teledyne atlas parasound - uni-hamburg.de - original version in german language prof. dr. c ... but...

File: Teledyne-ATLAS-PARASOUND_Instruction-Manual_EN_v1.0

Doc. No.: None / Edition: 05.2015 / Version: 1.0 / Status: Final

Instruction Manual

Teledyne ATLAS PARASOUND High-Performance Full Ocean Depth Sub-Bottom Profiler

Figure: R/V SONNE during high-sea operation. PARASOUND is still operational. Courtesy of RF Forschungsschiffahrt GmbH

Teledyne ATLAS PARASOUND Table of Contents Instruction Manual


Doc. No.: None / Edition: 05.2015 / Version: 1.0 / Status: Final i

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1-2

2 TELEDYNE ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL ............................................................. 2-1

2.1 BASIC SETTINGS ..................................................................................................... 2-4 2.1.1 Transmission Sequence ................................................................................ 2-4 2.1.2 Transmission Source Level ........................................................................... 2-6 2.1.3 Pulse Characteristics .................................................................................... 2-7 2.1.4 Advanced Settings ........................................................................................ 2-8

2.2 SOUNDER ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 2-9 2.3 OPERATION .......................................................................................................... 2-13 2.4 WATCH KEEPING .................................................................................................. 2-14 2.5 APPLIED DATA ...................................................................................................... 2-14

3 TELEDYNE ATLAS PARASTORE ............................................................................ 3-15

3.1 ECHOGRAM AND SPECTOGRAM ............................................................................. 3-16 3.1.1 Show Single Trace ...................................................................................... 3-17 3.1.2 Data Selection ............................................................................................. 3-18 3.1.3 Window Scale ............................................................................................. 3-18 3.1.4 Filtering ....................................................................................................... 3-19 3.1.5 Amplitude Scale .......................................................................................... 3-19 3.1.6 Stacking ...................................................................................................... 3-20 3.1.7 Graphic Area ............................................................................................... 3-20

3.2 REPLAY PARASTORE ......................................................................................... 3-21

4 GENERAL OPERATION ............................................................................................ 4-22

4.1 STARTING UP THE SYSTEM .................................................................................... 4-22 4.2 MONITORING ........................................................................................................ 4-24

4.2.1 Teledyne ATLAS PARASTORE Monitoring ................................................ 4-24 4.2.2 Teledyne ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL Monitoring ............................... 4-25

4.3 REBOOTING .......................................................................................................... 4-26 4.4 SHUTTING DOWN THE SYSTEM .............................................................................. 4-26

5 SAVING, PRINTING, DATA BACKUP ....................................................................... 5-27

5.1 SAVING ................................................................................................................ 5-27 5.1.1 ASD Files .................................................................................................... 5-28 5.1.2 SEG-Y and PS3 files ................................................................................... 5-33

5.2 PRINTING .............................................................................................................. 5-35 5.3 DATA BACKUP ....................................................................................................... 5-35

6 MAIN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OVERVIEW ................................................... 6-36

6.1 ANALOG ELECTRONIC UNIT ................................................................................... 6-36 6.2 DIGITAL ELECTRONIC UNIT .................................................................................... 6-39 6.3 INTERCONNECTION UNIT (ICU) .............................................................................. 6-40 6.4 COMMON COMPONENTS ....................................................................................... 6-41

7 ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ 7-1

Teledyne ATLAS PARASOUND List of Figures Instruction Manual


Doc. No.: None / Edition: 05.2015 / Version: 1.0 / Status: Final ii

Teledyne ATLAS PARASOUND Instruction Manual


Doc. No.: None / Edition: 05.2015 / Version: 1.0 / Status: Final 1-1

Change Log

Version Changes Author(s) Date

0.1 - Original version in German language Prof. Dr. C. Hübscher

20.02.2008

0.2 - Reviewed and updated version in German language

- Initial, draft version for translation

J. Ewert

D. Rosenboom

15.07.2014

0.3 - First translated version in English D. Rosenboom 19.05.2015

0.4 - Formatted and cross-checked version after translation

D. Rosenboom 30.05.2015

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1 Introduction

This manual about the Teledyne ATLAS PARASOUND, a full ocean depth parametric sub-bottom profiler, shall give a brief overview of the most important settings and features of the system.

A PARASOUND system typically consists of a Master Control PC with two monitors in the operator room, an optional second PC for data acquisition and storage and another optional third computer for post-processing. On R/V MARIA S. MERIAN there are even two Master Control PCs on the bridge and one Master Control PC in the operator room. The system operator is responsible for solving any system malfunctions, also those related to the system hardware.

The software package consists of Teledyne ATLAS HYDROMAP SERVER, Teledyne ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL and Teledyne ATLAS PARASTORE. The HYDROMAP SERVER starts automatically on the Master Control PC 1 when booting the system, HYDROMAP CONTROL and PARASTORE have to be started manually by the user.

Via HYDROMAP CONTROL a connection to the PARASOUND system is established, the system can be turned on and off and basic parameters of the transmitted pulses can be set. There will be not only raw data, but also real part and phase of the zero band-mixed signals saved as ATLAS SOUNDING DATA (ASD) files.

In order to reduce the amount of data to be stored a short analogue stave is preceded by the suppression of gross disturbances prior to sampling. Then, a digital Alialising-filter decimates the data to an intermediate frequency, followed by a zero band mixture, i.e. a shifting of the centre signal to the zero point (real part of the enveloping and phase remain). The user has only influence on the following decimation afterwards.

