Operators
In Echoview, an operator is an algorithm which acts upon an operand to produce a virtual variable. The operators implemented in Echoview have been chosen for their generality to allow maximum flexibility in visualizing and analyzing data. All operators are licensed with the Advanced Operators module, except those indicated in Operator licensing in Echoview.
Notes:
- Operators optimized for multi-threading on multi-core computers are denoted with the image of a hare on the New Variable dialog box.
- Applications of virtual variables.
- Read the Data thresholding section on Noise, background object and signal removal in Echoview.
Echoview operators are grouped for convenience, as follows:
Arithmetic operators
Data manipulation operators
Bitmap operators
Conversion operators
Convolution operators
Imaging operators
Line operators
Surface operators
Movement operators
Multibeam operators
Single target detection operators
Single target manipulation operators
Arithmetic operators
Operator |
Description |
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This operator returns the magnitude of the current velocity given three orthogonal current velocity component variables. The resultant acoustic virtual variable has a linear data type. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator subtracts two variables in the linear domain. Operand 2 is subtracted from operand 1. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator adds two variables in the linear domain. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator returns the maximum data point values from two variables. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: For color variables, comparisons are made using the sum of the red, green and blue channels. If these values are equal, the value from operand 1 is returned. |
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This operator takes the mean of three variables. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: The mean for SV, TS and unspecified dB variables is calculated in the linear domain. |
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This operator subtracts two variables. Operand 2 is subtracted from operand 1. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator returns the minimum data point values from two variables. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: For color variables, comparisons are made using the sum of the red, green and blue channels. If these values are equal, the value from operand 1 is returned. |
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This operator adds two variables. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator takes the variance of three variables. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: The variance for SV, TS and unspecified dB variables is calculated in the linear domain. |
Bitmap operators
Operator |
Description |
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This operator does a logical AND on two bitmaps. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator applies a Boolean NOT operation to the individual values in a Boolean variable, i.e. it changes true values to false and vice versa. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
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This operator does a logical OR on two bitmaps. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator uses a bitmap to select between values from two other variables. If there is a true value in the bitmap then the corresponding data value from the first variable will be used at that position, otherwise the corresponding data value from the second variable will be used. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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This operator creates a bitmap of pings which contain single target detections. The resulting virtual variable is a boolean variable with the same number of pings and ping geometry as the first operand. Each sample in the result has a value of true if it is on the same ping as one or more single targets in the second operand and false if not. See also Effect of No data samples on the Wideband Frequency Response graph page. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
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Trained model bitmap (experimental) |
Conversion operators
Operator |
Description |
This operator converts dB values in an input variable to linear values using the formula:
Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
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This operator applies linear to dB conversion to the individual values in the input variable using the formula:
Zero or negative input values are converted to "no data" values. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
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This operator changes a current velocity component variable to a linear variable. Echoview accepts a single current velocity component variable as input. |
Convolution operators
The Convolution operators group lists single beam convolution operators. Multibeam convolution operators are listed under Multibeam operators.
For more information about convolution operators, their differences, and how they are used, see Convolution algorithms and Convolution operators illustrated.
Operator |
Description |
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XxY statistic | ||||||||||
This operator applies a standard 3x3 convolution matrix to blur the image. The convolution kernel used in the Blur operator is:
Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator applies an n x n dilation convolution filter to the echogram (where n = 3, 5 or 7). A dilation filter replaces each data point with the maximum of the data points in the surrounding cell. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator applies a n x n erosion filter to the echogram (where n = 3, 5 or 7). An erosion filter replaces each data point with the minimum of the data points in the surrounding cell. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator applies a n x n median filter to the echogram (where n = 3, 5 or 7). A median filter replaces each data point with the median of the data points in the surrounding cell. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator applies a standard 3x3 convolution matrix to sharpen the image. The convolution kernel used in the Sharpen operator is:
Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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Data manipulation operators
Data manipulation operators offer a wide variety of operations for single beam and multibeam data. Other groups list operators that address data manipulation themes.
