CODAS Processing FAQ


  1. What software do I need to get started?

  2. How hard will this be? Will it take long to learn?

  3. What is CODAS processing (what does it do?)

  4. I am new to ADCP data processing. Where should I start?

  5. I am familiar with CODAS processing. How do I get started on quick_adcp.py?

  6. I am about to download the CODAS software and go to sea (off the net). Is this documentation available to download?

  7. I want to see plots of the ocean currents during my cruise. What are my options?





  1. What software do I need to get started?

  2. You will need several different programs, as well as software from the UH ADCP group.


  3. How hard will this be? Will it take long to learn?

  4. That depends on alot of factors, including

    For a unix-savvy matlab-aware individual working with pingdata, it could be as little as a few days to get a good way into it.
    For person on a Windows machine who has never dealt with the C:\ command line, who does not know matlab, and who as never seen ADCP data before, it would be longer, potentially weeks not days.

  5. What is CODAS processing (what does it do?)


  6. I am new to ADCP data processing. Where should I start?

  7. We recommend you start by learning about CODAS processing with the python script "quick_adcp..py", run on "pingdata" (averaged data from an RDI NB150).  Documentation for processing pingdata is much more thorough than for LTA files (averaged data from VmDAS, from an RDI Broadband or Ocean Surveyor instrument).
    Whether you want to process pingdata or LTA data, you should learn on pingdata.  Then you can move over to LTA files.

    Instructions for someone unfamiliar with ADCP processing are here.

  8. I am familiar with CODAS processing. How do I get started on quick_adcp.py?

  9. For someone already familiar with CODAS processing steps, you can learn about quick_adcp.py and its application to pingdata here,. Detailed quick_adcp.py documentation is available here, and also on the command line. Whether you want to process pingdata or LTA data, you should learn quick_adcp.py on pingdata.  Then you can move over to LTA files.

  10. I am about to download the CODAS software and go to sea (off the net). Is this documentation available to download?

    Yes, when you get the zipfile "doc.zip" from this web site (following these instructions), a web page will come with it that has links to these pages. All of the codas setup and processing documentation should be accessible on your computer. Follow the instructions for where to unzip the UH software, and that will give you access to these pages.

  11. I want to see plots of the ocean currents during my cruise. What are my options?

    That depends on the instrument and data acquisition system used on your cruise. This link has instructions for most typical instrument+acquisition systems. In all cases, you are left with matlab files you can load and plot. Only in UHDAS is any plotting done for you.