Oceanographic real time data collection and data base

Describes a software system developed for research vessels. The system described solves the problems of the scientists related to data collection, organizing and storage of data and generation of reports from a survey. The system is UNIX based and uses an Ethernet to interconnect the various PCs and instruments onboard. Instruments connect either directly to the Ethernet or through PCs acting as gateways to the network. By adapting standard DOS software to PCs, the PCs are enabled to capture the instrument data. All the data are transmitted by TCP/IP messages on the Ethernet to the central data logging computer. The Ethernet also carries real time positions and time which are available to all systems connected to the network. The data transferred to the central data logger are stored in a relational database. The database structure is configurable to the need of the scientist. Data transmitted from the instruments may be monitored by the scientists on PCs connected to the network acting as operator interfaces. The system also supports the scientists in forwarding measurements performed by one instrument to other instruments connected to the Ethernet. Reports from the databases are achieved through tools on the UNIX computer or by transfer of stored data to DOS based programs as EXCEL spreadsheet.