Via PARASTORE the user can do online replay, print out and processing of data which are then stored in SEG-Y or PS3 format. Data post-processing in PARASTORE can be done by reading in the ASD or PS3 files in offline mode. Before operating the system the user should be aware which data of which frequencies and depths are really required in order to keep the amount of data to be stored to a minimum.

It should be also noted that depending on the survey task the preparation and system start-up in terms of finding suitable settings for the different frequencies can be time consuming.

The original version of this instruction manual was made by PARASOUND users during a system training on R/V MARIA S. MERIAN cruise no. MSM07/1 in February 2008. Therefore, special thanks go to Prof. Dr. C. Hübscher, A. Müller-Michaelis, P. V. Pulm, B. J. Weiß, all at Institute for Geophysics, Center for Marine and Climate Research at University of Hamburg as well as Dr. F. Niessen, Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Bremerhaven, for the creation of the manual providing PARASOUND users a practical instruction guideline from the user perspective.




2 Teledyne ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL

At first, the user has to determine several settings of the PARASOUND system such as frequency, waveform and operating mode. This is done within the program HYDROMAP CONTROL. The program is started by via the following icon.

Program Icon

After starting the program the operator will be asked to log in as User first.

User: hydro

Password: {-None-}

Confirmation by OK.

Application window

Note: User name and password can vary from ship to ship. In order to make the basic settings, the echo sounder must first be turned on and the connection to the echo sounder needs to be established.




For start of the echo sounder the user has to click System Switch Power

At next a new window opens in which the user has to select ON which is afterwards confirmed by Yes After confirmation the window can be closed by clicking Close. In the following three to five minutes the system will be booted up.

System start

Confirmation window




As soon as the message Ready for Connect! in the status window (Message List) appears, the connection to the echo sounder can be established.

This is done by clicking the following icon:

or alternatively via System Connect Echsounder.

The connection is established when the message Connected user `hydro` will appear in the Message List of the status window.

After the echo sounder is activated and the connected it is recommended to control Ship’s Data, especially whether the ship’s draught is known to the system.

If this is not the case, the user has to insert the draught and its draught accuracy via System Set Ship’s Parameters.

Status Window

Set Ship’s Parameters




The system is now in standby. Here it should be ensured that the displayed system time matches with the on-board time (if not contact the System Operator of the vessel for synchronization).

By clicking the icon

or alternatively via System Control Echsounder the user gets into the menu to set the basic parameters.

2.1 Basic Settings

In this chapter waveform, signal length, pulse shape (note: a signal sequence can consist of several pulses), frequency, transmission mode, etc. will be set.

Remark:

The relevant mode (e.g. Transmission Sequence) has to be activated

so that the following explanations will match with the following figures.

2.1.1 Transmission Sequence

This is related to the setting of the waveform. The user can choose from:

Transmission Sequence Description

Single Pulse There will be one pulse in the water column

Pulse Train There will be a sequence of pulses in the water column

Quasi-Equidistant-Transmission The system transmits at equal intervals, a signal into the water column, irrespective of whether the previously transmitted signal was already received back at the receiver. Therefore, there can be more than one signal in the water column in deep sea areas.

Control Echosounder




Normally the Quasi-Equidistant-Transmission Mode should be set during recording.

The time interval (Desired Time Interval) in which a signal shall be transmitted into the water column will be defined under Quasi-Equidistant. It should not be below 100 ms in shallow waters. In deep water the practical values are in the range between 1,200 to 2,000 ms.

The optimal time interval in deep water areas has to be investigated through the try-and-error principle in order to avoid disturbances in the water column or on slopes and thus to eliminate cracks in the system depth to an incorrect value. Generally the minimum possible time interval is desirable. For larger noise signals in the online view (see Chapter 3) the frequency may be set piecewise high. A good starting point in deep water area is 1,000 ms.

Transmission Sequence




Choosing the pulse train mode, under Desired Number of Pulses, the number of pulses per transmission cycle can be selected. Standard values are 8 to 10 pulses.

With respect to the Single Pulse Mode no additional settings are necessary.

2.1.2 Transmission Source Level

Only the transmission voltage should be of importance for standard operations. Generally, the higher the transmission voltage, the more energy is released into the water column. This is a factor in order to achieve deep penetration into the sea bottom.

Attention: For the P-SBP and

P-MBES Mode the voltage should be set ever to 160 V.

Transmission Sequence

Transmission Source Level




2.1.3 Pulse Characteristics

Here the pulse shape (length or number of periods contained therein) will be chosen. A standard configuration would be for example:

Pulse Length: Manual

Pulse Type: Continuous Wave

Pulse Shape: Rectangular

Manual Pulse Length: 0.500 ms

No. of Periods per Pulse: 2

With respect to the frequencies standard wise the following values should be chosen:

Desired PHF Frequency: 19,800 kHz

Desired SLF or PLF Frequency: 4,000 kHz

Note: The Current PHF and PLF Frequency values indicate the technically implemented frequencies of the system.

Pulse Characteristics




2.1.4 Advanced Settings

Once the waveform has been defined, the parameters of the signal recording (sampling) must be specified. These are of course dependent on the transmission signal.

In order to keep this rather complex chapter short and comprehensible to the standard user, only the standard values are listed below (matching to pulse characteristics under Basic Settings).

For more detailed information please refer to other PARASOUND literature.

PHF and SHF

Determination of the bandwidth of the sampled PHF/SHF input signal (zero mixed) and the sample rate.

