| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
Motus Network
A collaborative network of receivers, transmitters, partners, and researchers which use radio telemetry to study animal movement.
Collaborators
Any person who uses Motus for research, education, or otherwise
Project
A collection of Motus Tags and/or Motus Stations which all are all managed together. A single Motus project can used to manage equipment from multiple research projects.
Station
Encompasses all receiver deployments at a single location.
Station deployment
Describes a single setup of a receiver station. This includes information such as: number, types, directions, and heights of antennas; location of station, receiver listening frequency, computer serial numbers, type of antenna mounting structure. Deployments are registered on Motus.org.
Receiver
A computer designed to receive radio signals
Tag
A radio transmitter made by Lotek or Cellular Tracking Technologies.
Tag deployment
The time period of when a tag was activated and in the field.
CTT
Cellular Tracking Technologies (i.e.; one of the companies that makes tags and receivers).
Lotek
One of the companies that makes tags and receivers.
Collaborators
Any person who uses Motus for research, education, or otherwise
Data Access Log
Whenever a user downloads data from your project, it is logged here. This can be used to draw statistics.
Receiver
A computer designed to receive radio signals
Receiver deployment
Describes a single setup of a receiver station. This includes information such as: number, types, directions, and heights of antennas; location of station, receiver listening frequency, computer serial numbers, type of antenna mounting structure. Deployments are registered on Motus.org.
Station
Encompasses all receiver deployments at a single location.
Coax
Coaxial cable, typically used to connect antennas to receivers.
Antenna mount
The part which connects the antenna to the mounting structure. Typically a metal plate with U-bolts.
Antenna mounting structure
Usually a mast, but can be anything imaginable, such as a guard rail, a tree, or a wall.
Mast
A structure used to mount antennas. Typically a metal pipe and often telescopic (pop-up), such as the 20A and 50A masts.
Tripod
A three-legged structure used to support a mast. Usually 10-feet (3 m) tall (TRM-10L).
Angle iron
Can be steel or aluminum. Angled piece of metal typically used to affix solar panels to tripods.
Mast collar
A small section of metal tubing with a bolt in it which slides over the top-most section of a mast. It allows the spare guy ring to rest on it at the top of the mast.
Guy ring
A ring around the mast typically used to affix guy lines.
DMX
A triangular tower structure used for more permanent installations. Usually requires a concrete footing or a building for support.
Non-penetrating Roof Mount
A type of mast mount which does not require anchoring. Typically used on flat roofs. See non-penetrating roof mounts.
SensorGnome
Open source receiver developed at the Phil Taylor Lab, Acadia University.
CTT SensorStation
Receiver made by Cellular Tracking Technologies
Lotek SRX
SRX-series receiver made by Lotek Wireless Ltd.
Motus Network
A collaborative network of receivers, transmitters, partners, and researchers which use radio telemetry to study animal movement.
Galvanic Corrosion
When two dissimilar metals meet in a corrosive electrolyte (salt water), the more reactive metal will corrode much more quickly than normal. Aluminum when in contact with steel.
Hit
A single tag detection (equivalent to one 'burst').
Run
A collections of consecutive hits. Up to 60 bursts can be missed (not detected) before a new run starts.
Run length
The number of detections in the run
Batch
A batch of data collected over the same receiver boot session.
Tag Project ID
The ID of the Motus project that manages the tag. The user requests which project the tag be registered upon ordering tags.
Motus Tag ID
This is a Motus database ID unique to the physical tag and the project it sits in. If the tag was deployed twice between two projects (rare), there may be two tag IDs that exist for the same tag – one for each project.
Tag Deployment ID
This is a database ID defined by Motus which is unique to a single tag deployment record i.e., instance when a tag was attached to an individual animal. If the tag is recovered off the animal, the deployment is ended.
Manufacturer ID or mfgID
The ID of the tag as defined by the manufacturer. This is the ID that is also digitally encoded in the radio signal transmitted by the tag. It corresponds to the digits printed on the tag for Lotek tags.
Tag ID
Generally refers to the Motus Tag ID within Motus documentation, but informally it can also mean the manufacturer ID.
Burst
A single transmission by the tag which contains its digitally encoded ID. A burst is made up of Pulses. This is equivalent to a 'hit' in the detection data.
Burst Rate; Burst Interval; or Period
Time interval between successive bursts (in seconds). This value is measured from the sample recording of the tag.
Period SD
Standard deviation of the time interval between successive bursts (in seconds). This value is measured from the sample recording of the tag.
Frequency or Nominal Frequency
The central radio frequency used to transmit the signal, usually reported in megahertz (MHz).
Frequency offset
The difference between the nominal frequency and the measured frequency of the tag, usually reported in kilohertz (KHz). This value is measured from the sample recording of the tag.
Pulse length
Tag pulse length (in milliseconds). Pulses make up a Burst. This value is measured from the sample recording of the tag.
Datebin
Period (i.e., year and quarter-annum) when the tag was registered.
Date Registered
The date the tag was registered with motus.
Tag Type
Type of signal transmitted by the tag (e.g. Beeper or ID).
Tag Codeset
If a manufacturer has more than one code set from which a code can come, this must uniquely identify the one for this tag (e.g., ‘Lotek-3).
Tag manufacturer
Tag manufacturer (e.g., Lotek or CTT).
Tag model
Information on the model of tag (e.g., NTQB-3-2).
Estimated tag lifespan
How many days after activation the tag is expected to last based on the tag model. This value is calculated using the model and period.
Estimated buffered lifespan
Predicted lifespan plus an additional 50% to account for unusually long-lasting tags.
Anticipated deployment start date
Placeholder dates that begin on the earliest date which tags are expected to be deployed. This date tells us when to start looking for the tag in detection data. This date can be inputted upon registration of the tags, or anytime before the actual deployment of tags.
Confirmed deployment start date
The exact deployment dates and times for each tag provided after tag deployment. Confirmation is required after the anticipated date has passed by updating the tag deployment metadata.
Pending tag deployment
Tag deployment record does not have a start date, or start date is in the future.
Active tag deployment
Currently active in the system based on start date, estimated life span, and absence of an end date. Indicates that the deployment can be activated and looked for by Tag Finder between start date and calculated end date (start date + lifespan).
Terminated tag deployment
User provided a known end date to deployment because the tag has been recovered from the animal. This indicates a finalized deployment. If the tag has remaining lifespan it can either be redeployed or deprecated.
Estimated deployment end date/time
A deployment end date that is calculated by Motus based on tag lifespan plus an additional 50% to account for unusually long-lasting tags. This date is used when the user leaves the end date/time blank.
Terminated deployment date/time
User manually inputs a known end date when they recover the tag from the animal or end a “tag test”.
Deprecated tag
A tag that the user has/had in their possession, but has been damaged, expired, or lost and will never be (re-)deployed. Users can check this box to allow tag properties to be released for use by other projects.
Deleted tag
Tag registered to a project by manufacturer, but fails to turn on or is returned to the manufacturer. The tag was therefore never activated and we do not want to match detections to this tag. Tag has been deleted from both the motus and Tag Finder database entirely.