13  Detections Table Field Definitions

Filename: detections.csv

Below are the field definitions for the Detections table, which is a primary table.

Field Definition Required Default Data Type Reference Table Constraint
deployment_organization_code

Code of the organization that the deployment belongs to.


Examples: “NEFSC”, “WHOI”

Always Code Organizations (see Excel)
deployment_code

Unique code for the deployment that the analysis belongs to.


Examples: “WHOI_GOM_202310_WE03”, “WHOI_MA-RI_202210_WE16”, “NEFSC_MA-RI_202110_NS01”, “NEFSC_MA-RI_202202_COX02”

Always Code Deployments
analysis_organization_code

Code of the organization that conducted and owns the analysis.


Examples: “NEFSC”, “WHOI”

Always Code Organizations (see Excel)
analysis_code

Code of the analysis that the detection belongs to.


Examples: “RIWH_ANALYSIS”, “BEAKED_ANALYSIS”

Always Code Analyses
detection_start_datetime

Start date and time for the time period for the detection event or time bin depending on analysis granularity


Example: “2025-03-26T15:34:27-0500”

Always Timestamp
detection_end_datetime

End date and time for the time period for the detection event or time bin depending on analysis granularity. If detection is for a single point in time, the start and end datetimes can be the same.


Examples: “2025-03-26T15:34:27-0500”, “2025-03-26T15:34:30-0500”

Always Timestamp
detection_effort_secs

The amount of time (in seconds) the effort occurred in. This would translate to encounter or event duration for encounter/event level data. If the entire period was analyzed, enter total duration between the detection start and end datetimes.


Example: If the first 5 minutes of every hourly analysis bin was analyzed, this number would be “300”. If the full hour of every hourly analysis bin was analyzed, this number would be “3600”.

Always Float
detection_sound_source_code

The species or detected sound the detection period relates to


Examples: “HUWH”, “STDO”, “RV-L”, “RAIN”

Always Code Sound Sources (see Excel)
detection_call_type_code

The call/click type used for presence determination for the detection period


Examples: “RIWH_UPCALL”, “HUWH_SONG”, “OD_WHIS_HF”

Always Code Call Types (see Excel)
detection_behavior_code

Behavior associated with detected event


Examples: “CONTACT”, “FORAGING”, “MOM_CALF”, “MATING”

Code Behaviors (see Excel)
detection_demographic_code

The demographic determined of the sound source for the detection period


Examples: “ADULT_FEMALE_OR_JUV”, “MID-SIZED_INDIVIDUAL”, “MIXED_GROUP”

Code Demographics (see Excel)
detection_n_validated

Number of actual detections that have been validated to be correct in the detection time period


Examples: “3”, “258”

Integer
detection_n_total

Total number of detections for the sound source within the detection time period (can include true and false detections)


Examples: “15”, “179”

Integer
detection_result_code

Detection result indicating if the species was detected or not


Examples: “DETECTED”, “POSSIBLY_DETECTED”, “NOT_DETECTED”

Always Code Detection Result Types (see Excel)
detection_event_type

Type of detection event (if available)


Example: PAMGuard’s eventType field

Text
detection_event_id

ID of the detection event (if available)


Example: PAMGuard’s event ID

Text
detection_latitude

Latitude of the platform location at time of detection (or start of encounter) in decimal degrees (DD.DDDD), only applicable to mobile platforms (e.g., gliders, buoys)


Example: “41.141289”

Float
detection_longitude

Longitude of the platform location at time of detection (or start of encounter) in decimal degrees (DD.DDDD), only applicable to mobile platforms (e.g., gliders, buoys). Negative for locations west of the central meridian.


Example: “-71.102908”

Float
detection_received_level_db

Received level of the detection in dB. For single call detections, a singular value should be placed here. For encounters or time binned data, an average or median received level should be placed here. Further details such as the exact unit (e.g. dB RMS, or dB pp), and whether a median or average received level was used should be placed in the analysis_json or analysis_comments fields of the parent analysis. For encounters/time binned data, each signal’s received level can be placed in the detection_json field.


Example: “15”

Float
detection_quality_code

Quality type of the detection if it was validated or not. This field may be left blank if the analysis_quality_code is “UNKNOWN” for the parent analysis, otherwise it is recommended to fill it out.


Examples: “INVALID”, “UNVERIFIED”, “VALID”, “PARTIALLY_VALID”

Code Detection Quality Types (see Excel)
detection_n_animals

Estimated number of animals thought to be in the detection


Example: “25”

Integer
detection_n_animals_min

Minimum number of animals thought to be in the detection


Example: “1”

Integer
detection_n_animals_max

Maximum number of animals thought to be in the detection


Example: “3”

Integer
detection_json Additional structured data about the detection JSON
detection_comments Comments about the detection Text
localization_method_code

Method used to localize the position of the animal(s)


Examples: “3D_SIMPLEX”, “DMON_REAL-TIME”, “SHIP-POSITION”

Required if submitting localization data Code Localization Methods (see Excel)
localization_latitude

Estimated localized latitude of the animal in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD)


Example: “41.141289”

Float
localization_latitude_min

Minimum localized latitude accounting for localization uncertainty in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD)


Example: “40.724307”

Float
localization_latitude_max

Maximum localized latitude accounting for localization uncertainty in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD)


Example: “41.141289”

Float
localization_longitude

Estimates localized longitude of the animal in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD), negative for locations west of the central meridian


Example: “-71.102908”

Float
localization_longitude_min

Minimum localized longitude accounting for localization uncertainty in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD), negative for locations west of the central meridian


Example: “-70.016567”

Float
localization_longitude_max

Maximum localized longitude accounting for localization uncertainty in decimal degrees (DD.DDDDDD), negative for locations west of the central meridian


Example: “-71.102908”

Float
localization_distance_m

Estimated range of detection (in meters) from the recording platform


Examples: “3”, “60.5”

Float
localization_distance_m_min

Minimum range of detection (in meters) from the recording platform


Example: “0”

Float
localization_distance_m_max

Maximum range of detection (in meters) from the recording platform


Example: “8047”

Float
localization_bearing

For beamforming, the estimated bearing angle of the localization cone (0-360 degrees). Specify if bearing is measured relative to true north, magnetic north, or device orientation, and compass rose convention (clockwise, counter-clockwise) in analysis_json or analysis_comments.


Examples: “170”, “170.5”

Float
localization_bearing_min

For beamforming, the start bearing angle of the localization cone (0-360 degrees)


Examples: “167”, “167.5”

Float
localization_bearing_max

For beamforming, the end bearing angle of the localization cone (0-360 degrees)


Example: “175”, “175.34”

Float
localization_depth_method_code

Method used to estimate depth of the animal(s)


Examples: “3D_TDOA”, “MANUAL_DRTD”, “WHALEDO”

Code Localization Depth Methods (see Excel)
localization_depth_n_signals

Number of signals used to derive the depth


Examples: “7”, “218”

Integer
localization_depth_m

Estimated depth of animal (in meters)


Examples: “5”, “28.6”

Float
localization_depth_m_min

Minimum depth of animal (in meters)


Example: “1.5”

Float
localization_depth_m_max

Maximum depth of animal (in meters)


Example: “893”

Float
localization_json Additional structured data about localization in JSON format JSON
localization_comments Comments about the localization Text