Mode: Manual

Output Sample Rate: 6.1 kHz

Band Width: 66%

The given values apply for PHF- same as for SHF-values.

SLF or PLF

Mode: Manual

Output Sample Rate: 6.1 kHz

Band Width: 66%

Advanced Settings




Note: The settings to be adjusted here always have to be chosen with respect to the defined signal. At high-frequency signals it has to be sampled higher than at low-frequency signals. Since false sampling leads to uncorrectable errors in the data, the following rule of thumb should always be fulfilled:

Band width ≥ SLF/PLF-Frequency / Number of Periods per Pulse

here: 0.66 * 6.1 kHz = 4.0 kHz ≥ 2.0 kHz = 4000 Hz / 2 ☺

If at the SLF an output sample rate of 12.2 kHz is selected, the bandwidth must not exceed 33%.

Note: Under Mode also Automatic can be chosen. The automatic mode however, tends to unnecessarily high scan. This increases the volume of data and the high-frequency noise portion.

2.2 Sounder Environment

Here the parameters that the system requires to “find” or “retain” the sea bottom are specified.

Furthermore, the desired penetration into the sediment/the sea bottom is specified.

System Depth Source:

Selection of the source from which the system receives the depth data.

Here the user can choose from between manual input, the system depth from another batch (other Sounding System) and one of the PARASOUND depths.

C-Mean and C-Keel:

The values stated here correspond to the speed of sound in water. PARASOUND requires this in order to assign a corresponding depth (C-Mean) to the run times of the signals and to emit the sound in the correct direction (C-Keel).

Sounder Environment




Depth Search Window:

Desired Bottom Penetration: specification of the desired penetration depth into the sea bottom in m.

The value entered here must not be confused with the actual penetration depth – it merely states the depth into the sea bottom to which measurements are recorded. The selection of the penetration depth is dependent on the soil characteristics.

PARASOUND requires the limitation of the water depth in order to find the sea bottom for the first time, but also for the automatic tracking of the sea bottom.

The depth window can be specified under Mode in 3 ways:

- Fixed Min./Max. Depth Limit

The depth window lies between two fixed values

- Fixed Min. Depth Limit

The depth window lies below a minimum depth. The maximum search depth is variable.

- Fixed Max. Depth Limit

The deep window lies shallower than a maximum depth. The minimum search depth is variable.

The depth window is defined under Minimum Depth and Maximum Depth.

However, it must be manually carried along during data.

PARASOUND also offers a Variable Min./Max. Depth Limit mode, which should automatically update this window based on the status of the sea bottom.

In the case of rougher morphology, the system does, however, tend to lose the sea bottom or to falsely interpret background noise in the water column as the sea bottom.

Therefore, by default the system should be set to Fixed Min./Max. Depth Limit mode, or optionally the depth window should be carried along in the PARASTORE program (see below: Special case 2).




Special case 1: The system is commissioned for the first time and there is no depth data available.

In order to quickly and safely find (or re-find) the sea bottom, the following steps should be performed:

1. In Basic Settings under Settings, activate the Transmission Sequence item and there select Single Pulse.

2. In the Sounder Environment, under Settings, activate the System Depth Source item and there select Manual.

3. Under Manual Depth enter a slightly larger depth than that read, e.g. from the ship’s DVS.

4. In the Depth Search Window define the depth window

(Modus: Fixed Min./Max. Depth Limit)

5. Confirm with APPLY

6. Under Sensor Operation switch from STANDBY to SOUNDING.

After approx. 1 min, the depths calculated from the PHF and SLF frequencies will be displayed under Bottom Depth.

7. Under System Depth Source (Settings) set the source for the depth data desired for

ongoing operation (default is PHF) and under Transmission Sequence (Basic Settings) set the desired signal form.

8. Confirm with APPLY.

Special Case 1




Special case 2: Control of the depth window using the PARASTORE software

The following settings in HYDROMAP CONTROL are for setting the carrying along of the depth window by PARASTORE:

1. Set a Master Delay in PARASTORE (see Chapter 3).

2. Under Reference Depth in the Pulse Train Reception Window select PARASTORE.

3. Confirm with APPLY.




2.3 Operation

Within the Operation menu, the parameters for securing and saving are specified.

Locking: If this option is activated, then the system is secured against intentional or dangerous unintentional external access (bridge PC). The activation of this option is therefore recommended.

Data Recording:

Here the user can define for which frequency which part of the recorded data should be recorded.

For the PHF and PLF or SLF frequencies, the user can choose between…

- Full Profile (Water column plus defined sediment penetration [see Sounder

Environment])

- Sediment (Defined sediment penetration only [see Sounder Environment]) - Water Column (Water column only) - Manual (Manually specified range)

… and for the SHF frequency between

- Full Profile (Water column plus defined sediment penetration [see Sounder Environment])

- Manual (Manually specified range) WARNING: The Water Column option only makes sense if the Single Pulse option is activated under Transmission Sequence (see Basic Settings). Exception in Quasi Equidistant Transmission mode: the Desired Time Interval should be set as such that there is only a signal in the water column (only practical in the shallow water area).

Confirm all changes with APPLY.

If all settings are applied, then the system can be put into operation. This is done by switching from STANDBY to SOUNDING under Sensor Operation.

For the further visualisation of the recorded data and to save in other formats, PARASTORE is used.

Operation Menu

Sensor Operation




2.4 Watch Keeping

This menu includes all settings that the watch-keepers must monitor and configure in the HYDROMAP CONTROL software during ongoing operation.

