💻 Day 16: Introduction to Module 3 – Data Acquisition Software
💻 DAY 16: ACQUISITION SOFTWARE INTRODUCTION
The Digital Brain of Your Hydrographic Survey
Instructor: Engr. Rokib Hossain | River Warrior Academy
📖 Today's Outline
- 🖥️ Role of Acquisition Software
- 📦 Major Software Packages – Hypack, QINSy, Teledyne PDS, Others
- 🔁 Data Flow – From Sensors to Storage
- ⚙️ Basic Configuration Steps
- 📊 Real‑Time Quality Control (QC) Displays
- 💾 Logging Formats (RAW, XSE, ALL, S7K)
- 🔗 External Resources & Demos
- 📋 Homework & Fieldwork Checklists
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- ✅ Action Items & Internal Linking
🖥️ Role of Acquisition Software
Hydrographic acquisition software is the central hub that connects all sensors (GNSS, IMU, echo sounder, SVP, tide gauge) and presents real‑time data to the hydrographer. Its main functions:
- ✅ Collect and timestamp data from multiple sensors (sonar, motion, position, sound velocity).
- ✅ Apply real‑time corrections (heave, tide, SVP ray‑bending).
- ✅ Display a navigation map, depth profile, water column, and coverage status.
- ✅ Log raw and processed data to disk in industry‑standard formats.
- ✅ Provide real‑time QC alarms (e.g., loss of RTK fix, high heave).
📌 Key concept: Acquisition software does NOT replace post‑processing; it ensures you collect quality data efficiently. Garbage in = garbage out, but good acquisition helps avoid garbage.
🖥️ [Screenshot of a typical acquisition software GUI – Hypack or QINSy]
(Replace with your own image)
(Replace with your own image)
📦 Major Software Packages – Hypack, QINSy, Teledyne PDS, Others
The hydrographic industry relies on several established packages. Each has strengths, but all share core functionality.
| Software | Developer | Key Features | Typical User |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypack | Hypack, Inc. | User‑friendly, strong in survey planning, patch test wizard, dredge support. | Port authorities, dredging companies. |
| QPS (Quality Positioning Services) | Very flexible, modular, real‑time DB, excellent for large projects. | Offshore survey, research vessels. | |
| Teledyne Marine那样Native to SeaBat MBES, tightly integrated, user‑friendly interface. | Shallow‑water coastal surveys, small boats. | ||
| EIVA那样Strong in construction support (piling, trenching), good 3D visualisation. | Marine construction, ROV operations. | ||
| Teledyne CARIS那样Processing‑focused, but includes acquisition modules for certain sensors. | National hydrographic offices. |
Many manufacturers also provide free or low‑cost acquisition software for their hardware (e.g., Kongsberg SIS, Norbit iWBMS Studio).
💡 Pro tip: Learn one software deeply (e.g., Hypack or QINSy). The concepts transfer easily to others.
🔁 Data Flow – From Sensors to Storage
Understanding the data flow helps troubleshooting. A typical modern MBES acquisition system:
- GNSS receiver outputs NMEA GGA (position) and ZDA (time) via serial or Ethernet. Also provides 1 PPS for synchronisation.
- IMU (Motion Sensor) sends heave, roll, pitch, heading – often via Ethernet in proprietary or NMEA format (e.g., TSS1, $PASHR).
- MBES topside unit generates ping and receives echoes. It also receives position/motion from acquisition computer or directly from sensors. It outputs depth data (e.g., .all, .s7k) and water column.
- Acquisition computer runs the acquisition software. It collects all data streams, applies real‑time corrections (heave, tide, SVP), and displays them.
- Logging – software writes raw data (often a proprietary format) plus a navigation file (e.g., .raw, .xse, .log).
Many modern systems use a central time server (e.g., from the GNSS receiver) to synchronise all devices via PPS and NTP.
📡 [Data flow diagram: sensors → acquisition computer → disk]
(Replace with your own image)
(Replace with your own image)
⚙️ Basic Configuration Steps
Setting up a new project in acquisition software involves:
- Create a new project: Define folder structure, name, and metadata.
- Set coordinate system (CRS): Choose horizontal datum (e.g., WGS84) and projection (e.g., UTM zone).
- Configure sensors: Add GNSS, IMU, echo sounder. Enter communication parameters (COM port, IP address, baud rate, data format).
- Enter offsets (lever arms): As measured in Day 9 – X, Y, Z from GNSS to VRP, IMU to VRP, transducer to VRP.
- Enter alignment angles: Initial pitch, roll, yaw (from mechanical alignment, later refined by patch test).
- Load SVP file or connect surface sound velocity sensor.
- Set up logging: Choose file format, logging interval (e.g., 1 Hz for navigation, all pings for sonar).
- Test connection: Verify all sensors show live data (green indicators).
🔧 Pro tip: Save a master configuration file after successful setup. Then for each new project, you only need to change project‑specific parameters (lines, area, SVP).
📊 Real‑Time Quality Control (QC) Displays
During survey, the hydrographer monitors several displays to ensure data quality:
- Navigation map: Shows vessel position, planned lines, coverage. Alerts if vessel deviates.
