New in Echoview 6.1 for all users

Welcome to Echoview 6.1!

Echoview Software is very pleased to announce the release of Echoview 6.1. We are committed to improving the depth and efficiency of your acoustic data processing, regardless of your processing methodology. We are pleased to introduce features that will improve processing speed and simplify your workflow.

New features are presented in these categories:

New features for all users

Key new features and enhancements
Other user interface enhancements
New operators and operator enhancements
Scripting and COM objects
Documentation changes
Bug fixes

Specific echosounder or sonar changes

New features for all users

Feature

How it works

Benefit

Key new features and enhancements

Simrad EK80 file format

Preliminary support for *.raw data files from the Simrad EK80 wideband echosounder, with raw variables derived from data collected in both constant frequency (constant wave or CW) and frequency modulated (chirp or FM) modes. Wideband data can be displayed as raw or pulse compressed echograms, examined via Target Frequency Response graphs, and exported from Echoview in CSV and MATLAB formats.

EK80 support introduces these new acoustic variable data types:

EK80 support uses these new calibration settings: AbsorptionDepth, Acidity, FrequencyEnd, FrequencyStart, Salinity and Temperature.

The Match ping times and Roll range bitmap operators now support operands of complex data type.

The new Single target detection - wideband operator detects single targets in wideband or pulse compressed wideband data. A Single Target Frequency Response graph is available for a selection on a single target detection - wideband echogram.

Please note: The correctness of sample values from this data format are still in the process of being verified in this release.

Echoview 6.1 and beyond will continue to be updated for any changes that are made to Simrad's EK80 file format as this new technology develops. Please contact support@echoview.com if you have any questions about using EK80 data files in Echoview or suggestions for processing wideband/broadband data.

About transmitted pulse discusses the technology behind constant wave and chirp data and pulse compression.

Introduces wideband data support.

Expands the list of supported echosounders.

WASSP *.nwsf file format

New support for *.nwsf file format containing WASSP WMB-3250 multibeam sonar data.

Expands the list of supported sonars.

Echogram overview

View all your single beam data at once using Zoom to extents on the Zoom toolbar, or use the mouse wheel to show an intermediate number of pings. The echogram title bar will display the zoom ratio [Ping:Pixel].

An overview offers context.

Apply the same grid to multiple variables

On the Dataflow window select multiple variables and modify the Grid Properties for all of the variables at the same time.

Saves time.

Bottom classification additions

Introducing further enhancements to the Classify Bottom feature:

  • Specify any number of Cluster dimensions from available extracted features via the Manual Dimensions dialog.
  • Specify which Cluster measure algorithm to use when manually clustering. This makes it easier to compare automatic and manual clustering.
  • Classify Bottom is now available for selections.
  • A clearer definition for the minimum pings in a feature extraction interval and a better approach for intervals with an even number of pings. For intervals with an even number of pings, this may result in slight changes in bottom point time, latitude, longitude, depth and altitude.

Flexible bottom classification.

Expanded algorithm settings.

Cruise track selection measurements

In cruise track and alongtrack windows, the along track length of vertical selections and along track regions is displayed in panel 1 of the Echoview status bar.

Key information when you need it.

Other user interface enhancements

General changes

The following changes make Echoview features easier to use:

  • Under the Line tool, New Editable Line with Line pick from current variable now offers a Properties button that gives you quick access to line pick settings.
  • Distinguish no-data samples from the background on multibeam echograms by changing the Background color on the Display page of the Variable Properties dialog box.
  • Increased precision for latitude and longitude in Regions log book exports.
  • Warning messages about an undefined LocalCal now display the name of the affected variable.

More efficient workflow and time savings.

Performance improvement

Echoview architecture changes result in performance improvements.

Time savings throughout Echoview workflow.

Echoview configuration

A new setting Remember the last tool used on each window under the Interface page of the Echoview Configuration dialog box. The default state for the setting is unselected.

Workflow customization.

Editable line recalculate

An editable line can be used as its own Offset line source when Shortcut menu > Recalculate line (Offset from Line) is used. For further information refer to Editing lines: Recalculate or repick a selection.

Saves time and simplifies line workflow.

Export Variable Properties

On the Dataflow window, a variable object's Shortcut menu may offer Export Settings which will export all the Variable Properties settings and values to a text file. Echoview COM also supports this feature.

Useful for testing and Echoview set up.

Keyboard shortcuts

Changes to keyboard shortcuts include:

  • Keyboard shortcut 9 now opens the New Editable Line dialog box. Previously, keyboard shortcut 9 was assigned to the Fish track tool that is now removed. For users with a user-defined or a saved Echoview shortcuts.cfg file, this shortcut change may not be present. You can use Restore defaults to update the file and then re-add your custom shortcuts.
  • A new keyboard shortcut SHIFT+E for Analyze region.
  • A new keyboard shortcut SHIFT+F for Analyze fish track.