Here two points are particularly important:

The monitoring or carrying along of the Depth Search Window and the monitoring of the system status (RUN or STOP) under Sensor Operation.

2.5 Applied Data

This window provides an overview of important parameters that have previously been defined by the user or automatically by the system.

Watch keeping




3 Teledyne ATLAS PARASTORE

PARASTORE is opened once all settings have been applied in HYDROMAP CONTROL and when the system is set to SOUNDING.

Under PARASTORE Status (Figure 1) the user first sets which signals are to be recorded (Acquisition) and which to be saved (Storage).

The user should check that the correct Sounder is selected.

P70 (on some ships P35) should be selected as the Sounder under Settings Select Sounder.

Furthermore, the storage settings are configured under Settings Acquisition Control (see Chapter 5).

Figure 1




3.1 Echogram and Spectogram

In order to graphically display properties of the received data, either an echogram or a spectrogram are called up via Survey New (Figure 2). Both can be used for the PHF, SHF and PLF/SLF. The echogram is looked at in closer detail below. The spectrogram is mainly used to receive information regarding frequency properties.

The echogram window (Figures 3 and 5) shows the individual traces alongside one another. The representation of the signal intensity is based on the colour scale on the left edge of the echogram. Using the arrow on the right side of the echogram, the image section can be moved up and down by the step sizes configured under Step Size. The Delay field shows from which depth an image is produced.

WARNING: A new setting in one of the tabs has to be confirmed using the Apply Button, in order for the setting to be applied. As a reminder the button lights up in yellow prior to confirmation.

Figure 3

Figure 2




3.1.1 Show Single Trace

The visualisation of a single trace can be found in the echogram window under View Show Single Trace (Figure 4).

The visualisation of a single trace can be further refined using the various settings (Figure 5).

A low pass filter can be applied by selecting Low Pass. Under Iteration the user can specify how many iterations are to be applied when filtering. Higher values increase the edge steepness, but also the computing effort. Using High Cut, the desired upper frequency can also be configured. The optimal filter properties can be found using the spectrogram.

If the button for Clip is selected under Amplitude Scale, then the amplitude is clipped above this value. If Clip is not selected, then the value is standardised using the maximum value of the echogram. Examples of the use of the Clip function can be found below. Threshold is a threshold value that determines under which amplitude value no amplitudes are taken into consideration. In order to also show reflections from deeper layers with a reasonable degree of clarity, the user can apply a signal amplification using Bottom TVC that increases with depth.

We shall now look at the tabs belonging to the echogram.

Figure 4

Figure 5




3.1.2 Data Selection

In this tab the user has the option to add additional information to the normal echogram, e.g. curves that indicate the Heave, Roll, Pitch, etc. In Figure 6 this is shown vertically above the echogram. During the normal operation of the PARASOUND, this setting can, however, be omitted. Under Data Type the user can choose between Absolute Value and Phase Shift.

The former should be selected during normal operation, while the phase shift can naturally be viewed under Phase Shift.

3.1.3 Window Scale

Here the scaling of the graphics area is defined. The most important thing is the Type option. If multiple echograms are open, then one of them can lose the Delay Master status (Figure 7). If, in the case of Delay Master, settings are to be applied to the display range of the signal, then all echograms with the Follow Delay Master status follow these settings. The Delay Master Status may also be required for the depth adjustment in HYDROMAP CONTROL.

Figure 6

Figure 7




3.1.4 Filtering

Just like when filtering an individual signal in Single Trace, a low pass filter can also be applied in the echogram. To set the High Cut it is appropriate that the user also open the spectrogram in addition to the Echogram and check in which frequency range the usable signal lies and in which the interference signal lies, that is, from which frequency the filter should be applied. Overall, for the filter the user can choose between low pass filter, cross-correlation and deconvolution. It is normally beneficial to select Low Pass and to set the High Cut to 6 kHz.

3.1.5 Amplitude Scale

When configuring the amplitude scale, the same options are available for the echogram as for the Single Trace (Figure 5), however, graphically speaking they have a different effect. Whereas in the case of Single Trace amplitudes are clipped, here the colour scale used is adapted to the scaled amplitudes. The Threshold value, that is, the lowest amplitude (and all values below it), is shown with the lowest colour and the Clip value with the highest. An example of the effect of the Clip can be seen in figures 9 and 10. The user can read the Max. Ampl. (maximum amplitude) on the echogram; generally the Clip value should be set slightly lower than the Max. Ampl. Figure 9 shows (from left to right) precisely this case, alongside a Clip value that has been set too low, and beside this an unclipped signal. Figure 10 shows the effect that the Clip value being set too low can have on the amplitudes.

Warning: The user should better not clip at all instead of setting a Clip value that is too low!

Figure 9 Figure 10

Figure 8




3.1.6 Stacking

Stacking involves adding together neighbouring traces and making use of the effect whereby interference signals overlap in a destructive manner and the reflected signals, which appear on neighbouring traces at almost exactly the same time, are amplified.

Reduction: the number of pings entered is added and combined to form an individual ping. This reduces the data quantity, but at the same time also results in a lower lateral resolution.

Pulsetrain: this option can only be selected when the PARASOUND is operated in Pulsetrain mode. Here Pulsetrains are added together to form individual pings.

Moving Mean Window: with this setting, neighbouring traces are added to the current trace. Thus the number of pings remains the same here.

In normal operation it is advised that the user does not stack, i.e. select the Stacking OFF option under Mode.

