Pose_config.md

User-defined pose-configurations in SimBA

SimBA comes pre-packaged with the ability to import tracking data based on 8 different body-part pose-estimation tracking combinations. Where possible, we strongly recommend using SimBA and pose-estimation packages (like DeepLabCut or DeepPoseKit) with a 16-body-part, 2 animal, pose-configuration setting.

However, SimBA can handle any combination of tracked body-parts, as long as users create their own pose configuration setting in SimBA. In this tutorial we describe how users define their own body part configurations in SimBA.

CAUTION: When users create projects with user-defined body part configurations, SimBA calculates fewer and less precise features for the machine models and this may negatively affect the prediction performance. Thus - if users have the option - we strongly encourage that the 16-body-part, 2 animal, pose-configuration setting is used. Click HERE for a rough list of the features that SimBA calculates based on user-defined pose configurations. For comparison, click [HERE] for the list of features that SimBA calculates based on the 16-body-part, 2 animal, pose-configuration setting.

Create a new user-defined pose-configuration

1. In the main SimBA console window, click on File, and Create a new project. The window that pops open is descibed in-depth the Scenario 1 - Create Project tutorial. If you are creating a new user-defined pose-configuration setting, do not begin by specifying a project path, project name, or any SML settings. Instead, skip these menus, leave these entry boxes blank, and click on the button in the Animal Settings menu next to the text # config. You should see the following default menu pop open:

Click on Create pose config to begin to define a new user-defined pose configuration.

2. After clicking on Create pose config, the following menu pops open:

In the first entry box, give your pose-configuration a name. In this tutorial we will call our user-defined pose configuration BtWGaNP_pose. Please avoid spaces in the pose config name. In the second entry box, enter the number of animals you wish to track. This could be 1 or 2. In the third entry box, enter the number of body-parts your tracking data will contain. For example, if the dataset contains 8 tracked body-parts on two different animals, I will enter the integer 16.

Next, select an image that is representative of your tracking environment and contains a clear view of all the tracked bodyparts by clicking on Browse File. This image will be used to create a reference image of your pose configuration settings. After you have selected an image, click on Confirm.

3. After clicking confirm the following table should pop open:

The table contains one row for each body-part specified in the # of Bodyparts entry box. Please name the bodyparts by filling in their names. Do not use spaces in the bodypart names.

IMPORTANT If you have two animals, you might want to track two body-parts with the same name for each of the two animals. For example, you may want to track the Nose of the two animals. If this is the case, then name the two noses Nose_1 for animal 1, and Nose_2 for animal 2. When done, click on Save Pose Configs to proceed.

3. After clicking on Save Pose Configs, a window named Define pose pops open that shows the frame that was chosen in the Image Path entry box. This image also displays some instructions at the top - like the image here below to the left. Follow the instructions at the top of the window to label all of your defined body parts, like the gif below on the right:

NOTE: DOUBLE LEFT MOUSE CLICK TO PLACE BODY PART. PRESS ESC TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT BODY PART

The window will close once all the body-parts have been marked. Double left mouse-click to assign a body-part location. Press Esc to move to the next body-part after a body-part as been assigned.

4. Your newly created body part configuration should now be accessable though the Animal Settings menu next to the text # config:

Note: When a project has been created in SimBA, the pose-configuration selected when creating the project is stored within a CSV file within the project folder, and this file is referenced to at various stages of the workflow. You can check this file out by navigating to the project_folder\logs\measures\pose_configs\bp_names\project_bp_names.csv file.

Removing / archiving user-defined pose-configurations in SimBA

The user may want to remove user-defined body-part configurations from the # config list. To do this, locate the Reset user-defined pose configs button in the Project configuration tab:

1. When clicked on, a warning message will pop open, asking if you are sure if you want to reset your pose-configurations. Click on Yes to proceed.

2. The next time you open the Project configuration tab, your user-defined pose-configurations will no longer be visable in the # config list.

Note: The user defined configs are never deleted even though they are removed from the # config list. The user-defined pose-configurations are archived in the they can be retrieved. Once removed , they are stored in the SimBA\pose_configurations_archive folder.

Optional: Creating DeepLabCut projects using user-defined pose-configurations in SimBA

Once a project with a specific pose-configuration has been created in SimBA, you may also want to use this pose-configuration and body part naming convention in your DeepLabCut projects created through SimBA.

1. You newly created pose-configuration setting in a new DeepLabCut project through SimBA, click the following box next to the text Bp config file in the Create DLC model menu. For more information on how to use DeepLabCut in SimBA, click HERE.

Once clicked on, first navigate to your SimBA project. Your SimBA body-part configuration is saved in a csv file within your SimBA project. Go ahead and navigate to project_folder/logs/measures/pose_configs/bp_names\project_bp_names.csv and select this file.

When you click on Create project in the DeepLabCut Create Project menu, your DeepLabCut project and DeepLabCut project yaml file will now be based on your SimBA-configured body-parts.