The "SPectrogram Analysis and Cataloguing Environment" (SPACE) Labelling Tool

TL;DR

The SPACE Labelling Tool is an interactive Python application that enables precise annotation of radio emission features in dynamic spectra, facilitating cataloguing and analysis of radio data.

Contribution

This paper introduces the first stable release (version 2.0) of the SPACE tool, a novel interactive Python program for labeling radio emission features in dynamic spectra.

Findings

Supports multiple polygons per spectrum

Saves annotations in TFCat JSON format

Enhances radio feature cataloguing efficiency

Abstract

The SPectrogram Analysis and Cataloguing Environment (SPACE) tool is an interactive python tool designed to label radio emission features of interest in a time-frequency map (called 'dynamic spectrum'). The program uses Matplotlib's Polygon Selector widget to allow a user to select and edit an undefined number of vertices on top of the dynamic spectrum before closing the shape (polygon). Multiple polygons may be drawn on any spectrum, and the feature name along with the coordinates for each polygon vertex are saved into a '.json' file as per the 'Time-Frequency Catalogue' (TFCat) format along with other data such as the feature id, observer name, and data units. This paper describes the first official stable release (version 2.0) of the tool.