Basic Training for CATT
The two activities required for hands on CATT project experience are:
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Hardware setup - to record data with the F-POD, then, to shut down the F-POD and recover the recorded data. With the data SD card removed from the F-POD, next is -
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Software Analysis - this involves loading the the SD card into a Windows PC running the F-POD.exe software, using that software to generate FP1 'raw' data files, then running the Chelonia train detection algorithm to extract the cetacean click trains from the raw data.
01
CATT F-POD Hardware
F-PODs are quick and easy to boot up, shut down and service. We have user guides and videos for this. The 10 D-Cell batteries are loaded in two stacks of five, positive end down, and the clip is pushed on to secure them.
The micro SD card is pushed into the slot. Red, white and blue lights will be seen followed by five quick green flashes.
That is it the F-POD is now running and just needs the lid to be screwed back on.
02
CATT Software Analysis
F-POD.exe is Windows freeware available on the Chelonia website. It is a small program, the current version is 6.7 MB. The SD card from the F-POD holds a new file for each 24 hour period of the deployment. The F-POD software compiles these day files into an FP1 raw data file containing everything the F-POD recorded. This FP1 is passed through the train detection algorithm to extract the cetacean click trains into an FP3 file
03
CATT Species Graphing
There are some quick, simple, one click overviews of the whole file that we can use. The first is graphing, we do this for one species at a time, i.e. Dolphins, Porpoises, and if needed, boat sonars.
This shows us the frequency bandwidth for the raw data in the lower graph. The other three graphs show us the specifics of the dolphin or porpoise click trains, the frequencies used, the clicks per second, and the diel pattern (average number of clicks in each hour of the deployment.
04
CATT Species Overview
Another one click overview is available on the 'analysis' tab. Here we can see an overview of the whole file one species at a time. As well as the graphs, the blue text box shows us details of the total number of clicks detected and averages for DPM (Detection Positive Minutes). These statistics are useful for comparing different sites, or the same site through the seasons and the years.