3.1.7 Graphic Area

In normal operation, the settings in the Graphic Area should be selected as shown in Figure 12. The selection of Scroll Window is advisable to display a larger area of the.

Under Amplitude Colour Table, the colour table used to display the echogram can be changed.

Figure 11

Figure 12




Replay PARASTORE

3.2 Replay PARASTORE

In PARASTORE’s Replay mode the user can read the previously recorded files and proceed in the same way as described under 3.1 for ongoing operation.

For replay, as in record mode, PARASTORE is started using the respective desktop icon. Error messages can be ignored. It should be noted that in order to start the program, the inbound server and the file must be installed. This is not automatically the case on computers on which the software is only to be used for processing.

In order to start Replay mode, Operation Mode is opened under Settings. In the Operation Mode window, Offline Operation is selected. Furthermore, the user can select whether a file or a directory should be loaded. If files from an old PARASOUND version are opened, then Select Directory NBS/PAR Data must be selected. It should be noted that only files of the ASD and PS3 formats can be read.

Once the Source File for the desired frequency is selected, pressing the Time Interval button shows which time interval the data in the desired directory covers. Under this setting a time interval within the time span of the directory can also be specified. At the bottom the replay speed can be controlled.

Once all settings have been applied, this window remains open and the echogram is opened via the PARASTORE start window (see Figure 2). The playback of data is then activated in Operation Mode. The data is now played back in the echogram. The speed can be changed in the Operation Mode window under Player Replay Speed. In the echogram the same options can be used as in Online Operation. The saving and printing of data is likewise performed in Online Operation.

Caution: If the user wishes to switch between Online Operation and Offline Operation, ALL PARASTORE windows have to be closed at first.




4 General Operation

Below “Cookbooks” are presented, with which the user/watch-keeper can start up, shut down and reboot the system. Furthermore, the watch-keeper is provided with an overview of the elements that he is to operate and monitor.

4.1 Starting up the System

The technical hardware of the PARASOUND system is started up by pressing the POWER switch. The computer cabinet is generally closed and the System Operator has the key.

The MS WINDOWS operating system then starts up.

The following steps must be performed to start up the ATLAS software:

1. Double click on the ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL desktop icon

2. Log in User: hydro

Password: {-none-}

(Valid as of 02/2008 FS Maria S. Merian, User and Password System Operator)

3. Start the Echosounder under System Switch Power ON YES CLOSE

Process takes around 5 mins (see message in Message List)

4. Once the user has the Ready for Connect message in the Message List: establish the connection between the Echosounder and the system under System Connect Echosounder

When the Connected user `hydro`… message appears in the Message List the connection is established.

5. Checks: Draught set under Ship’s Data?

If not: Set it under System Set Ship’s Parameters

6. Configuration of the system parameters under System Control Echosounder

(see Chapter 2, the last selected settings remain in place, changes can only be made by the watch-keeper following consultation with the expedition/group leader)

Operator PC on R/V MARIA S. MERIAN




7. In Basic Settings under Settings activate the Transmission Sequence item and there select Single Pulse.

8. in the Sounder Environment under Settings activate the System Depth Source item and there select Manual.

9. Under Manual Depth enter a value that is slightly larger than the expected depth.

10. In the Depth Search Window define the depth window (Mode: Fixed Min./Max. Depth Limit)


12. Under Sensor Operation switch from STANDBY to SOUNDING.

After approx. 1 min the depths calculated from the PHF and SLF frequencies are displayed under Bottom Depth.

13. Under System Depth Source (Settings) set the desired source for the depth data for ongoing operation (Controlled PARASOUND PHF or Controlled PARASOUND SLF, scroll up in the selection window) and under Transmission Sequence (Basic Settings) set the desired signal form.


15. Start the PARASTORE software by double clicking on the desktop icon

16. Configuration of the desired options (see Chapter 3, the last selected settings remain in place, changes can only be made by the watch-keeper following consultation with the expedition/group leader)

17. Activation of PLF and PLF/SLF under PARASTORE Status for both Acquisition and Storage (shown highlighted in green after activation).

18. Open the echogram via the Survey New Echogram Window SLF menu item




4.2 Monitoring

The task of the watch-keeper is to monitor 3 things, in two programs. The names of the programs are:

HYDROMAP CONTROL: Monitoring of the Watchkeeping tab

PARASTORE: Monitoring of the echogram

The 3 tasks are described in detail below and are as follows:

- Keep an eye on the Sounding activity

- Track the sea bottom in the echogram

- Transfer the depth setting to HYDROMAP CONTROL

4.2.1 Teledyne ATLAS PARASTORE Monitoring

The main task of PARASTORE monitoring is to track the surface of the sea bottom, which should not deviate from that shown in the display window (see figure). So if the sea bottom rises or falls, the user returns to the correct position using the arrows on the right hand side of the echogram.

If the sea bottom rises (i.e. it becomes shallower), use the up arrow. If the sea bottom falls (i.e. it gets deeper), use the down arrow.

If no box is checked in the Storage tab alongside Storage Parameters Store Processed Data, no settings are saved in the data aside from the sea bottom tracking, i.e. if of interest, watch-keepers can change settings in the display without harming the data acquisition. However, the user must make sure that the Filter, Amplitude and Stacking can be seen in the printouts, that is, the user shouldn’t play around with the settings if the user is planning to produce a printout. More detail on these settings can be found in Chapter 3.

PARASTORE




4.2.2 Teledyne ATLAS HYDROMAP CONTROL Monitoring

In the Depth Search Window it should be ensured that the System Depth lies between the Minimum and Maximum Depth.

