General Information and Definitions¶
The VARS Query allows easy searching of the observations stored in MBARI’s video annotation database. Complex queries can be made by constraining concept, temporal, spatial, or physical parameters (e.g. species, season, location, or depth). The VARS query references the knowledgebase (see definition below). Query results are delivered as a table and include the concept and associations, image links, physical and ancillary data, dive information, and tape information. Query results can be saved as tabular text data or images (where they exist).
Definitions¶
General¶
VARS (Video Annotation and Reference System) is a software interface and database system that provides tools for describing, cataloging, retrieving, and viewing the visual, descriptive, and quantitative data associated with MBARI’s deep-sea video archives.
The VARS Knowledgebase is an extensible database of biological, geological, and technical terms used to describe deep-sea research conducted by the institute. This database is composed of identifiable objects called concepts (e.g. organisms, equipment, sediment types, etc.). The knowledgebase also contains associations which serve as descriptors that can be connected with the objects being annotated (e.g. colors, size, behaviors).
An annotation is an observation made at a specific date and time of MBARI's imagery archive. Each annotation captures details such as the identity of the observed organism or object (concept), its behavior, habitat, or other relevant features association.
Query Specific¶
An association descriptors to be added to a concept to provide more detail about that annotation (behavior, color, posture, sample information, etc.) Each descriptor must be connected to a concept observation. Multiple associations may be used to describe one observation. A concept can have multiple associations to describe the observation.
An activity includes the direction or movement of the camera or the intended activity associated with a particular annotation.
A camera platform specifies the platform a camera was deployed on while recording the selected observations.
A chief scientist is the MBARI scientist or collaborator that conducted the mission in which data was collected.
A concept is the name of the physical object in an observation.
A deployment refers to a specific ROV dive, AUV or instrument deployments where data and imagery were collected.
A group indicates additional information to categorize annotations within the VARS database. The groups are linked to a camera platform. Additional information can include project-based efforts or machine learning aspects used to distinguish the annotations from standard core data.
An observation date is the date the observation was annotated. Sometimes this is the same as the recorded date from observations made at sea.
An observer is the name of the person who created the annotation.
The recorded date is the date the imagery was collected.