Filter Media; Data Safety; Viewing And Analyzing Measurement Data; Data File Structure - Aethlabs microAeth MA200 Operating Manual

5.9. Filter Media

The sample collection and analysis is performed on a roll of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter tape that is
housed in the filter tape cartridge. As the aerosol sample is drawn through the filter media by the instrument's
integrated, internal sample pump, the aerosol sample collects gradually on the filter medium to create a
gray spot 3mm in diameter. The microAeth determines the optical attenuation as the accumulated particles
increase the optical density of the filter spot. After the optical density reaches a certain level, which is set by
the ATN Tape Trigger setting, the filter spot must be replaced to maintain measurement integrity. The filter
tape roll is automatically advanced to provide a new clean spot location for sampling. IMPORTANT: Do not
rewind the filter tape cartridge, or use previously sampled filter tape sampling locations.

5.10. Data Safety

AethLabs highly recommends keeping a prestine backup of the original data collected on the instrument in an
exported file.
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6. Viewing and Analyzing Measurement Data

6.1. Data File Structure

The data files exported through the microAeth Manager are plain text with the extension .csv. Each data
file consists of a header containing descriptive information; a line identifying the data columns; and then a
number of data lines with each item separated by a comma. As the microAeth is starting a new sampling and
measurement session, the first few minutes of data do not contain the BC calculation; all subsequent lines of
data show this value except during an automatic tape advance.
Exported Data File Structure:
Serial Number, Datum ID, Session ID, Data format version, Firmware version, Date / time, Timezone Offset
(mins), Date (yyyy/MM/dd), Time (hh:mm:ss), GPS lat (ddmm.mmmmm), GPS long (dddmm.mmmmm), GPS
altitude (m), GPS speed (km/h), GPS sat count, Timebase, Status, Battery remaining (%), Accel X, Accel Y,
Accel Z, Tape position, Flow setpoint (mL/min), Flow total (mL/min), Flow1 (mL/min), Flow2 (mL/min), Sample
temp (C), Sample RH (%), Sample dewpoint (C), Internal pressure (Pa), Internal temp (C), Optical config, UV
Sen1, UV Sen2, UV Ref, UV ATN1, UV ATN2, UV K, Blue Sen1, Blue Sen2, Blue Ref, Blue ATN1, Blue ATN2,
Blue K, Green Sen1, Green Sen2, Green Ref, Green ATN1, Green ATN2, Green K, Red Sen1, Red Sen2, Red
Ref, Red ATN1, Red ATN2, Red K, IR Sen1, IR Sen2, IR Ref, IR ATN1, IR ATN2, IR K, UV BC1, UV BC2, UV
BCc, Blue BC1, Blue BC2, Blue BCc, Green BC1, Green BC2, Green BCc, Red BC1, Red BC2, Red BCc, IR
BC1, IR BC2, IR BCc

6.2. Serial Data Streaming Structure

The structure of the serial data streaming that is output from the 4-pin serial port of the microAeth are as
follows.
Verbose Structure:
Serial Number, Datum ID, Session ID, Firmware Version, Date Time, GPS Lat, GPS Long, GPS Alt, GPS
Speed, Timebase, Status, Battery, Accel X, Accel Y, Accel Z, Act Comp, Tape Position, Flow Set, Flow Total,
Flow 1, Flow 2, Air Temp, Air RH, Air DP, Int Pr, Int Temp, LEDs, UV Sen1, UV Sen2, UV Ref, UV ATN1, UV
ATN2, UV K, Blue Sen1, Blue Sen2, Blue Ref, Blue ATN1, Blue ATN2, Blue K, Green Sen1, Green Sen2, Green
Ref, Green ATN1, Green ATN2, Green K, Red Sen1, Red Sen2, Red Ref, Red ATN1, Red ATN2, Red K, IR
Sen1, IR Sen2, IR Ref, IR ATN1, IR ATN2, IR K, UV BC1, UV BC2, UV BCc, Blue BC1, Blue BC2, Blue BCc,
Green BC1 Green BC2, Green BCc, Red BC1, Red BC2, Red BCc, IR BC1, IR BC2, IR BCc, CRC
Minimal Structure:
Preamble, Date Time, Status, Battery, Tape Position, Flow Total, Flow 1, Flow 2, UV BC1, UV BC2, IR BC1, IR
BC2, CRC
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