UHDAS ADCP data exist in two forms:
2-hour files with single-ping data:
- velocity is in beam coordinates
- separate 2-hour files with position and attitude
preliminary processing of ADCP data into averages (usually 5 minutes) with calibration values and editing applied. These data are stored in a codas database, one per instrument+pingtype combination.
Reading processed data or single-ping ADCP data (and the ancillary data that accompany it) requires Matlab and access to the relevant Univ. Hawaii matlab programs. Depending on which access method you choose to use, you may not need to install all the software necessary to process data, just the software necessary to read the data.
Note
A list of ways to access ADCP data using Matlab is located here
NOTE: This approach is only necessary if you want to finalize the post-processing of the ADCP data. You must have python and matlab already installed to make use of the programs, and as the code evolves, you may need other software in addition. On some ships it is possible access land-based web sites for additional software; on some ships it is not.
If you have acces to the www, the full suite of UH ADCP software is available on the web. If you are at sea, these programs can be downloaded locally from the UHDAS acquisition computer (“currents”) from this location Follow these instructions to how to set up your computer to process ADCP data (instructions assume you have access to the www). Processing instructions start here.
This section shows the minimal setup necessary to be able to request data from a codas database and read that data with matlab, or read single-ping files directly. This is only a subset of what is needed if you are going to process ADCP data, but in many cases, especially at sea, these tools are sufficient.
Summary of setup requirements for accessing and reading ADCP data
| purpose | program | download/install |
|---|---|---|
| read single-ping data | read.m | matlab.zip |
| extract all bins, all profiles | getmat,load_getmat.m | two files: see instructions |
| read singleping ADCP+ancillary | get_xfraw.m | matlab.zip |
| extract all bins, all profiles | run_agetmat.m | matlab.zip and binaries |
| run adcpsect | adcpsect | one file: see instructions |
Details of these requirements are here