Before the depth is no longer displayed in the window, the minimum and maximum depths must be tracked (the depth difference between the maximum and minimum values should be kept at a constant).

This action can be optionally omitted if a Delay Master is set in PARASTORE, which also controls the depth window in HYDROMAP CONTROL (only in the Pulse Train, see under Chapter 2.3. Sounder Environment: Special case 2).

Nonetheless, the watch-keeper should keep an eye on the System Depth and regularly compare the depth of another batch.

In the vent of strong deviations, intervention is required (pls. refer to Special case 1 or to the help section in this document).

If the PARASOUND system regularly loses the depth, it can be of advantage if the user switches from Controlled PARASOUND PHF (or SLF) to Other Sounding System (if available) under System Depth Source.

This advice obviously only makes sense if the depth of the other batch is more reliable than the PARASOUND system depth.

If the PARASOUND has problems with the depth, a switch from Controlled PARASOUND PHF to PARASOUND SLF (or vice versa) may also be of use.

IMPORTANT: If data is to be recorded, RUN must be highlighted in green under Sensor Operation RUN. If there is a red STOP below, the user must switch from STANDBY to SOUNDING.

Note: Data is only recorded in RUN mode!!!!

If it is not possible to switch, the user can find assistance in section Problems in Online mode.




4.3 Rebooting

The system is capable of detecting and independently implementing necessary Recovery actions.

Should unclear conditions nonetheless arise and no, or only faulty, data is generated, the user can reboot the system as follows:

1. In HYDROMAP CONTROL window, go to System Test Echosounder

2. In the Reset tab, click on Software Restart (~ 5 mins) or Hardware Reboot (~ 6 mins).

4.4 Shutting Down the System

1. Close the PARASTORE window

2. Close the Control PARASOUND Sensor window

Only the HYDROMAP CONTROL window should still be open.

3. Switch from SOUNDING to STANDBY under Operation Mode in the HYDROMAP CONTROL window

4. Switch off the Echosounder under System Switch Power OFF YES

5. Wait for the time specified in the Message List (approx. 2 mins)

6. Close the window

7. Shutdown the computer




5 Saving, Printing, Data Backup

Prior to commissioning the system, the user should first be clear which data is actually required and then apply the corresponding settings in the system to keep the stored data quantity as low as possible.

Empirical values regarding data quantities produced (values dependent on the selected parameters):

Max. 8 GB/day

On average approx. 4-5 GB/day when taking normal measurements with stationary operation (i.e. not 24-hour continuous data recording)

5.1 Saving

What is saved?

The raw data is not saved, but rather the real component and phase of the reduced signals (=envelopment).

There are 3 different data formats in which data can be stored:

ASD: Write rate: 24 bit, non-compressed data, cabinet files

SEG-Y: Write rate 16 bit, compressed data

PS3: Write rate 16 bit, compressed data

(SEG-Y and PS3 Files are not standardised, depending on the settings not all can be read the same)

In PARASTORE, only ASD and PS3 files can be read and processed for subsequent data processing in offline mode and then stored as PS3 or SEG-Y files (see Chapter 3.2).

What is saved and how?

Provided guidance depths are not gathered by PARASTORE (see Chapter 3), ASD files are stored with the settings selected in HYDROMAP, completely independently of all settings activated in PARASTORE.

It is therefore important that the user also transfers the Min/Max Depth to HYDROMAP CONTROL.

In the SEG-Y and PS3 files only the corresponding PARASTORE window is recorded. For this data, it is important to transfer the depth window into PARASTORE.

If the guidance depth in HYDROMAP CONTROL is gathered by PARASTORE, the depth window is no longer required to be transferred to HYDROMAP CONTROL. The ASD and the unprocessed SEG-Y and PS3 data are then identical (the only difference: uncompressed/compressed), the section selected in PARASTORE is saved and the settings previously activated in HYDROMAP CONTROL for the guidance depth are therefore of no effect.




5.1.1 ASD Files

In ASD files, a depth-dependent quantity of individual pings us stored. These files are transferred to the Master Control PC and there are combined as cabinet files.

The individual ASD files are automatically deleted – following transfer to the cabinet file.

Various basic settings must be applied in order to save, which must then be stored as pre-settings in the system.

To do so, select the sub item Acquisition Control in the PARASTORE window under the Settings sub-item.

A new Acquisition Control window opens with 4 tabs:

Data Path, File Size, Buffer, Times and Sizes.

Data Path

Under the Data Path tab, the corresponding path for each frequency (PHF, SHF, PLF, SLF, PHS):

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/ARCHIVE/PHF/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/ARCHIVE/SHF/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/ARCHIVE/PLF/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/ARCHIVE/SLF/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/ARCHIVE/PHS/

stated/pre-set.

It is possible to set the system to save to another path here, e.g. directly onto an external hard drive.

To change the storage path use the Browse function.

Confirm changes with the OK button.

ASD Files




There are also online folders under the same paths, i.e.:

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/PHF/ONLINE/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/SHF/ONLINE/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/PLF/ONLINE/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/SLF/ONLINE/

- G:/ONLINE/ASD/PHS/ONLINE/

The current ASD files of the individual pings are stored in these folders before they are saved to the corresponding cabinet file. These individual files are automatically deleted once saved to the cabinet file.

In the event of a system crash, these individual files must also be backed up to avoid data loss. In addition, these ONLINE folders must also be regularly emptied following system crashes (and the relevant data backed up), as otherwise these old individual files (which are no longer converted into cabinet files and are thus not automatically deleted) could cause data chaos.

