Data Templates

Data sheet templates for tagging, receiver deployment, and project metadata

The PIRAT Network follows data standards laid out by the Ocean Tracking Network for the purposes of documenting acoustic telemetry projects. The accepted metadata sheet formats are available below, in Excel and printable field-sheet formats. Detection data can be provided in the raw output format the vendor supplies (i.e. for Innovasea receivers, a set of .vrl files from the offloaded receivers can be archived as .ZIP files and submitted to pirat@hawaii.edu, or uploaded via the project repository folders on this portal.)

The Holy Trinity of Metadata

1) Project Metadata

Project Metadata Form

95% of users will get started with this generic Project Metadata Form. Download this .txt file, complete it to the best of your ability and load it into your repository, OR email it to [pirat at hawaii dot edu].

However, if your project is associated with an array that hosts multiple separate projects, especially if the array is maintained by other PIs, you may want to consider creating a Tag Project. You may then also want to create an Array Project, if the array is yours. Read more below, or reach out to your friendly neighborhood node manager to see which is best for your needs.

Tag vs. Array Projects

Not all projects have their own dedicated array, and typically an array deployment will host multiple tagging projects (simultaneously and sequentially). To maintain this distinction, we split our "projects" into Tag Projects and Array Projects. All new users will be set up with a Tag and an Array Project. Once a group has an active array, any new tagging studies relying on that array only need Tag Projects set up.

Tag Project Metadata

Array Project Metadata

2) Tag Deployment Metadata

3) Receiver Deployment Metadata

Receiver Deployment Metadata Template
Information about the deployment of any instruments used to detect tagged subjects or collect related data. This includes stationary test tags, range test instruments, non-acoustic environmental sensors etc. Geographic location, as well as the duration of the deployment for each instrument, is recorded. The locations of these listening stations are used to fix detections geographically.