Publications Details
Using DFX for Algorithm Evaluation
Evaluating whether or not a new seismic processing algorithm can improve the performance of the operational system can be problematic: it maybe difficult to isolate the comparable piece of the operational system it maybe necessary to duplicate ancillary timctions; and comparing results to the tuned, full-featured operational system maybe an unsat- isfactory basis on which to draw conclusions. Algorithm development and evaluation in an environment that more closely resembles the operational system can be achieved by integrating the algorithm with the custom user library of the Detection and Feature Extraction (DFX) code, developed by Science Applications kternational Corporation. This integration gives the seismic researcher access to all of the functionality of DFX, such as database access, waveform quality control, and station-specific tuning, and provides a more meaningfid basis for evaluation. The goal of this effort is to make the DFX environment more accessible to seismic researchers for algorithm evalua- tion. Typically, anew algorithm will be developed as a C-language progmm with an ASCII test parameter file. The integration process should allow the researcher to focus on the new algorithm developmen~ with minimum attention to integration issues. Customizing DFX, however, requires soflsvare engineering expertise, knowledge of the Scheme and C programming languages, and familiarity with the DFX source code. We use a C-language spatial coherence processing algorithm with a parameter and recipe file to develop a general process for integrating and evaluating a new algorithm in the DFX environment. To aid in configuring and managing the DFX environment, we develop a simple parameter management tool. We also identifi and examine capabilities that could simplify the process further, thus reducing the barriers facing researchers in using DFX..These capabilities include additional parameter manage- ment features, a Scheme-language template for algorithm testing, a generic algorithm interface encompassing expected DFX functionality and algorithm input and output, and the aggregation of some DFX I?imctionality to sim- plify the interface.