The ASD data files that are saved in the corresponding sub-folder are named automatically:

Data files (cabinet files):

[ATLAS-System][Frequency]_[YYYY]-[MM]-[DD]T[HHMMSS]Z_[Sounding ID].asd.acf

Header information regarding the data files

(List of the ASD files, which are stored in the corresponding cabinet file):

[ATLAS-System] [Frequency]_[YYYY]-[MM]-[DD]T[HHMMSS]Z_[Sounding ID].asd.acf.idx

To unpack the data, both data files are required.

Meaning and designation of the individual file name components:

[ATLAS-System] ATLAS systems are PARASOUND (PS) and HYDROSWEEP (HS), here the name of the current PARASOUND version

PS3

(Valid as of 02/2008)

[Frequency] Which frequency is saved in the data file?

PHF, SHF, PLF, SLF or PHF

[YYYY] Current year e.g. 2008

[MM] Current month e.g. 02

[DD] Current day e.g.14

[HHMMSS] Current time in hours, minutes and seconds

e.g. 225332

[Sounding ID] Serial number, is automatically incremented

e.g. 18572958




The file name component written outside of the […] brackets are pure separators and remain the same.

Example: PS3PHF_2008-02-14T225332Z_18572958.asd.acf

The ASD cabinet file in which data is currently being always has the additional extension .tmp at the end. If the user wishes to view this file with PARASTORE, it must first be renamed and the .tmp at the end deleted.

In the event of a system crash or Sounding, before the specified file size or time is reached (see below: File Size), the current cabinet file must be renamed accordingly (delete the .tmp at the end) and the data backed up to avoid data loss.

File Size

Multiple pings are stored in a cabinet file. Here the size of the corresponding cabinet file should be stated for each frequency (PHF, SHF, PLF, SLF, PHS).

As preset in the screenshot to the side:

250 MB or one hour.

Whichever occurs first is taken as valid

(i.e. a new cabinet file is created either if the current cabinet file reaches a size of 250 MB before one hour is up, or after one hour, before 250 MB is reached).

Confirm all changes with the OK button.

File Size




Buffer

The Buffered mode can be activated for each frequency (PHF, SHF, PLF, SLF, PHS).

If Buffered mode is activated, the previously saved data is overwritten after the specified Buffer Size (GB) is reached or the specified time (h) lapses (whichever occurs first).

Warning: Buffered mode writes to the same path as the standard ASD files.

All previously generated data (including that not generated in Buffered mode) is overwritten!

First back up the previously generated data to another path or externally!


Buffer




Times and Sizes

Uner All Channel there is the option to enter a Wait Time. Provided a Wait Time value is entered, not every individual ping will be saved, with a save only carried out at intervals in accordance with the number of seconds entered in the Wait Time window.

Suitable for stationary operation (when the ship is at a fixed locations) in order to avoid large data quantities.

When no longer stationary, reset the Wait Time to 0 s!


For checking purposes, the entered Wait Time is always displayed in the PARASTORE main menu.

To start the data recording in the PARASTORE main menu, select the desired frequencies to be recorded (PHF, SHF, PLF/SLF, PHS) under Storage.

Once selected these are highlighted in green.

Times and Sizes




5.1.2 SEG-Y and PS3 files

Alongside the storage of uncompressed data in ASD format, PARASTORE also offers the option of storing compressed data in SEG-Y or PS3 format.

Storage

In each survey opened in PARASTORE (possible for all selected and configured frequencies, see Chapter 3) there is the option under the Storage tab to save the data in either SEG-Y or PS3 format or in both format types.

To do so, activate Storage by checking the box and enter the File Parameters:

Name Prefix Self-selected file-name component (e.g. Profile 1) before an automatically generated file group

Path Search the path (browse) under which the data is to be saved

Format Select the format in which data is to be saved, options are:

- PS3

- SEG-Y

- SEG-Y + PS3

File Size State the file size (MB) or storage time (min) (which ever occurs first is considered valid)

Meta Information Storage

The meta information includes the date, time and changes to the settings and should also be saved. By checking the box, storage is activated – state the Name Prefix and Path (see the Storage/File Parameters table above) for the storage operation.

Storage




Storage Parameters

Save Processed Data can be activated by checking the box. The data is then saved as SEG-Y and/or PS3 files, as specified during processing (see Chapter 3). Normally not to be used during online operation! In Online mode, save the unprocessed data and process it later with PARASTORE, in Offline mode.

In PARASTORE, the settings of the Filter, Amplitude and Stacking tabs have an influence on the processed data to be saved (and on the print output, see below). All other menu items are relevant solely to the screen output.

Always confirm changes with APPLY (changes are highlighted in yellow until confirmed).

Auxiliary Data Storage

In the PARASTORE main menu, there is the option to activate the Auxiliary Data Storage menu item by checking the box.

This information, presented in tabular form, includes the date, time, degree of longitude, degree of latitude, speed (kn), course, heading, depth, mode, signal frequencies and recording information.

This information can also be printed out on paper on an ongoing basis via Online Status Print (see Chapter 5.2. Printing).

Auxiliary Data Storage




5.2 Printing

The PARASTORE main menu provides the option of requesting an Online Status Print

(activate by checking the box).

The Online Status Print is a tabular printout with the date, time, degree of longitude, degree of latitude, speed (kn), course, heading, depth, mode, signal frequencies and recording information.

The information is printed using the standard printer configured in WINDOWS.

