Moving Towards Open Science: The NEXUS Project & Atmospheric Bat Bioacoustics

Dear researchers and bat enthusiasts,

I am excited to announce that I am transitioning my research codes and scripts for the NEXUS Project to an Open Science framework. This project aims to bridge the gap between bioacoustics and real-time atmospheric physics.

The Workflow: A New Level of Data Integration

My setup focuses on capturing the full physical context of bat activity:

1. Field Recording: I use the TeensyBat for high-quality ultrasonic recordings.

2. NEXUS Telemetry (The Compute Node): Simultaneously, the NEXUS unit (powered by a Seeed XIAO ESP32S3) logs environmental data. Crucially, the NEXUS calculates the atmospheric attenuation coefficient ɑ onboard in real-time. This accounts for how temperature and humidity dampen high-frequency ultrasonic calls.

3. Analysis & Merging: Back at the lab, the recordings are processed via BatDetect2. My custom "Merging Script" then synchronizes the species identification with the NEXUS telemetry.

The result is a unique, synchronized dataset: Bat Calls PLUS Onboard Calculated Atmospheric Physics. This allows us to not only see which bat was there, but to scientifically visualize and calculate the impact of air absorption on the signal at the exact moment of recording.

Why Open Science?

I believe this combined approach—integrating physics-based coefficients directly into bioacoustic logs—is essential for the future of the field. By sharing these scripts and the NEXUS firmware, I want to support the global community in Mexico, the UK, and beyond in moving toward more standardized, comparable datasets.

Current Status: Preparing for Launch

I am currently translating all code comments and documentation from German into English. I want to ensure that the logic behind the onboard $\alpha$-calculation and the data merging is perfectly clear. Quality is key, and the official release link will be posted here in just a few days!

A Note for International Visitors

If you are visiting from abroad, welcome! Please use the "Select Language" tool in the sidebar to browse my previous field reports and technical updates while I prepare the English code release.