- Depth profile (echogram): Single‑beam or multibeam bottom detection plot. Sudden spikes indicate noise or poor bottom pick.
- Coverage display (for MBES): Colour‑coded swath overlap. Gaps appear as white lines – immediately re‑run.
- Motion display: Real‑time heave, roll, pitch graphs. Alarms for exceeding limits (e.g., roll >5°).
- GNSS status: RTK fix indicator, PDOP, number of satellites, base station distance.
- SVP age: Time since last sound velocity cast.
- Water column (optional): Visualisation of fish, bubbles, or thermoclines.
Most software allows setting custom alarms (e.g., “Stop logging if RTK fix lost” or “Beep if heave >0.3 m”). Use these to prevent bad data.
📈 [Example QC screen: coverage map + depth profile + motion graph]
(Replace with your own image)
(Replace with your own image)
💾 Logging Formats (RAW, XSE, ALL, S7K)
Acquisition software stores data in proprietary or standard formats. Common ones:
- Hypack .RAW – raw multibeam data (with all beams). Can be exported to XTF or processed in Hypack.
- QINSy .DB (SQLite) – everything stored in a database; very robust.
- Teledyne .S7K / .XSE – standard format for SeaBat systems; widely supported by third‑party processors.
- Kongsberg .ALL – binary format for EM series.
- R2Sonic .SON – proprietary but convertible.
- Navigation .NMEA or .TXT – optional ASCII log of position, depth, etc. for quick checks.
Always log the raw proprietary format – it contains all information for reprocessing. Log a separate navigation file (ASCII) as a backup.
💾 Backup rule: At the end of each survey day, copy raw data to two external drives (one kept onboard, one taken ashore). Do NOT delete from the acquisition computer until processing is complete.
🔗 External Resources & Demos
Explore trial versions or training materials for acquisition software:
| Software | Resource | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Hypack | Free demo datasets and training videos | hypack.com/support |
| Free QINSy viewer and tutorial project | qps.nl | |
| PDS demo mode (download from support portal) | teledyne-reson.com | |
| Standard operating procedures for field acquisition | NOAA PDF Chapter 4 |
🔗 Authority linking: Hypack, QPS, Teledyne, and NOAA are trusted sources.
📋 Homework & Fieldwork Checklists
📘 Day 16 – Homework Checklist
- ✅ Read the entire Day 16 post.
- ✅ Visit the Hypack or QINSy website and watch one training video on sensor configuration.
- ✅ Download a demo dataset (if available) and explore the software interface.
- ✅ Draw a data flow diagram for an MBES system connected to a computer running acquisition software.
- ✅ Write a short paragraph: “Why is real‑time QC essential during data collection?”
- ✅ Share this post with #Hydrography #AcquisitionSoftware.
🛠️ Fieldwork Readiness Checklist – Software Setup
- ✅ Before survey: Install and license acquisition software on the field laptop. Test with sensors (GNSS, IMU, echo sounder) in a simulated or dock environment.
- ✅ Create a new project and verify that the CRS matches the survey requirement.
- ✅ Enter lever arm offsets and initial alignment values correctly.
- ✅ Load the most recent SVP file (or plan to cast before starting).
- ✅ Set up real‑time QC displays and alarms (coverage, heave, RTK fix).
- ✅ Perform a short test line to confirm data logging and displays are working.
- ✅ Document all configuration settings in a “Survey Setup Log”.
🖨️ Pro tip: Use the Print / Download PDF button to keep these checklists in your field binder.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔹 Which acquisition software is best for beginners?
Hypack is often considered more intuitive for newcomers, while QINSy is more powerful but has a steeper learning curve. Teledyne PDS is also user‑friendly, especially if you use a SeaBat MBES.
🔹 Can I use the same software for both acquisition and processing?
Some packages (e.g., Hypack, QINSy) include both acquisition and processing modules. Others (e.g., CARIS) focus on processing only. However, dedicated acquisition software is more stable for real‑time data collection.
🔹 How much computer power do I need?
A modern laptop with an Intel i7 or equivalent, 16 GB RAM, SSD drive, and a dedicated GPU (for water column display) is sufficient. Avoid using the same computer for other heavy tasks during survey.
🔹 What is the most common mistake in software configuration?
Forgetting to apply the correct sign for offsets (e.g., vertical offset positive down/up). Also, mismatched baud rates between sensor and computer.
🔹 Do I need to log water column data all the time?
Water column data requires significant disk space and processing. Only log it if the project requires detection of mid‑water targets (gas seeps, fish, wrecks). For routine bathymetry, disable water column logging.
✅ Action Items & Internal Linking
🎯 Your Tasks for Today
- 📌 Step 1: Bookmark the Course Homepage and the Hypack/QINSy support pages.
- 📌 Step 2: Download the checklist PDF using the button at the top.
- 📌 Step 3: Try to install a trial version of one acquisition software (e.g., Hypack demo) and familiarise yourself with the interface.
- 📌 Step 4: Leave a comment on this post: “The feature I like most in acquisition software is ____.”
- 📌 Step 5: Proceed to Day 17: Top Software Suites – Detailed Comparison using the link below.
🔗 Internal linking note: Day 15 and Day 17 are correctly linked. This builds a strong internal network for SEO.
Comments
Post a Comment