Here the Online Print function is purely for the displaying of information. If the box is checked this means that the Online Print function is activated in the echogram.

Online Print

To activate the Online Printing of the data shown in PARASTORE under the Online Print tab, activate the function be checking the box, search for the correct printer and select LANDSCAPE FORMAT, quickly confirm (Print), otherwise data loss may occur.

5.3 Data backup

Data backup should be performed on an ongoing basis due to the large data quantities (daily/several times daily) and not just at the end of an expedition section, as large quantities of data accrue and data can also be lost in the event of potential operating errors.

There are various options for backing up data:

- LTO tape drive

- DVD drive

- USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 interface (external hard drive)

At the USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 interface, direct recording onto an external hard drive is (specify storage drive in PARASTORE).

However, during operation in shallow water the user should test whether the data transfer rate is sufficient when using the USB 2.0 interface.

Printing




6 Main Electronic Components Overview

6.1 Analog Electronic Unit

Figure: Opened front side of a Teledyne ATLAS deep water system, here a HYDROSWEEP DS 1° x 1° Analog Electronic Unit with 8 Transmitter Blocks and 4 Digitiser Modules




Figure: Opened back side of a fully populated AEU with 4 Capacitor Modules

Figure: Transmitter Board




Figure: Capacitor Module

Figure: Digitiser Module




6.2 Digital Electronic Unit

The Digital Electronic Unit (DEU) includes the following components:

Control Module (CM) for the internal control of the entire echosounder and the intermediate storage of the ASD files.

Signal Processing Module (SPM) for the processing of the digital (A/D converted) reception signals.

High-Voltage Power Module (HVPM) for the Transmitter Boards inside the AEU.

Low-Voltage Power Supply Module (LVPM) converting 230 VAC into 48 VDC.

Digital Power Supplies for the Control Module and the Signal Processing Module.

AC Module (ACM) including fuses, two varistors, a relay, switches and control lamps.

Mains Filter Module (MFM).

Figure: Opened front side of the Digital Electronic Unit (DEU)




6.3 Interconnection Unit (ICU)

The Interconnection Unit (ICU) fulfils the following purposes:

Mechanical connection and matching of the cables from the transducer modules.

General cable routing (serial interfaces, mains, optical data link, LAN interface). The Interconnection Unit contains the following components:

Transducer Adaption Boards (TABs).

System Interface Modules.

Power Supply for the System Interface Modules.

LAN Switch.

There exist two variants of the ICU, i.e. an ICU with a width of 700 mm and an ICU with a width of 500 mm which is also applied within the PARASOUND systems.

The 700 mm ICU is applied for HYDROSWEEP DS systems with a hard beam width of 2°x2°. For HYDROSWEEP DS systems with 1°x2° or 1°x1° hard beam width, a 700 mm ICU and a 500 mm ICU are cascaded in order to have enough space for the transducer interfacing.




6.4 Common Components

The HYDROSWEEP DS includes several components which are common to the entire HYDROSWEEP product family and to the PARASOUND parametric sub-bottom profilers.

These common components can be interchanged between the different HYDROSWEEP and PARASOUND products. Among others, the common components include:

Transmission Beamformer Board (TBF)

Capacitor Module

Digitiser Module

All boards of the Control Module (CM)

High-Voltage Power Module (HVPM)

Low-Voltage Power Module (LVPM)

Low-Voltage Power Supply Board (LVPS)

Digital Power Supply for the Control Module and the Signal Processing Module

Remote Power Switch (RPS)

AC Module (ACM)

Mains Filter Module (MFM)

Interconnection Board (ICB)

Special Interface Pool (SIP) Board

LAN Switch

System Interface Modules

Power Supply for the System Interface Modules.




7 Abbreviations

AC Alternative Current

ACF ASD cabinet file (compressed ASD file)

ACM AC Module

ADC Analog Digital Converter

AEU Analog Electronic Unit

ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange

ASD ATLAS Sounding Data

ATLAS Teledyne ATLAS Hydrographic Product Line

BITE Built-In Test Equipment

CM Control Module

COTS Commercial Off The Shelf

CW Continuous Wave

DEU Digital Electronic Unit

DIP Distributed Interface Processor

DS Deep Sea

DSP Digital Signal Processor

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array

GPS Global Positioning System

HVPM High-Voltage Power Module (converts 230 VAC to 10 … 160 VDC)

ICB Interconnection Board

ICU Interconnection Unit

IHO International Hydrographic Organisation

IS3 Integrated Survey Sensor System

kHz Kilohertz

LAN Local Area Network

LRU Lowest Replaceable Unit

LVPM Low-Voltage Power Module (converts 230 VAC to 48 VDC)

LVPS Low-Voltage Power Supply Board

MBES Multi-Beam Echosounder

NMEA National Marine Electronics Association

NTP Network Time Protocol




P35 PARASOUND P35 product variant with 35 kW transmission power

P70 PARASOUND P70 product variant with 70 kW transmission power

PHF Primary High Frequency

PHS Primary High Side Scan (side scan data out of the PHF)

PLF Primary Low Frequency

PS3 PARASOUND-3 file, SEG-Y similiar, compressed raw data format

P-SBP Parametric Sub-Bottom Profiling

SEG Society of Exploration Physicists

SEG-Y Standard for Seismic Data

SHF Secondary High Frequency

SLF Secondary Low Frequency

TVG Time Variable Gain

teledyne atlas parasound - uni-hamburg.de - original version in german language prof. dr. c ... but...

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