BGS MARINE SURVEY FOLDER STRUCTURE

The following folder structure has been developed for use during offshore surveys. Feedback on using the folder structure should be
sent to offshoredata@bgs.ac.uk.

Emails
Administration Personnel
Transmittals
Logs
CTD
ProcessedData
AncillaryData SVP
otherEquipType RawData

Logs

CODA ProcessedImages
Geophysical EquipmentType ProcessedData SEGY
(new folder for each Other
equipment type RawData
e.g. side scan sonar;
airgun; echosounder SoftwareFiles
(singlebeam)

PhotoStation Logs
GroundTruthing Sampling ProcessedData

Video RawData

Backscatter Backscatter
MB_Equipment Products Images
Multibeam Type
(new folder for each ArcGrid
equipment type
eg. EM3002D) Bathymetry
Bathymetry Images
Products
SDfiles

Calibration XYZ
yyyy_n or
yyyy_n_additional ID Logs
Processed Data

RawData
SoftwareFiles Project_XXX

Logs
ProcessedData
Navigation
RawData
Trackcharts

Reference Procedures
Template } These folders contain reference material only.
Documents should be copied to relevant
folders for editing as these folders will be
removed at the end of cruise.

Daily
Cruise

ReportAndDeliverables Documents Pre_cruisePlanning

GeneralPhotographs
SoftwareUtilities Maps
19/11/2012
BGS Marine Survey Folder Structure
BGS has created a folder structure for geological and geophysical survey data which can be used
offshore and for submitting data to BGS and the MEDIN DAC. Any feedback on the folder structure
should be sent to offshoredata@bgs.ac.uk

If any data are further processed after a survey it is important to ensure that these are submitted, so
that the final processed data set is held.

The top folder should be named with the Survey ID (e.g. for BGS surveys, this is Year/number within
year). Survey metadata should be included in the top level folder.

Any folders which are not required for a survey should be deleted.

Administration
The administration folder can be used to store documents relevant to the survey that are required
or useful whilst offshore (subfolders for Emails, Personnel and Transmittals).

The majority of information stored in these folders will not be relevant once the cruise has finished,
so anything no longer required should be deleted. Any information which should be relocated
elsewhere should be moved before handing over to BGS.

Ancillary
The Ancillary folder should contain the supporting data for acquisition; mainly Sound Velocity
Profiles (SVP) and Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) data files. If other supporting data
are collected, a folder should be created from the Other EquipmentType folder.
Geophysical
This folder should be used to store raw and processed geophysical data. A folder should be created
from the EquipmentType folder for each type of equipment used e.g. SideScanSonar, Airgun,
Sparker, Boomer, SingleBeamEchoSounder.

Where a CODA system is used to record multiple equipment types, all the CODA files should be
stored in the CODA folder. It is important to keep all original CODA files together otherwise they will
not be readable for processing and interpretation. The Software Files folder should be used for
storing all the files produced by the software package during the acquisition and processing phases
of the data (e.g. the CODA project file (.prj) and folder structure). This should contain setup and
additional event information files collected during acquisition/processing.

Ideally processed SEGY/XTF files should be produced for each equipment type, specific to the start
and end of lines – where this is done with no post-processing they should be stored in the RawData.

Processed data should be stored in recommended exchange format (e.g. SEGY, XTF or appropriate
format for equipment type within processed data folder).

Tif images should be stored in the ProcessedImages folder.

Line summary logs and point information should be recorded in the Survey Metadata spreadsheet
(or equivalent, e.g. shape files) in the top level of the folder structure, i.e. in the yyyy_n folder.
Detailed log sheets should be stored in the Logs folder for each specific piece of equipment.

It is recommended that P1/90 navigation data for a survey should be stored in Navigation folder (see
relevant section for information).

Groundtruthing
This folder should be used to store data that verifies facts related to the survey, which include
Photo, Video and Sampling data.

The PhotoStation/Video folders should be used where the activity is seabed photo or video. A Photo
Index spreadsheet should be included to record details of all photographs and videos. (Photos of
general interest, e.g. equipment, scenery should be stored in the
ReportsAndDeliverables/GeneralPhotographs folder).

Sampling data should be stored in the Sampling folder (subfolders for Logs, ProcessedData and
RawData). Within this folder further sub-folders for the different types of samples can be created
e.g. Grab Samples, Rock Drill Cores, Gravity Cores, etc. Photos of grab/core samples or the seabed at
a sample station should also be stored here with a Photo Index spreadsheet.

An index of samples should be provided in the Logs folder (e.g. Access database, spreadsheet, shape
file).
Multibeam
The Multibeam folder should be used to store multibeam echo-sounder data (raw, processed,
products and images).

A new folder for each equipment type should be created from the Equipment Type folder, e.g.
EM3002D.

The raw data (generally .all files) should be stored in the RawData folder unless these are already
incorporated within a specific software folder such as a CARIS project.

GeoTIFFs should be stored in the Bathymetry/Backscatter images folders.

The bathymetry products folder can contain various formats such at XYZ, Fledermaus SD files, ESRI
Arc Grid in a separate folder for each.

Processed data files (e.g. GSF) should be stored in the ProcessedData folder.

The Software files folder name should include the name of the software used e.g.
SoftwareFiles_CARIS. This is where all the files produced by the software package during the
acquisition and processing phases are stored. If raw data is included here, it is not necessary to copy
it to the RawData folder.

The Calibration folder should contain all the data from the calibration exercise including tidal
information, and the consequent report, if applicable.

The logs should be stored in the logs folder. An index of multibeam polygon should be provided in
the cruise metadata spreadsheet (or equivalent) in the top level folder. If possible multibeam
polygons should be included (e.g. shape files).

Navigation
All data relevant to the course of the ship and equipment position during data acquisition should be
stored here, including the Observer’s Log and digital track charts. Equipment/Layback information
should be provided.
Reference
This folder can be used for papers, reference materials, software manuals, etc. which are applicable
to the survey. Data acquisition procedures are also stored here. The folder can be removed before
submission to BGS.

Reports and deliverables

This folder should be used for storing any deliverables and reports. This includes daily reports and
the Survey Acquisition Report (Cruise Report). General photographs should be stored here (a Photo
Index should be provided).

Software Utilities
Any software utilities that are useful to have on board can be stored in this folder. This folder can be
removed if not required.