New in Echoview 11 for all users

Feature

How it works

Benefit

Calibration Assistant

Introducing a Calibration Assistant and three new single targets beam compensation graphs to facilitate on-axis or off-axis calibration with calibration sphere data, including beam pattern analysis.

Input data includes: frequency, temperature, salinity, acidity, calibration sphere depth, sound speed, sphere TS, beam compensation model, on-axis/off-axis definition and pulse length type.

Detailed results include values and suggested ECS file snippets for:

• CalibrationOffsetTS or TransducerGain
• CalibrationOffsetSv or EK60SaCorrection
• MinorAxisAngleOffset
• MajorAxisAngleOffset
• MinorAxis3dbBeamAngle
• MajorAxis3dbBeamAngle

Two-way beam angle and RMS error are also calculated.

Calibration sensitivity analysis is now facilitated by the ability to save Calibration Assistant settings per single target variable and COM support for the export of Calibration Assistant results.

Further support for calibration and single target analysis includes the enhancement for the Target samples bitmap operator that masks samples that contribute to the single target.

For updated information refer to Calibrating an echosounder.

Complete transparency and control over the data being used to calculate calibration parameters.

Performance

Echoview 11 includes a major boost in performance across many processor and time-intensive aspects of the software, for all data types and applications.

The performance improvements are a result of:

• Increased multithreading to maximize the utilization of all CPU cores

• Improved use of the computer’s system memory for complex dataflows

• Improved efficiency of data flowing through virtual variables on the dataflow

We have seen significant performance improvements in a number of areas:

• The wideband frequency response graph for EK80 wideband data is calculating twice as fast as Echoview 10 (and 3x faster than Echoview 9)

• Exporting from a Maximum Intensity virtual variable used with Kongsberg EM series multibeam data is 4x faster than Echoview 10

• The overall process of loading data, applying noise removal algorithms, and detecting fish tracks in DIDSON, ARIS and Reson data is 3x faster in Echoview 11

• Improvements to Live viewing performance and stability, particularly when live viewing echograms for virtual variables that work on a window of data
• Variables are no longer disconnected from the virtual variable dataflow if their operand's type is invalid.

• The Formula operator's result type no longer reverts to "Automatic" when its operand has been changed to an incompatible type and then changed back. It now remembers the type specified by the user.

• A scripted routine of 24 exports was taking more than 20 hours to complete in Echoview 10 in one user’s data set (Simrad EK60 data collected at 6 frequencies to a depth of 1,500m with 35,000 pings per frequency). The workflow in the EV file included an extensive range of Dataflow steps, such as resampling, noise removal, motion correction, masking and line detection, followed by export of cell-based integrations from 24 variables. The routine now takes only 2 hours to perform exactly the same exports – a seriously significant reduction in processing time.

• Other areas that show performance improvements include Analysis by cells exports, motion correction, region bitmaps and analysis ping handling.

Performance improvements will vary with hardware configuration and data storage location. If you are working with large volumes of data and/or computing-intensive workflow steps, we recommend having 16GB or more RAM, the best CPU possible, and data stored in a fast-access location.

For general information about hardware, please see the following help file pages:

Purchasing a computer: computer components

Echoview computer requirements

If you are interested in seeing a benchmark of Echoview 10 vs Echoview 11 performance using your own data and processing workflow, or would like us to review your current computer specifications, please contact support@echoview.com. We’ll be happy to evaluate the difference between versions, suggest potential avenues for performance improvements, and to identify areas where we can make even more adjustments to Echoview in the future.

More efficient work flow and time savings.

2D school detection

2D school detection can now be used with fixed platforms as well as platforms with GPS.

Use the Distance mode list under the Schools tab of the EV File Properties dialog box to configure a detection based on the new Distance mode options Ping number or Ping time. The new modes enable school detection on fixed platforms without GPS information, and can also be used with GPS as detection alternatives.

Flexibility for 2D school detection.

Live viewing

Introducing live viewing support for a number of file formats and through a single Echolog utility. Supported file formats include:

• Simrad EK80, ES80, WBAT, EKAuto, Kongsberg EA640
• Simrad Ex60, Ex70, EK15
• BioSonics DT series
• Kongsberg Mesotech M3/Flexview (beamformed)
• Sound Metrics ARIS
• Sound Metrics DIDSON

For further information refer to About Echolog applications and Using live viewing.

Echoview 11 performance enhancements include improvements to live viewing performance and stability, particularly when live viewing echograms for virtual variables that work on a window of data.

