Scientific Equipment

The DAVID STARR JORDAN supports a suite of sensors for meteolological and oceanographic data acquisition. This sensor suite is supported by 2 high-powered Dell PowerEdge 4200 computers. A well developed ethernet computer network integrates nearly all of the shipboard computers, including several NT 4.0 Gateway Servers and Workstations along with other specialized computer platforms.

The shipboard network and computer systems aboard are a valuable asset. The up-to-date shipboard computers and software are used for everything from sensor acquisition and data analysis to administration and payroll. Intranet services support many network applications. The two basic categories of shipboard computers are scientific and administrative.

Nearly all of the ship's sensors are integrated into the Scientific Computing System (SCS), which allows for centralized data acquisition and logging from numerous sensors with different sampling rates. One central data set of all sensors is logged continuously, and user-specified subsets of sensor data and independent sampling rates may also be logged simultaneoulsly. All data are time stamped from the ship's high-precision UTC clock and GPS navigation parameters can be easily included within any data set. SCS data can be accessed with feature-rich software from workstations throughout the ship-wide network. Details for individual shipboard sensors and systems are provided below. Temporary installation of additional mission-specific sensors and systems within SCS is also possible.

The calibration policy for the following scientific equipment can be found on the Equipment Calibration Policy page. More information about specific ship equipment can be found on the Communications Equipment and Navigation Equipment pages.

Use your browser's BACK button to return to this pull down menu.

BATHYMETRIC

Echo sounder - Deep water

• Simrad EK-500, with 38 kHz and 200 kHz transducers, remotely displayed in the Chem Lab and on the bridge.
• Knudsen 320 BR echosounder

 

Echo sounder - Shallow water

• Simrad EQ-50 Depth Sounder (38 kHz and 200 kHz with built-in receiver and display) located in the Scientfic Information Center (SIC) and available for scientific use.
• Simrad ES-60 Depth Sounder
• Skipper GDS 101 Fathometer (50 kHz and 200 kHz) is located on the bridge and is strictly for navigational purposes.

COMPUTERS, NETWORK AND SOFTWARE

Computers

The central components of the DAVID STARR JORDAN's computer system are two (primary and backup) Dell PowerEdge 4200 PII-300 (one dual PII-300) NT Servers. The systems are identical in set-up and configuration so that in the event of a failure of the primary system, the backup system can resume scientific data acquisition with minimal data loss. The system operates in a Microsoft NT windows environment.

The primary node is used for data acquistion from a suite of real time and derived scientific sensors. Each NT Dell server has 5 internal 9 GByte drives operating in RAID 5, CD-ROM, CD-RW drive, a 30 gb tape drive. The primary function of this system is to run the Scientific Computer System (SCS) software.

In addition to the Dell servers, additional PC's are located throughout the ship including the Bridge, SIC, Chemical Lab, and Department Offices. This networking makes data transfer throughout the vessel simple and efficient. TCP/IP and Microsoft NetBEUI are the preferred protocols for the PC's.

The primary function of the computer systems is to fulfill the data requirements as outlined in the project instructions; however, limited access is available to personnel for projects not directly related to the mission.

Iomega Zip drives are available on several PC's on board.
 

Network

Most of the PC's have dedicated functions for shipboard personnel but several are available for scientific parties on a shared basis. In addition, if sufficient demand exists, important PC's brought aboard by the scientific party can be added to the network. Network connections are available in many "common" areas on board (i.e. Mess Deck and Crew's Lounge).

The PC network utilizes shared resources such as postscript printers and CD-RW. The network is used extensively for the sharing of message traffic and data (IS).

Developed Software

Scientific Computer System (SCS) software
 

Commercial Software Packages

ArcView G.I.S.

Microsoft Office 97
 

System Utilities

NetBeui

TCP/IP

Microsoft Ethernet
 

Data acquisition system

The Scientific Computer System (SCS) software was developed at NOAA Headquarters specifically for the NOAA fleet. SCS is a data acquisition and processing system designed for oceanographic and fisheries applications. The C++ based software package is run through point and click menu bars. The SCS package utilizes Graphical User Interface (GUI) technology in the form of NT-Window time series graphs and directly calls ArcView graphing capabilities.

SCS is networked throughout the ship and is capable of sending data displays to remote stations (SCS NT Client) on the ship. In addition, ASCII data strings can be sent via RS-232 cable or over the ethernet. Data from just about every sensor (list of sensors currently logged to SCS) can be sent to any available port/node on the network. The SCS workstations can provide time series graphs of all acquired data to monitor any changes. Several variables can be plotted against each other in real time X-Y plots. Data can be output in a wide variety of formats. Data output formats include:

• raw data files in binary form
• postprocessed compressed or merged data sets
• ASCII data for easy transfer to PC environment
• UNIX format
  

METEOROLOGICAL

Barometer

Installed, calibrated digital barometer outputting in millibars, which is connected SCS and is available for scientific use.

MISCELLANEOUS

Speed log

Raytheon model DSN-450 dual axis, four beam, pulsed doppler sonar at a frequency of 200 KHz with each beam being 5 degrees conical and 30 degrees from the vertical. The output of the speed log is remotely displayed on the bridge, aft bridge and the SIC.
 

Winch system

Several oceanographic winches, they are:

• CTD Winch
• Hydrographic Winch
• Combination Winch
• Net Reel Winch
• Choker Winch

Displays for these winches display wire out in meters, feed rate in meters per minute and wire tension in pounds. Detailed information on all other deck equipment can found on the DAVID STARR JORDAN "Deck Equipment" Page.
 

Sonar system

• ITI Trawl Monitoring System
• Wesmar HD Series E Sonar

OCEANOGRAPHIC

Acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP)

The RD Instruments (RDI), Model VM-150-18HP, 150 KHz broad band acoustic doppler current profiler provides vertical profiles of ocean current, speed and directon at depths up to 380 m. The RDI software, version 2.48 running on an associated 386 computer displays the real time data. The raw data files are recorded to a remote NT Workstation located in the Plot Room.
 

Autosalinometer

One Guildline model 8400 auto salinometers for precision salinity calculation.
 

CTD

Seabird Electronics Model 911+ CTD system in a 12-position rosette frame with a seabird SBE-32 submersible array firing assembly. The SBE 911+ underwater assembly has a depth capacity of 6800 meters and a dual conductivity/temperature sensor pair. The computer is running Seabird data collection software. The DAVID STARR JORDAN also has a SBE-19 Seacat Profiler. There are two 12 KHz pingers available for use with this system.
 

Thermosalinograph (TSG)

Seabird Electronics SBE-21 thermosalinograph plumbed in at the bow capable of measuring the conductivity and temperature of the water from either 2 meters below the ship's waterline or from 5.6 meters below the water line. This data is recorded on SCS and is available for scientific use.
 

Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT)

Installed a Sippican MK-12 XBT system with a portable launcher that is available for scientific use. The user must supply XBT probes.