Operator |
Description |
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Attenuated signal removal |
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Background noise estimation |
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Calibration subset |
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This operator copies a variable. It does not change the input variable, but any settings specified on the Data page of the Variable Properties dialog box will be applied. The resulting virtual variable can be useful for:
Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: See also Effect of No data samples on the Wideband Frequency Response graph page. |
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Creates a virtual variable that takes data from Operand 1 and the Start range, Stop range, and Number of data points from Operand 2. In effect, it enables you to resample Operand 1 to the exact ping geometry of Operand 2. The resampling is a weighted mean calculation. This virtual variable is useful to change resampled data back to its original ping geometry. See also: Match geometry algorithm. Notes:
Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input: Operand 1:
Operand 2:
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Merge GPS |
This operator merges the position data in two variables to create a single position variable. You can use Merge GPS to merge position data from multiple filesets to partner processed and merged echogram data from multiple filesets. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator merges the data in two variables of the same data type to create a single variable containing the pings from both the input variables. Examples of use:
Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator applies the exclusions (line and surface) and bad data analysis settings specified on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box for its input variable. Changes may include: data points to 'no data' values, special handling for Thickness mean calculations and data points to empty water values. For more detailed information refer to About analysis domains. Also note the Effect of No data samples on the Wideband Frequency Response graph page. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
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This operator is used to remove pings which meet certain criteria. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator is used to remove pings which meet certain criteria. With respect to the 'reduced pings' for display and export, the Reduce pings and Reduce pings (Method 2) operators are identical. The differences with the Method 2 operator are:
Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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Signal to background noise ratio |
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Transient Noise Sample Removal
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Wideband frequency select |
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Wideband frequency subset |
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Imaging operators
Operator |
Description |
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This operator converts a color echogram to monochrome by averaging the red, green and blue color intensities using the equation: Luminance = 0.2125 * Red + 0.7154 * Green + 0.0721 * Blue Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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This operator overlays two echograms to create a color image. The second echogram is laid over the first, so that the first is only visible where there are 'no data' values in the second echogram. Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
Note: The color of data points in virtual variables created using this operator is determined by the operands' color schemes, not by the color scheme of the selected for the virtual variable. Other elements of the color scheme (e.g., lines and regions) are determined by the color scheme selected for the virtual variable, see About setting variable properties for more information. |
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This operator converts an echogram to a color image by assigning an RGB (red, green, blue) value to each data point. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes:
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Line operators
The use of an exclusion line on wideband/complex data may affect the wideband frequency response. Refer to the Effect of No data samples on the Wideband Frequency Response graph page.
Operator |
Description |
Creates a virtual line that is the arithmetic sum of the specified operand lines, with the ping time stamps specified by Operand 1. Echoview currently offers the addition or subtraction of line depths for this operator. The settings for this operator are on the Arithmetic page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type as input: Operand 1
Operand 2
Operand 3
Notes:
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Creates a virtual line from an acoustic variable using the Best bottom candidate line pick algorithm and the settings on the Best candidate line pick page of the Line Properties dialog box. It accepts operands with the following data types:
For more information:
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This operator creates a virtual line by cropping the input operand line at a specified minimum and maximum depth. It accepts operands with the following data types:
The settings for this operator are on the Crop page of the Line Properties dialog box. Note: The Crop operator is useful to pre-process lines that you want to use with the Statistical combination line operator. |
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Creates a virtual line with a fixed depth. The settings for this operator are on the Fixed depth page of the Line Properties dialog box. No operand is required. |
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Creates a virtual line that is linearly offset from another line. The settings for this operator are on the Linear offset page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts a line of any line type as an input operand. |
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Creates a virtual line from an acoustic variable using a Maximum Sv line pick algorithm and the settings on the Maximum Sv Line Pick page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts input operands with the following data types:
For more information on the algorithm offered by this operator see the Line Pick algorithms page. |
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Near-field depth estimation |
Creates a virtual line at the depth corresponding to the estimated on-axis range of the near field (Fresnel zone), multiplied by a factor (default is 2). Echoview accepts input operands with the following data types:
Notes:
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Creates a virtual line that is at an off-axis angle offset from another line. The Off-axis angle offset operator makes a translated copy of the input operand line by calculating the equivalent depth change for a specified change in off beam axis angle. This calculation importantly assumes a vertically oriented echosounder and a flat bottom. The transducer draft only is taken from the specified transducer. If the line is based upon a sounder-detected bottom then the transducer associated with that variable is used (another transducer cannot be selected). The settings for this operator are on the Off-axis angle offset page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts a line of any line type as an input operand. See: About off-axis angle line offsets for more details. |
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Smoothing filter |
Creates a virtual line that is the smoothed version of the operand line. The settings for this operator are on the Smoothing filter page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts a line of any line type as an input operand. |
Creates a virtual line by bridging any gaps from another line. The bridging line segments can be set to a specified line status. The settings for this operator are on the Span Gaps page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts a line of any line type as an input operand. |
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Statistical combination |
Creates a virtual line that is a statistical combination of specified input operand lines with ping time stamps specified by Operand 1. Echoview currently supports mean, maximum, minimum and median depth statistics for this operator. Up to six input lines can be specified. This operator is useful for deriving a single bottom line from bottom lines detected at multiple frequencies. The settings for this operator are on the Statistical combination page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type: Operand 1 Operand 2
