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Amaseis

Amaseis acts as a digital helicorder, replacing the old drumroll and pen of the past. It is an Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) program, written by Alan Jones. To download the latest version:

  • Go to the website Amaseis
  • Click the link “AmaSeisSetup.exe”
  • Save file to Desktop
  • Double click the desktop link – this opens AmaSeis InstallShield Wizard
  • Follow the prompts to complete installation

The standard installation will put files in >My computer > System C> Amaseis The program also creates a desktop icon for AmaSeis. Double click to start the program. Finally, it is advised to put Amaseis in your STARTUP menu, so upon a reboot, it will come on automatically.

Here are some suggestions for Amaseis initial settings:

  • Select correct COM port. When you install the Arduino Uno driver it will automatically assign a com port. To determine which port has been assigned:

For Windows XP – go to Control Panel-> System-> Hardware-> Device Manager-> expand Ports -> note which COM number the Arduino UNO port uses.

For Windows 7 – go to Devices and Printers, note which COM number the Arduino UNO port uses.

Now, in Amaseis, go to Settings-> COM Port…-> enter the COM port number.

  • Select correct Device. In AmaSeis, go to Settings-> Device… -> select the SEPUK1 device (even though this is the NERdaq!)
  • Set helicorder view parameters. In Amaseis, go to Setting-> Helicorder…, set the horizontal time limit, we use 1 hour. Change the gain to about 4. You may need to decrease the number if your trace is too thick and noisy. Set number of days to scroll back, we use 365. Set the decimate factor to 1. You can also chose to filter or have glitch removal. This are good options if your seismometer is displayed in a heavy foot traffic area.
  • Center the trace by setting the zero value of the signal. In AmaSeis go to Settings-> Device-> Set Zero Value. Adjust so trace records over the blue line. Our signals hover around 32000, but you can get a better reading by “viewing the data values”.
  • Set Station Parameters. In Amaseis, go to Settings-> This Station, enter a Station Name, the latitude, longitude, and elevation. Select Vertical Component. You will create and find your Station and Network Codes when you sign up to with IRIS to share data images.

After changing settings in AmaSeis, it is important to close and restart AmaSeis in order for the settings to take effect.

To learn more about Amaseis features visit Dr. Larry Braile’s site.