Wider range of supported file formats for real-time viewing and analysis.

Sound speed profile calibration

Introducing support for sound speed profile data with ECS settings CtdDepthProfile and SoundSpeedProfile.

These calibration settings may be used to correct Simrad EK60 and Simrad EK80 CW data for sound speed changes within the water column. For further information refer to Using sound speed profile data.

We plan to extend this tool to other file formats and corrections in future versions. Please send your suggestions and ideas to support@echoview.com.

Capability for more accurate correction based on environmental conditions.

Add data files while creating an EV file

Introducing new ways to add data files while creating an EV file:

• Double-click a data file in Windows File Explorer (after configuring Windows file association).
• Use the Windows Command line to create a new EV file with specified data files.

Create EV file workflow improvements.

Single target graphs

Introducing three new single target graphs that are useful for the analysis of split-beam calibration sphere data.

• Major-axis beam compensation graph
• Minor-axis beam compensation graph
• Off-axis beam compensation graph

2D single target graphs now display the name of the linked region or selection in the graph title bar.

Easy visualization of data and calibration effects.

Export Wideband frequency response

Sv Wideband frequency response data can now be exported for selections and regions on Sv pulse compressed wideband echograms.

This enhancement includes:

• Access via right-click menu
• Access via Echogram menu, Export, Analysis by Regions, Wideband Frequency Response
• COM support

Easy visualization of data and calibration effects.

Custom grid labels and lines

Variable Properties Grid page settings to customize grid labels and grid lines for color, thickness and size.

Custom settings to polish the presentation of your data.

Multiple Variable Properties

The selection of multiple Variable Properties now includes:

• Echogram Display page
  • Flip vertically (single beam)
  • Multibeam: Flip vertically, Flip horizontally, Show multibeam bottom preview, Show direction labels
• Data page
  • Minimum threshold: Apply, Lock to color display minimum, Value
  • Maximum threshold: Apply, Lock to color display maximum, Value, Set thresholded values to
• Regions page
  • Clear region class checkboxes
  • Select region class checkboxes
  • Show all
  • Hide all
• Calibration page
  • Transducer

Faster workflow when working with multiple variables.

Details dialog box

Changes for the Details dialog box that improve functionality:

• The position of the Details dialog box scroll bar is remembered. This is useful when looking at multiple echograms.
• New expand and collapse controls for Details dialog box sections.
• Lock/unlock of the Details dialog box (CTRL+K) is now available on the Cruise track window right-click menu.

Easy-to-access information about your data.

Export by region - select classes

Changes to the Export by Region - Select Classes dialog box allow multiple region classes to be selected to be exported. Previously, you could only choose a single class or all classes.

More choice and flexibility.

Echogram color schemes

Introducing four new color schemes: Inferno, Magma, Plasma and Viridis. The intent of these colormaps is to represent data in the most visually accurate way given the limitations of monitors, eyes and brain.

The color schemes are based on new matplotlib colormaps by Nathaniel J. Smith, Stefan van der Walt and (in the case of Viridis) Eric Firing.

Refer to About color schemes for more information.

Note: Useful reading on which color maps are better suited to visualizing continuous scalar data can be found in the article by Blackwell et al (2019).

More display options.

General changes

The following changes make Echoview features easier to use:

• A new Color legend label location setting for acoustic variables.
• Undo and Redo is available to Notes page changes of any dataflow object.
• Line list and Operand list selection now offer search filter entry and sorted list results. These features appear for relevant settings on the Variable Properties dialog box. The changes are useful when you have many variables in the basic list.
• The Transducer Properties dialog box now displays the name of the transducer in the title bar.
• Increased precision for EVD line exports.
• A new Arrange Objects... item on the main Dataflow menu. Arrange Objects... replaces the View submenu Layout item.
• Leading spaces are no longer included in exported CSV files. An exception is applied for time data where a leading space is required for correct time handling by Excel. The absence of a leading space may affect users who use character position based routines to interpret data exported from Echoview.
• Added a region track detection progress bar.
• Improvements for the schools detection progress bar.
• Removed Response curve settings for color schemes. This change may affect scenes, echogram and along track color schemes that apply a response curve.
• Edit... Echoview Shortcuts.cfg changes are saved to the AppData folder.
  • Use Reload to apply custom keyboard shortcuts.
  • Use Restore Defaults to restore default keyboard shortcuts.
• The Evaluate button allows for deliberate evaluation of a Formula expression in the Formula operator Editor.
• Echoview supports EVD files that contain unspecified dB multibeam data.
• Echoview supports EVD files that contain CalibrationOffset used with single beam data.
• Echoview supports EVD file that contain CalibrationOffset and BeamOffsets used with multibeam acoustic data.
• Ping Status numbers now range from 0 to 9.
• The Sonar calculator now supports Pressure (kPa) and the Chen and Millero (1977) sound speed equation.
• Dataflow window, right-click Export, Settings uses the same file format as COM ExportSettings and Command interface Export.
• Increased the maximum tile zoom level for WMS maps.
• A design change for BeamOffsets includes: new dB units and a new valid value range.
• Relative data file paths now handle the use of the forward slash character as the directory separator.
• Filter Targets page of the Variable Properties dialog box supports Filter off-axis angle.