Operand 3
Notes:
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Threshold offset | Creates a virtual line offset to another line at the threshold of samples in an acoustic variable. Can be used to detect boundaries such as the end of ring down below the water surface, and vegetation layers above a bottom line. For each ping the algorithm traces downwards or upwards from the original line until a threshold value is reached. The time resolution of Operand 1 dictates the time resolution of the Threshold offset line. As a result, it is advised that the time resolution of Operand 1 and Operand 2 match. Otherwise, unwanted line time-mismatch artifacts may occur. The settings for this operator are on the Threshold Offset page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type: Operand 1
Operand 2
See also: About the Threshold offset operator. |
Time offset | Creates a virtual line by applying a specified time offset to the time of the operand line. The settings for this operator are on the Time Offset page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type: Operand 1
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Towed body time offset | Creates a virtual line for the visualization of a towed body's position using an acoustic variable and a depth line. The time offset is calculated relative the platform and considers the platform speed, tow point, tow length and tow depth. See also: Synchronizing towed body media data with echograms. The settings for this operator are on the Towed Body Time Offset page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type: Operand 1
Operand 2
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Trained model bottom exclusion (experimental) |
Creates a virtual line using a trained inference model for excluding the bottom in an acoustic variable. This is an experimental operator that uses machine learning techniques to pick a bottom exclusion line. The model was trained using 38 kHz Simrad ES60 and ES70 data, and results may vary for data collected under different circumstances.Settings for this operator may be specified on the Trained Model Bottom Exclusion page of the Line Properties dialog box. Echoview accepts operands with the following data type: Operand 1
Notes:
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Surface operators
Operator |
Description |
Creates a surface with a fixed depth. No operands are required. The Depth is specified on the Fixed Depth page of the Surface Properties dialog box. Visibility and Notes may also be specified. Note: Fixed depth surfaces can't be exported or displayed on scenes. |
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Creates a surface with a fixed range. No operands are required. The Range is specified on the Fixed Range page of the Surface Properties dialog box. Visibility and Notes may also be specified. Note: Fixed range surfaces can't be exported or displayed on scenes. |
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Creates a surface at a fixed distance from an existing surface. The operand and distance are specified on the Surface Properties dialog box. Note: Linear Offset surfaces cannot be exported or displayed on scenes. |
Movement operators
Operator |
Description |
This operator creates an echogram where the values of all samples within a ping are set to the speed of the vessel at that ping, in nautical miles per hour. Only fixes with a GPS fix status of "good" and pings with "good" position status are used in speed calculations. When no speed is available, the samples of the ping are assigned the special export value of -9999.0 Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
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Multibeam operators
The multibeam operators group is not an exhaustive list of operators that can manipulate multibeam data. Operators in other groups may accept multibeam data. For more information refer to Operators that accept multibeam data.
For more information about how Echoview uses the convolution type operators in this group, see Convolution algorithms and Convolution operators illustrated.
Operator |
Description |
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This operator applies a 3x3 closing filter to each ping of multibeam data. A closing filter is a dilation followed by an erosion. It smooths the contours of an image, fuses narrow breaks and long thin gulfs, eliminates small holes, and fills gaps in the contours. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes: |
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This operator applies a 3x3 dilation filter to each ping of multibeam data. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes: |
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This operator applies a 3x3 erosion filter to each ping of multibeam data. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes: |
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This operator applies a 3x3 median filter to each ping of multibeam data. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes: |
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This operator applies a 3x3 opening filter to each ping of multibeam data. An opening filter is an erosion followed by a dilation. It smooths the contour of an image, breaks narrow joins between larger areas, and eliminates thin protrusions. Echoview accepts a single operand of the following data types as input:
Notes: |
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This operator produces a maximum intensity (single beam) echogram from multibeam data, where each sample (at range R) contains the maximum value of all the corresponding multibeam samples that are at range R. The maximum intensity echogram can be evaluated against your target conversion variable to ensure that your multibeam target detection settings correctly identify all targets. This variable could also indicate swim shape and tail-beat frequency of targets, which may be used for species identification. This concept is highly developmental, for further information, refer to use of target range extent to identify swim shape. Note, under the Maximum intensity operator range and depth are the same. Echoview accepts a single variable of the following types as input:
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Multibeam roll at transducer |
This operator applies roll from a roll variable to a multibeam variable. The roll will be applied as if it occurred at the transducer location, and in the same plane as the beam fan. A positive roll rotates the positive major axis clockwise when viewed in the direction of the positive minor axis (that is from the negative minor axis to the positive minor axis). The operator will give useful results only when the following applies:
Echoview accepts operands of the following data types as input:
See: About roll data for further information. |
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This operator overlays multibeam targets on the specified multibeam data. It accepts operands with the following data types: Operand 1:
Operand 2:
Notes:
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XxYxZ convolution |
Single target detection operators
See About single target detection for details.
Operator |
Description |
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Single target detection - Furuno FCV-30 |
This operator outputs FCV-30 single targets found in processed compensated TS data produced by the Furuno FCV-30 sounder. It accepts operands with the following data types:
Note: A proprietary Furuno beam compensation algorithm is available for use with Single target detection - split beam (method 1 and method 2) operators. |
Single target manipulation operators
All distance calculations for single target manipulation operators are performed using coordinates that have been adjusted for transducer geometry.
Warning: When you apply a single target manipulation operator, you must, on the Calibration page of the Variable Properties dialog box for the resulting virtual variable, select the same transducer that was selected for the first operand (input variable). If a different transducer is selected, the results may be misleading.
Operator |
Description |
This operator creates a Target length variable from a single targets variable. For each single target, the Target Strength is replaced by a Target length value. The target length values may be obtained from the:
Echoview accepts a single target variable as input. For more information, refer to: |
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See also
About virtual variables
Creating and deleting virtual variables
Data Types
Dataflow window
About the Dataflow Toolbox
Variable Properties dialog box
Using multiple operands
Operator licensing in Echoview
Operators that accept multibeam data