Overview
Echopype is a comprehensive Python library designed to enable interoperability and scalability in ocean sonar data processing. It provides tools for converting, processing, and analyzing water column sonar data, making it accessible to the broader oceanographic research community.
Features
- Multi-format Support: Convert data from various sonar formats (EK60, EK80, AZFP, and more) to standardized formats
- Cloud-Ready Processing: Leverage Dask for distributed computing and Zarr for cloud-optimized data storage
- Standardized Output: Produce analysis-ready, cloud-optimized (ARCO) data following community standards
- Scalable Architecture: Process large datasets efficiently using the Pangeo stack
Technical Highlights
Built on the Pangeo ecosystem (Xarray, Dask, Jupyter), Echopype transforms raw sonar data into analysis-ready formats. The library handles complex oceanographic data structures and provides a consistent interface for researchers.
Key Contributions
As a core contributor, I:
- Enhanced the continuous integration system and build automations
- Implemented robust cloud interfaces for data access and processing
- Mentored Google Summer of Code (GSoC) contributors
- Performed code reviews and maintained software best practices
- Enabled NOAA NCEI adoption through improved cloud compatibility
Impact
The enhanced cloud interface led to adoption by NOAA NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information), significantly expanding the reach and impact of ocean sonar data analysis capabilities across the research community.
Publications
Lee, W. J., Mayorga, E., Staneva, V., Setiawan, L., et al. (2021). Echopype: A Python library for interoperable and scalable processing of water column sonar data for biological information. arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.00187.