More efficient work flow and time savings.

New Operators and Operator enhancements

Code

Code operator enhancements include:

• Echoview now supports added site packages that can be used by Code operator code.
• A new script for a multibeam convolution by mean in the linear domain uses self.window_size and inputs[0].measurements[n].data.

See also: Using the Code operator (includes example scripts).

Expanded support for algorithm development.

Target samples bitmap

Use the Select samples using: list of the Target samples bitmap operator to create a bitmap based on the samples that contribute to the single target. Target pulse length can be specified using Target PLDL or Target 6db/12dB/18dB pulse length determination levels.

The new setting may be useful for calibration sphere data analysis and single target analysis.

New bitmap creation method widens the scope of Echoview analysis tools.

Multi-threading

Multi-threading support is extended to include these additional operators:

IIR filter
Current velocity component to linear conversion, Current velocity magnitude
Motion correction (Dunford method)
Multibeam background removal
Multibeam roll at transducer
Multibeam target overlay
Reduce pings and Reduce pings (Method 2)
Region bitmap
Towed body

Multi-threading improves performance.

Scripting and COM objects

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

Command interface

The Echoview command interface allows you to access Echoview properties and actions. Use the Console dialog box to immediately interact with the Command interface. Use a script to execute batch commands.

Support includes:

• New access to many settings on the EV File Properties dialog box with <EvFile | Properties>
• New EvFile, Variable and Transducer Properties options: Export, ValueUnits, ValueDefault, ValueOptions, ValueMinimum, ValueMaximum
• Export of settings to file can output Variable Properties, EV File Properties and Transducer Properties.
• Improved support for Properties.
• Export Command As Python... on the Console and right-click menu.
• The Console supports input text command interface for underscore and hyphen symbols.
• The ESC key as a new Console control, displays an active empty line.
• The ENTER key can display an empty line which may be useful visual separator.
• Key combinations to move the cursor, select text, delete text and complete commands with an item from the most recent list.
• Updated examples for extended commands.
• Updated documentation to describe Command interface number handling.
• Design changes for noise operator settings, display of multiple values for a setting.
• The file format for COM ExportSettings and Command interface Export | YourFilePath is redesigned to include header column names and subsequent lines for property values for new files.
• New Echoview object ClearConsole options: ClearBlankLines, ClearCommands, ClearErrors, ClearHelp, ClearReplies.
• The streamlining of Command interface commands introduces changes in existing actions and returns. This affects:
  • <operands> extended commands and virtual variable dataflow variables
  • spaces in returned property names

ExportSettings

EvVariableAcoustic.ExportSettings is updated to output values under the same file format as the Command Interface Export option.

Export multiple variables to Echoview Data File format

EvFile.ExportEVDAll supports the export of multiple variables to a single EVD file under Export to Echoview Data File Format.

Export Calibration Assistant results

Export Wideband frequency response

• EvVariableAcoustic.ExportSvWidebandFrequencyResponseByRegions
• EvVariableAcoustic.ExportSvWidebandFrequencyResponseByRegionsAll
• EvVariableAcoustic.ExportSvWidebandFrequencyResponseForRegion

Match geometry

Updated documentation about the match geometry algorithm.

Echogram interpretation

Updated documentation and images.

Minimum TS threshold

Correction to documentation-only bug for RTS; Echoview calculations were unaffected. Updated information for Simrad EK80 and other echosounder expressions.

TS to Sv operator

Sv to TS operator

Updated the equations to use corrected range.

.csv calibration settings

Updated Text .csv calibration setting documentation.

Single target detection Variable Properties

Updated documentation for Single target detection Variable Properties settings. Corrected documentation for Single target detection - dual beam TS threshold.

Image file

Correction for an incorrectly documented header row name in the *.media.csv file format.

EVD multibeam data support

Export to Echoview Data File format documentation is updated to include the missing TS multibeam data type.

