New in Echoview 3.00

Echoview 3.00 takes acoustic data analysis into the third dimension!  You may visualize your data in a game-like 3D digital environment, precisely locate acoustic targets in 3 dimensions on the earth and enjoy new visual interface to the virtual echogram module. Simrad EK60 users may log and compress raw data by up to 80% and still retain more information than using “Q” and “E” telegrams.  Users of Simrad-Mesotech multibeam sonars can log and compress raw data using loss-less compression algorithms and extract 3-D fish schools for visualization and parameterization. Users tracking individual fish in rivers will be able to use improved tracking graphing tools, and specify the actual orientation of their transducer in the river. Dozens of small improvements, new features, and support for new echosounders will extend analysis capabilities and make Echoview even easier to use.

Please read documentation on converting your Version 2.xx files to Version 3.00 prior to conversion because some aspects of the conversion are not automatic and failure to follow the simple procedures could lead to errors. We recommend that you back up all version 2 EV files prior to saving any EV file in Version 3.00.

Transducer geometry

Specification of transducer location and orientation on your survey platform (or river bank) will allow accurate positioning of acoustic targets on the earth. Position specification has millimeter precision that allows the same target to be identified in different transducers on the one vessel.

This enhancement will be particularly valuable to researchers using and developing multiple frequency target strength algorithms and researchers with non vertical transducer installations (example on river banks) who want to know the depth and relative position of targets and not just their range from the transducer.

Echograms can be displayed using either a Depth or Range (from the face of the transducer) scale. Depth mode is the default.

As a consequence of the introduction of transducer geometry some analysis variables have changed name. The terms depth, range, height and thickness in variable names are affected (for example, Corrected_height is now Corrected_thickness). See About analysis variables for the list of current names.

See About transducer geometry.

3D visualization

You will create three dimensional objects such as “seabeds", "echogram curtains” and fish schools and display them in Echoview Scenes.  A game like user interface will allow you to fly-through scenes and visualize your data in three dimensions.  You will see how fish schools relate to the seabed and where acoustic biomass is situated in relation to different bottom classifications. You will create the following types of 3D objects:

• Curtains created using a 2D echogram in combination with GPS or cruise track data

• 3D bottoms and surfaces generated from either Multibeam or single beam survey data

• Cruise tracks

• Water surface

• 3D schools created from Multibeam data

The new navigation and recording capability also applies to 3D Single Target and Fish Track displays.

See About the Scene window.

Graphic virtual variables management

Echoview version 3 incorporates a new graphic approach to the management of virtual variables, designed to present a logical and clear overview of the relationship between operators and operands in the style of a flow chart.

See About the Variables window.

Multibeam support

Echoview version 3 provides enhanced support of multibeam data, including:

• SM2000 data logging and real-time data compression (with the Echolog SM application)

• Live viewing of SM2000 data.

• 3D school detection and display.

• Beamforming algorithm for raw multibeam pings.

• New, multibeam-specific operators (Erosion, Dilation, Opening and Closing).

• RESON SeaBat 6012 echosounder support 

See About multibeam echograms.

Biomass exports

Version 3 will allow you to calculate and export fish density (volume density or area density) for defined regions on echograms. You will classify regions according to a mix of species and these species allocations (with defined TS and weights) will be used to calculate fish density with a choice of units.

Single target analysis with Echoview is enhanced with more flexible approaches to export of single target information.

See Density_number and Density_weight.

Enhanced seabed classification functionality

Version 3 includes a new module – “Echo Impact export module” This module exports data in a format suitable for import into the Quester Tangent products Echo Impact and QTC Impact. Quester Tangent’s, QTC Impact software does not support some leading Echosounders such as the Simrad EK60 and ES60 and Kaijo Corporation echosounders. Quester Tangent has worked with SonarData to produce a new product “Echo Impact” designed specifically to work with data from Echoview.

Version 3 also includes new line definition algorithms designed for echo integration approaches to calculating “roughness” and “hardness” parameters of the seabed.

New data file support

A number of additional data file formats have been added to Echoview. Some of these are generic formats that you will be able to use to import data from many sources.  For example you can create ASCII data files containing temperature profiles, display temperature as an echogram and use virtual operators to select all targets that occur within a specified temperature range.  Other newly supported formats include files produced by echosounder manufacturers HTI and Precision Acoustics.

Echoview 3 supports RDI Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data formats and allows backscatter and current based echograms to be displayed.

We have also enhanced our support for the international HAC data exchange format.