Saves time.

TVG change

The streamlining of TVG calculations results in small changes to variable data.

  • For data generator variables that output a TVG curve, samples with a range of less than 1 meter are set to -999.
  • For raw variables, TVG is applied for samples with ranges greater than 1 meter.

Consistency in the application of TVG.

Override transducer inheritance

Virtual variable transducer inheritance from the first operand can be changed by using Override transducer inheritance on the Calibration page of the Variable Properties dialog box.

Note: EV files from older versions of Echoview are updated with respect to the transducer of the first operand.

Versatility for virtual variables.

Calibration difference offset

A more streamlined approach to TS and Sv conversion calculations throughout Echoview introduces the new Calibration difference offset setting.

The Calibration difference offset may be specified on:

  • Type conversion page of the TS to Sv operator, or Sv to TS operator
  • Minimum TS threshold section on the Data page of the Variable Properties dialog box. Note: The TS TVG Correction Settings button and the associated settings for TVG range correction method, Samples and Calibration offset have been removed.

The Calibration difference offset represents Sv transducer constant minus TS transducer constant. By default the value for Calibration difference offset is zero.

For many file formats, Echoview reads transducer constants from the data file or can determine them from Echoview calibration settings and so a value for the Calibration difference offset is not required.

However, for some file formats the transducer constants are unavailable. If you have both Sv and TS data, you can estimate and specify a value for the Calibration difference offset to achieve more accurate Sv and TS conversion calculations.

As part of this enhancement the equations for Minimum TS threshold algorithms and Sv to TS and TS to Sv operator algorithms have been updated and derivations have been added.

Consistency and flexibility for Sv and TS conversion calculations.

New Operators and Operator enhancements
147 operators

Time offset

Apply a time shift to a line with the Time offset operator.

A useful addition to existing line operators.

FIR single beam data

The FIR operator now accepts single beam as well as multibeam data.

Expands FIR operator usability.

IIR single beam data

The IIR operator now accepts single beam as well as multibeam data.

Expands IIR operator usability.

Statistical combination

The Statistical combination operator can accept any acoustic variable as operand 1. This includes multibeam and the new complex data types.

Up to date operator information.

Scripting and COM objects

For more information about the COM objects refer to Scripting with COM objects.

If you are interested to know more about COM automation, please contact us for further information.

Platform settings

Introducing COM support for some Platform Properties settings with EvFile.Platforms, EvPlatform, EvPlatformsCollection and EPlatformPositionType.

ExportSettings

EvVariableAcoustic.ExportSettings, EvVariableVirtual.ExportSettings, EvVariableBase.ExportSettings allows you to export the Variable Properties dialog box settings and values for a variable to a text file.

ExportRegionsLogAll

EvVariableAcoustic.ExportRegionsLogAll and EvVariableVirtual.ExportRegionsLogAll allow you to export the regions log for all region classes.

Documentation changes

Density equation

Added the correct equation for density on the About samples and echo integration page. The previous equation was incorrect. Glossary entries for Sv, Target strength, ABC, NASC, Volume backscattering coefficient have also been updated.

FindByName

Additional documentation for EvVariablesCollection.FindByName.

Licensing

A clearer definition for demonstration mode and the Evaluation license to compliment the recent updates of the Licenses and demonstration mode page. For further information refer to Licenses and demonstration mode, Echoview End User License Agreement or contact sales@echoview.com.

Reduce pings (Method 2)

Update of information for the Reduce pings (Method 2) operator.

Trouble shooting

The crash report discussion moves to the Solutions to common problems.

Detection dialog box

A clearer description for the setting Delete existing region with this class first. The changes affect Detect schools, Detect 3D schools, Detect Fish Tracks.

Bug fixes

Bottom classification

A bug fix improves the stability for automatic Calinski-Harabasz clustering. Previously, the automatic Calinski-Harabasz clustering was evaluated using an unsuitable measure. The fix also introduces the new Classify Bottom algorithm setting Cluster measure.

Paste virtual variable

The region visibility is cleared only when you Copy-Paste virtual variables to another EV file. Previously, a Copy-Paste of a virtual variable to the same EV file incorrectly cleared region visibility.

HAC calibration

Echoview can now modify the sound speed for HAC data with the calibration settings SoundSpeed and SoundSpeedLogging. The settings are useful for the correction of sound speed issues.

Virtual variable transducers

Changing a virtual variable transducer is consistent through drag and drop from a transducer node or via the Calibration page. Previously, drag and drop from a transducer node inconsistently updated the virtual variable. A part of the bug fix is the new Override transducer inheritance setting.

New features for users of specific echosounders and sonars

There may be specific version 6.1 features for your echosounder or sonar - please take a minute to check what's new.

See also

Echoview Release History