BeamOffsets

Updated documentation for BeamOffsets and removed the usage of 'MultibeamBeamOffsets'.

Echoexplore

Echoexplore 3 is the latest addition to Echoview Software’s suite of tools for researchers collecting echosounder and sonar data files.

For further information refer to About Echoexplore.

Bug fixes

Resample operator

Updated the Weighting along-track calculation within the Resample by Distance Interval operator to minimize calculation precision issues.

Fixed an error where the Resample by Distance Interval operator could incorrectly calculate GPS distance for output pings if the Distance interval is smaller than the distance between the operand's pings.

Fixed an error where the Resample by Distance Interval operator could incorrectly produce duplicate pings.

Fixed an error where the Resample by Distance Interval operator would inadvertently use the operand's Variable Properties Grid setting Start interval numbering from the first ping in the echogram.

Details dialog box

A displayed data point value is correct regardless of zoom level. Previously, the mouse pointer pixel-to-sample correlation and displayed value could vary with zoom level.

Fixed an error that affected calibration calculations for Sv Offset. If a non-zero value for Sv Offset was used, the resulting calculation was incorrect.

Changed iteration procedure to improve the optimization of calibrated 3dB beam angles and angle offsets.

Command interface

The Command interface is fixed to stop crashes caused by circular Properties settings changes.

Bug fixes for properties command returns display more consistent and clearer values.

An issue with the use of <Exit> in COM scripts and the Command interface is fixed. <Exit> now closes Echoview safely.

Paste from the Windows Clipboard into the Console dialog box is fixed. Previously, the ability to paste was unreliable.

Echogram update

Fix for an echogram update bug that affected the TS substitution and Sample statistic subtract operators. The echograms were not updating when their Variable Properties were changed.

Code operator

Code operator fix for a multi-threading bug that affected virtual variable dataflows.

Code operator fix for a bug affecting the handling of non-contiguous arrays and double float numbers (for the 64-bit version) associated with angular and multibeam data.

Code operator fix for handling the addition of data files to a fileset.

Region altitude export variables

A bug affecting region altitude export variables under a line-reference grid is fixed. Some unsuitable grid-line-handling calculations would output unexpected values.

Variable properties

A bug preventing Undo and Redo from working when changing properties with multiple variables selected is fixed.

Fixed a bug that affected the F8 shortcut (open Variable Properties dialog box) for a selected variable in the Filesets window.

Fileset dialog box

A bug that could sometimes crash Echoview when all data files are removed from a fileset is fixed.

Ping Subset

Fixed a Ping Subset bug that sometimes used an incorrect initial distance.

Also fixed a problem that occurred when the subset start time was earlier than the time of the first ping.

Region class export

Single or multiple region class export now outputs expected regions. Previously, regions may have been absent because their region ID was mishandled.

Map projection

A map projection bug is fixed. This issue may have affected objects in scenes and imported objects where the longitude of the object was greater than 90 degrees from the central meridian of the projection. The issue may have affected the 6th significant figure in the longitude value.

Background Noise Removal

The maximum Vertical overlap (%) that can be entered is now 99%. Any existing EV files with a Background Noise Removal variable that has an overlap set to 100% will automatically be updated to 99%.

Upward facing transducer export region(s) analysis

The output results for upward facing transducer export region(s) analysis are now correct and complete. Previously, an incomplete file was created.

Export value for no-data sample outside of a selected region

A special export value of 9.9e+37 is assigned to no-data samples outside of a selected region. Previously, the export value of -9.9e+37 was assigned. The bug fix affects data exports for the following data types: angular position, Sv, Complex Sv and Pulse compressed complex Sv.

Unavailable variables

All Dataflow views are updated when variable availability changes. Previously, a bug involving unavailable variables and workspace files caused unavailable variables to reappear.

Two minor scripting errors have been fixed:

• Changing EV File Properties using COM would fail for some settings.
• Changing the operand of a virtual variable with COM would not always update related echograms.

Variable name

Improvements have been made to variable naming infrastructure. Previously, variable name issues could occur with COM and the copy and paste of variables.

ASL AZFP

Fixed an issue with the reading of calibration values from some ASL AZFP configuration files.

Improved data mapping by frequency for ASL AZFP data files that don't have configuration files.

Ping status

Fixed an issue where an incorrect color was used when a ping status was applied.

Bottom classification Notes

Bottom points variables now report all settings used during classification in their Notes page.

Region class note

A bug affecting Notes text for new region classes is fixed.