New data file formats:

• ASCII data files (.linear.csv, .sv.csv, .ts.csv, .gps.csv)

• BioSonics DTX sounders

and the following formats in beta test versions:

• RDI ADCP (.nnn)

• HTI Physical echo (.BOT) and Integration output (.INT)

• RESON SeaBat 6012 (.sbi)

• Precision Acoustics HARP (.ts4)

Support for the following data formats has been improved:

• BioSonics .DT4 files logged with reduced power settings

• BI500 *-Work files with schools and lines

• Revised HAC data file support (v1.3)

New import and export format support

Echoview now offers support for the following new import and export formats:

• Export to QTC Echo Impact (.sonar & .nav)

• Import of QTC .seabed files

• Export to MATLAB (.mat)

• Export of 3D surfaces (.csv)

• Import of 3D surfaces (.csv, .xyz, .xyzi)

Support for the following export formats has been improved:

• Export of ASCII data files (.linear.csv, .sv.csv, .ts.csv, .gps.csv)

• Revised HAC data file support (v1.3)

Other new features

Graph linking: graphs of single target angles, single target 2D projection, angles frequency distribution and single target TS frequency distribution can be ‘linked’ to selections or regions or both so that the displayed graph updates each time a different region or selection is chosen.

Changes to single-target detection filtering algorithm: a more intuitive method of internally filtering single targets in Echoview version 3 will improve symmetry and suitability of selection for single targets.

A freehand line drawing tool has been added.

Line-break finding tool: a new tool that can automatically jump to a point in a line where a break occurs.

Empty cells export: Analysis exports by regions by cells (and by cells) have been changed to include an option to output empty cells.

Additional export variables: Transmitted_pulse_length for single target exports, and various export variables associated with other new features (for example, the biomass exports and the empty cells export)

New operators added: several new operators have been added to the Virtual Variables module, namely:

• Match ping times. This operator selects pings from the first operand in such a way as to match the times of the pings in the second operand. It accepts two Sv, TS, unspecified dB, linear, Boolean, angle, single target or color variables as inputs.

• Ping subset. This operator results in the creation of a variable containing a subset of the pings in another variable. It accepts a single Sv, TS, unspecified dB, linear, color, angular position, single target or Boolean variable as input.

• Dilation, Erosion and Median filters. These operators apply a dilation (maximum), erosion (minimum) or median filter to an echogram. They accept a single Sv, TS, unspecified dB or linear variable, and are available in 3x3, 5x5 or 7x7 configurations.

• Processed data. This operator applies the line and bad data exclusion settings specified on the Processing page of the Variable Properties dialog for its input variable, changing excluded data points to 'no data' values. It accepts a single dB or linear variable as input.

• Existing Monochrome operator has been adjusted to better suit human color sensitivities and phosphor brightness.

Enhancement to virtual variables’ properties: All newly created virtual variables in Echoview 3.00 automatically take the properties of their first operand. In most cases, this will remove the need to re-specify variable properties for each new variable created, which reduces both the work involved in creating virtual variables and the capacity for errors caused by neglecting to specifically enter each variable’s properties.

On-screen single target analysis by cell or by region, similar to the existing feature that allows on-screen integration analysis of Sv data by cell or by region.

A symbol in the Region Properties dialog box that displays the position of a region in the cruise track.

Ability to print the Regions window: the Regions window can now be printed from the File>Print menu command.

Constant off-axis angle calculation method for creating new lines: A useful tool for producing a seabed roughness indicator.

EV file template names: (if relevant) are now available on the Notes page of the EV File Properties dialog box.

Scripting module exports updated: the scripting module now provides even more flexibility, with new options available for export. These new exports are:

1. • ExportGPSFixes

   • AnalysisByCells_FrequencyDistribution

   • AnalysisByRegionsByCells_FrequencyDistribution

   • ExportHACData

Echocalc_GPS: a new utility that allows creation of ‘cruise tracks’ based on a number of parameters such as start/stop date and time, start latitude, longitude, and direction, vessel speed, time gap and straight line or transected options. The resulting ‘.gps.csv’ files can be added to an Echoview fileset and the data then utilized in the same manner as ‘built-in’ GPS data.

Echocheck: Echocheck now supports RESON (.sbi) files and Simrad BI500 files.

Note:

See Opening Old EV files in Echoview 3.00 for a list of specific features which have changed and will influence the results you obtain by loading version 2.25 EV files with Echoview 3.00.