship power and the level of noise input into the acoustic system. When in doubt, a 12V marine battery is a suitable choice to power the recording system with minimal noise.

  • Computer and Data Storage Larger NOAA operations use two laptop computers, one for monitoring a click detector and tracking, and the other for a spectrogram, data entry, and recording of raw data. If using an external data storage hard drive, connect this to the recording computer.

  • GPS Connection If applicable, use a serial port to connect to the vessel’s NMEA GPS string. If the vessel does not have this capability, use a self contained GPS device. For more details see the GPS section - link

Software Setup

Viewing acoustic data in real time will require a spectrogram software such as those listed below. Database software ### Recommended Software:

  • Pamguard: preferred software for acoustic data visualization and monitoring

  • SQLite Studio: for pamguard database viewing

  • A-D Depth Board: for corresponding depth sensors if applicable

-NMEA GPS String: for GPS connection if applicable

  • Ishmael: alternative/secondary acoustic data visualization
  • Raven: alternative/secondary acoustic data visualization

Software

Pamguard is an open source software widely used in acoustic research. Download pamguard here - link. New versions are released regularly, check for updates for new features and bug fixes.

Pamguard will require a configuration settings file, .pfsx, which can be fully customized to the users needs. Basic configuration files will include: Binary Data - set pathway to desired data folder Database - set pathway to desired database location Sound Acquisition - set pathway to sound card FFT Spectrogram Click Detector Recording Location - set pathway for raw data However there are many additional modules which can be added. Please see Pamguard Software - link for more details on configurations, settings, and plug ins.

SQLite Studio is necessary to visualize pamguard databases created during data collection. Download the latest version here - link

Soundcard Software: bespoke software is typically required for compatible soundcards. Common examples include a SailDAQ, NiDAQ, Fireface, etc. Typically soundcard hardware will come with the required software, check the manuals for further details. For more informtaion on soundcards, see hardware - link here

Depth Board: common NOAA towed arrays have depth sensors read by a depth board hardware which require software and drivers. See depth board manuals for more details. More information on depth sensors and boards can be found in Hardware - link

NMEA GPS String: blurb here

ADD THE DETAILS OF EACH HERE OR IN THE SOFTWARE SECTION?