DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tb2rbp0fw
title: AERPAW helikite spectrum measurements at Packapalooza Festival in Aug 2025

description: We conducted a spectrum monitoring experiment using a helikite in an urban
 environment during NC State’s Packapalooza festival in August 2025. The
 helikite was equipped with a software-defined radio (SDR) and global
 positioning system (GPS) receivers and flown for approximately 6 hours,
 starting around noon. The helikite reached an altitude of approximately
 160 meters at its peak. The spectrum was continuously swept up to 6 GHz,
 with each sweep taking about 15 seconds.
description: # AERPAW helikite spectrum measurements at Packapalooza Festival in Aug
 2025 ## Description of the data and file structure ## Overview This
 dataset, **“Spectrum monitoring dataset by a helikite in an urban area”**,
 was collected by **AERPAW**.\ It contains spectrum measurements conducted
 using a helikite-based platform in an urban environment.\ The dataset
 follows the **SigMF v1.2** standard for signal metadata formatting.\
 MATLAB post-processing scripts are also included.\ Please refer to the
 **README** file for setup and usage instructions. --- ### Files and
 variables ## Contents * **SigMF-formatted power spectrum raw dataset**\
 Located in the folder `pow_spec/` * **SigMF-formatted GPS logs**\ Located
 in the folder `GPS_logs/` * **SigMF-formatted spectrum monitoring logs**\
 Located in the folder `GPS_logs/` * **SigMF to MATLAB format conversion
 script** * `sigMF2mat_PW.py` converts SigMF-formatted power spectrum data
 to MATLAB (`.mat`) files * **SigMF to CSV format conversion scripts** *
 `sigMF2csv_GPS.py` converts SigMF-formatted GPS and spectrum monitoring
 logs to CSV format --- ## Running the Code ### Convert power spectrum data
 Run `sigMF2mat_PW.py` to convert the power spectrum data into MATLAB
 format.\ Output files will be saved in `./matfiles_converted` ### Convert
 GPS logs Run `sigMF2csv_GPS.py` to convert the GPS and spectrum monitoring
 logs into CSV format.\ Output files will be saved in `./GPS_logs/csvfile/`
 --- ## Raw Data Description ### Power Spectrum Each MATLAB file contains
 two variables: * `freqs` (in MHz) * `powers` (in dBm) Filenames correspond
 to timestamps representing the data collection time. ### GPS Logs The
 generated CSV files contain the following columns: | Column | Description
 | | ------ | ------------------------------- | | 1 | Longitude | | 2 |
 Latitude | | 3 | Altitude (m) | | 4 | Timestamp (seconds since epoch) |
 ### Spectrum Monitoring Logs Each CSV file contains a single column
 representing the timestamps of center frequency shifts during spectrum
 sweeps. --- ## Code/software ## SigMF Format This dataset is compliant
 with **SigMF v1.2** standards.\ More information about SigMF can be found
 at the [SigMF v1.x Documentation](https://signalmetadata.org/) --- ##
 MATLAB Post-Processing After converting the SigMF files to MATLAB and CSV
 formats, run the script `Post_processing_main.m` to analyze the dataset.\
 This script performs filtering, statistical analysis, and visualization of
 spectrum occupancy. ## Access information Other publicly accessible
 locations of the data: *
 [https://aerpaw.org/dataset/dataset-27-aerpaw-helikite-spectrum-measurements-at-packapalooza-festival-in-august-2025/](https://aerpaw.org/dataset/dataset-27-aerpaw-helikite-spectrum-measurements-at-packapalooza-festival-in-august-2025/)