R/V Atlantis Shipboard Computing: Data Collection

In addition to the proprietary data collection of the current science party, the data collected on the Alvin data system is downloaded after a dive as well. All data is logged into subdirectories under a master data directory residing on the fileserver linus.

The master directory is:
linus/home/data

This data can be accessed from accounts on linus, or can be exported via nfs to allow mounting on other computers. All access to this data is read-only. Each specific data source has its own subdirectory under the master.

Examples are:
linus/home/data/athena
linus/home/data/alvin/raw
linus/home/data/ctd

Other Resources

There is a 150 KHz acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) aboard the ship with its display in the Computer Lab. This system is configured to use RD Instrument’s Transect data acquisition software. Data is logged on linus in /files/linus/data/adcp. The ADCP has heading information supplied by the ship's gyro, and Atlantis has an Ashtech Model 3-DF attitude sensor which supplies additional heading, pitch and roll information (post-processing is required to integrate ADCP and Ashtech data).

Navigation information is available from P-Code GPS and multiple dithered GPS receivers (differential when within shore station range). The information is distributed throughout the ship as RS232 data in real time.

Video capture from Alvin digital video tapes can be achieved via two iMac computers situated beside the science digital duping station located in the Main Lab. One iMac has iMovie software installed and the other has Final Cut Pro. Both software packages afford the scientists a very user-friendly method of editing the multiple and lengthy Alvin digital videos down to "Best Of" versions which can then be, depending on size*, burned on a CD or DVD or dubbed back to any video media of their choice. In addition to creating movies, the software also allows the user to frame grab and save still images as .jpg files. The science duping station consists of two each players and recorders for digital DVcam, Mini-DVcam, Hi-8 and VHS/SVHS media. For more information on Alvin video click here.

*Scientists must bring blank media to store the movies that they create. Typically, a CD is not large enough for the "best of" creations; DVcam or DVD are more common choices.