PING-Mapper

Transform recordings from recreation-grade side scan sonar systems...

Video made with HumViewer

...into scientific datasets!

Overview

PINGMapper is an open-source Python interface for reading and processing side scan sonar datasets and reproducibly mapping benthic habitat features. PINGMapper transforms recreation-grade sonar systems (i.e. fishfinders) into scientific data collectors, allowing researchers and citizens alike to reproducibly map their aquatic system with minimal expertise in data processing.

PING Ecosystem

PINGMapper is part of the PING Ecosystem: a coordinated set of tools for installation, conversion, quality checks, and mapping workflows.

• PINGMapper: Core sonar processing and mapping package
• PINGInstaller: Recommended installer and environment bootstrap
• PINGWizard: Point-and-click interface for testing, updates, and routine processing
• PINGVerter: Sonar data conversion utilities

Learn More Now!

Check out PING-Mapper's website for most up to date information:

• Homepage
• Getting Started
• Advanced Topics
• Tutorials
• FAQ's
• and more!

Published Documentation

v1.0.0 (August 29, 2022)

An overview of PINGMapper v1.0.0 functionality and justification are published in AGU's Earth and Space Science scientific journal.

Journal Article

Bodine, C. S., Buscombe, D., Best, R. J., Redner, J. A., & Kaeser, A. J. (2022). PING-Mapper: Open-source software for automated benthic imaging and mapping using recreation-grade sonar. Earth and Space Science, 9, e2022EA002469. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EA002469

Preprint

Code

v2.0.0 (July 9, 2024)

A manuscript detailing the automated substrate mapping features made availabe in v2.0.0 is published in AGU's Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation.

Journal Article

Bodine, C. S., Buscombe, D., & Hocking, T. D. (2024). Automated river substrate mapping from sonar imagery with machine learning. Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation, 1, e2024JH000135. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JH000135

Preprint

Code

Segmentation models

Segmentation model training datasets

Acknowledgements

v1.0 - 2.0

This study was originally made possible by a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Northern Arizona University. Funding for this work was provided by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group to restore natural resources injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The contents of this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Northern Arizona University.

Primary Developer: Dr. Cameron S. Bodine

Co-Developer: Dr. Daniel Buscombe

Project Collaborators: Thanks to Adam Kaeser (USFWS), Channing St. Aubin (USFWS), Mike Andres (USM), Kasea Price (USM), Alyssa Pagel (USM), Eric Haffey (USM), and Katherine Wright (USM).

Advocates & Early-Adopters: A special thanks to advocates and early-adoptors including, but not limited to, Jennylyn Redner, Adrian Pinchbeck, Art Trembanis, Dan Carlson, Alan Ryon, Mirko Denecke, Dan Haught, Dan Hamill, Mark Lundine, Elizabeth Greenheck, Hendra Kurnia Febriawan, Bryan Bozeman, Paul Grams, Matt Kaplinski, Jess Kozarek, Chris Milliren, Brett Connell and James Parham.

PhD Committee: Cameron wishes to thank his PhD dissertation committee: Toby Hocking, Co-Chair; advisor Dan Buscombe, Co-Chair; Rebecca Best; and Adam Kaeser.

v3.0 - 4.0

Continued support for PINGMapper and tools in the PING Ecosystem is made possible through mentorship, partnerships, and financial support listed below.

Primary Developer: Dr. Cameron S. Bodine

PostDoctoral Advisor: Dr. Arthur Trembanis

Lab: Coastal Sediments, Hydrodynamics and Engineering Lab (CSHEL)

Institution: College of Earth, Ocean, & Environment (CEOE) at the University of Delaware

Advocates & Mentors: Vincent Capone - Black Laser Learning

Quick Start

Recommended workflow: install Miniforge, use PINGInstaller to set up the ping environment, and launch PINGWizard for testing, updates, and routine processing.

Recommended: Miniforge + PINGInstaller + PINGWizard

Please see Getting Started for full instructions. In short:

pip install pinginstaller -U
python -m pinginstaller

After installation completes, launch PINGWizard using the shortcut created by PINGInstaller, or run:

conda run -n ping python -m pingwizard

Alternative: Direct conda environment

Please see Getting Started for full instructions, or simply run:

conda env create -f pingmapper/conda/PINGMapper.yml
conda activate ping
python -m pingmapper gui

Optional: Pixi

Pixi is available for users who prefer that workflow, but it is not the recommended installation path.

1. Install pixi
2. Clone and run:

   git clone https://github.com/CameronBodine/PINGMapper.git
   cd PINGMapper
   pixi run pingmapper  # Launches PINGWizard
   

3. For machine learning features (substrate mapping):

   pixi run -e full gui    # GUI with ML support
   

Verify Installation

Recommended routine verification is to run the included tests from PINGWizard. If you want a prompt-based check, run the lightweight self-check below:

python -m pingmapper check

Direct unit-test invocation (same lightweight suite run by check):

python -m unittest pingmapper.test_dq_filter pingmapper.test_cli_self_check -v

Optional longer end-to-end processing validation:

python -m pingmapper test

Ready to get started?

Follow the installation and testing instructions to Get Started!

Future Development, Collaborations, & Partnerships

If you are interested in partnering on future developments, please reach out to Cameron Bodine.

PING-Mapper is part of the PING Ecosystem

PINGMapper is developed and distributed alongside companion PING tools (PINGInstaller, PINGWizard, and PINGVerter) to provide a complete end-to-end workflow.

PINGMapper also leverages components from the Doodleverse ecosystem for geoscientific image segmentation workflows. Learn more on GitHub.