diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d6ca2c46..8227485c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [3.1.8](https://github.com/Loop3D/map2loop/compare/v3.1.7...v3.1.8) (2024-06-20)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* pin LPF to 0.1.3 ([f3766a8](https://github.com/Loop3D/map2loop/commit/f3766a83d0f09f293429cc975933cbf79b01c5a2))
+
 ## [3.1.7](https://github.com/Loop3D/map2loop/compare/v3.1.6...v3.1.7) (2024-06-18)
 
 
diff --git a/conda/meta.yaml b/conda/meta.yaml
index e4d0b39d..26e160f3 100644
--- a/conda/meta.yaml
+++ b/conda/meta.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ requirements:
     - numpy
     - geopandas
     - map2model
-    - hjson
     - loopprojectfile
     - beartype
     - owslib
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ requirements:
     - pandas
     - geopandas
     - map2model
-    - hjson
     - loopprojectfile
     - beartype
     - owslib
@@ -40,7 +38,6 @@ test:
     - map2loop
     - geopandas
     - map2model
-    - hjson
     - loopprojectfile
     - beartype
     - owslib
diff --git a/dependencies.txt b/dependencies.txt
index 4c52daee..96ab72a4 100644
--- a/dependencies.txt
+++ b/dependencies.txt
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ networkx
 owslib
 map2model
 hjson
-loopprojectfile>=0.1.3
+loopprojectfile==0.1.3
 beartype
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/map2loop/config.py b/map2loop/config.py
index 21d9e536..a40b2e88 100644
--- a/map2loop/config.py
+++ b/map2loop/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+import urllib.error
 import beartype
-import hjson
+import json
 import urllib
 import time
 import pathlib
@@ -188,8 +189,9 @@ def update_from_file(
         Update the config dictionary from the provided json filename or url
 
         Args:
-            filename (str): Filename or URL of the JSON config file
+            filename (Union[pathlib.Path, str]): Filename or URL of the JSON config file
             legacy_format (bool, optional): Whether the JSON is an old version. Defaults to False.
+            lower (bool, optional): convert keys to lowercase. Defaults to False.
         """
         if legacy_format:
             func = self.update_from_legacy_file
@@ -199,26 +201,49 @@ def update_from_file(
         try:
             filename = str(filename)
 
+            #if url, open the url
             if filename.startswith("http") or filename.startswith("ftp"):
-                try_count = 10
+                try_count = 5
                 success = False
-                while try_count >= 0 and not success:
+                # try 5 times to access the URL
+                while try_count > 0 and not success:
                     try:
                         with urllib.request.urlopen(filename) as url_data:
-                            data = hjson.load(url_data)
+                            data = json.load(url_data)
                             func(data, lower)
                         success = True
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        # Catch a failed online access or file load, re-attempt
-                        # a few times before throwing further
+
+                    #case 1. handle url error
+                    except urllib.error.URLError as e:
+                        # wait 0.25 seconds before trying again
                         time.sleep(0.25)
-                        try_count = try_count - 1
-                        if try_count < 0:
-                            raise e
+                        # decrease the number of tries by 1
+                        try_count -= 1
+                        # if no more tries left, raise the error
+                        if try_count <= 0:
+                            raise urllib.error.URLError(f"Failed to access URL after multiple attempts: {filename}") from e
+
+                    # case 2. handle json error
+                    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                        raise json.JSONDecodeError(
+                            f"Error decoding JSON data from URL: {filename}") from e
             else:
-                with open(filename) as url_data:
-                    data = hjson.load(url_data)
-                    func(data, lower)
+                try:
+                    with open(filename) as file_data:
+                        data = json.load(file_data)
+                        func(data, lower)
+                except FileNotFoundError as e:
+                    err_string = f"The specified config file does not exist ({filename}).\n"
+                    err_string += "Please check the file exists and is accessible, then try again.\n"
+                    raise FileNotFoundError(err_string) from e
+                except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                    raise json.JSONDecodeError(
+                        f"Error decoding JSON data from file: {filename}"
+                    ) from e
+
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            raise  
+
         except Exception:
             err_string = f"There is a problem parsing the config file ({filename}).\n"
             if filename.startswith("http"):
@@ -228,4 +253,4 @@ def update_from_file(
             if not legacy_format:
                 err_string += "Also check if this is a legacy config file and add clut_file_legacy=True to the Project function\n"
             err_string += "Check the contents for mismatched quotes or brackets!"
-            raise Exception(err_string)
+            raise Exception(err_string)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/map2loop/version.py b/map2loop/version.py
index 02f8c630..e9c7bfb1 100644
--- a/map2loop/version.py
+++ b/map2loop/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "3.1.7"
+__version__ = "3.1.8"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f654acc5..00bec5a0 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -34,10 +34,8 @@ def get_description():
         "pandas",
         "geopandas",
         "shapely",
-        "tqdm",
         "networkx",
         "owslib",
-        "hjson",
         "loopprojectfile",
         "map2model",
         "beartype",
diff --git a/tests/thickness/InterpolatedStructure/test_interpolated_structure.py b/tests/thickness/InterpolatedStructure/test_interpolated_structure.py
index 986b57df..56d7f992 100644
--- a/tests/thickness/InterpolatedStructure/test_interpolated_structure.py
+++ b/tests/thickness/InterpolatedStructure/test_interpolated_structure.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from map2loop.sampler import SamplerSpacing, SamplerDecimator
 from map2loop.m2l_enums import Datatype
 import map2loop
+import numpy
 
 
 def create_raster(output_path, bbox, epsg, pixel_size, value=100):
@@ -272,6 +273,7 @@ def test_compute(
     result = interpolated_structure_thickness.compute(
         units, stratigraphic_order, basal_contacts, samples, map_data
     )
+    
     assert (
         interpolated_structure_thickness.thickness_calculator_label == "InterpolatedStructure"
     ), 'Thickness_calc interpolated structure not being set properly'
@@ -284,11 +286,11 @@ def test_compute(
     assert (
         'ThicknessMean' in result.columns
     ), 'Thickness not being calculated in InterpolatedStructure calculator'
-    assert result['ThicknessMedian'].dtypes == float, 'ThicknessMedian column is not float'
+    assert result['ThicknessMedian'].dtypes == numpy.float64, 'ThicknessMedian column is not float'
     assert (
         'ThicknessStdDev' in result.columns
     ), 'Thickness std not being calculated in InterpolatedStructure calculator'
-    assert result['ThicknessStdDev'].dtypes == float, 'ThicknessStdDev column is not float'
+    assert result['ThicknessStdDev'].dtypes  == numpy.float64, 'ThicknessStdDev column is not float'
 
     # check for nas in thickness
     assert result['ThicknessMedian'].isna().sum() == 0, 'ThicknessMedian column has NaNs'