New in Echoview 9 for all users

Feature

How it works

Benefit

Echoexplore

Echoexplore is the latest addition to Echoview Software’s suite of tools for researchers collecting echosounder and sonar data files. Echoexplore can locate up to 2000 compatible data files on your computer, extract basic metadata, and allow you to browse the files that have been located.

Search for subsets of data files based on:

• Geographical position
• Date and time
• Data file format
• Keywords (in file URL)

Results are displayed on a map and as a list.

For further information refer to About Echoexplore.

An easy way to find and explore data files on your computer.

Use View menu, Graph, Wideband Frequency Response to display a graph of the frequency response for selections and regions on pulse compressed wideband variables.

Graph Properties allow the specification of Y axis, averaging, calculation window size, variables and data type. Types of the graph include:

• Sv frequency response
• TS frequency response
• TS and Single target mask variable frequency response

Wideband frequency response data for single targets may be exported from a wideband frequency response graph or from a wideband single target echogram.

Wideband frequency response export is supported by Echoview COM with: ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponse and ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponseForRegion.

The following features have been removed from Echoview to support the new and easier-to-use graph:

• The Target frequency response graph and its data export.
• Single target detection - wideband operator settings for Frequency graph window size above and below.
• The Variable Properties, Graph page Wideband target frequency response settings.
• The Complex single targets data type.

Introducing a Vegetation analysis export to output the analysis of the samples in intervals between two lines. One line could be a Threshold offset line that detects a vegetation boundary.

Vegetation analysis export is licensed under the Habitat Classification module.

Introducing new Fileset Properties dialog box settings that allow you to choose how to derive raw variables. Transducers can now be created based on the data contained in new EV files. Channel numbers can also be reassigned if they don't match what is expected.

• The Using transducer frequency setting allows greater flexibility when dealing with data from multiple transducers. This method can be applied to Simrad Ex60, Simrad EK80, BioSonics DTX and Echoview EVD file formats.
• The Using transducer/channel number setting derives raw variables based on a transducer number and/or channel number. It is the method assigned to pre-Echoview 9 EV files.

For background on the usefulness of the Using transducer frequency method refer to About Filesets: Deriving raw variables.

Two new Transducer Properties dialog box settings that display frequency and fileset information associated with a transducer on the Dataflow window.

These changes together with the new Derive raw variable methods improve Echoview's handling of data from multiple transducers and transducer frequency changes.

On the Dataflow window use Shortcut menu (right-click), New, Sticky Note to add annotations to the Dataflow window.

Echoview Data File Format

The Echoview Data File Format additions include:

• Data compression can be applied to binary sample data.
• Exported data respects Analysis page Exclude above and Exclude below lines and surfaces.
• COM Compression support under EvVariableAcoustic.ExportEVD and EvVariableVirtual.ExportEVD.
• Steered angles from the first ping are exported for ME70 single beam variables.
• New file format support for Boolean, Multibeam boolean, Single target data and sounder-detected lines.

For further information refer to About the Echoview Data File Format.

Improvements in export performance and file size.

All analysis exports now output values for Height_mean and Thickness_mean.

Note, a change to the Height mean and Thickness mean algorithms may result in slightly different values for Height mean and Thickness mean. Consequently, analysis variables that use the Height mean or Thickness mean in their calculations may be affected. These include: NASC, ABC, Density_number, Area_backscattering_strength, NASC_noise and ABC_noise.

Introducing updates to the Details dialog box for objects under the mouse pointer on the Dataflow window. New details include:

• General details
• Analysis details
• Grid details
• Notes details
• The Notes pane displays Variable Properties Notes content when the mouse pointer moves over Dataflow objects, acoustic variable windows and cruise track windows.
• Calibration details
• Units appear with values.

Note: Object tooltip information is no longer available.

Analysis export information

Exporting single targets for each fish track within a region class is now easier.

All variants of the Analysis by Regions and Analysis by Cells exports can now output results in database mode as well as spreadsheet mode. The database mode export can provide detailed information with a new (regions).csv file. A (targets).csv file may also be output with suitable exports.

Easily available and more informative analysis exports.

• $PASHR data output by the Applanix POS MV instrument.
• $PAMOT, $PADPT and $GPRPY data output by early AOS (Acoustic Optical System) instruments.
• $IIGLL, $GPHDT, $GPHVE and $GPATT.
• NMEA strings where the NMEA checksum is calculated incorrectly.

The following changes make Echoview features easier to use:

• A new Merge fish tracks shortcut SHIFT+M.
• The F8 shortcut can be used to access the Scene Properties dialog box when a scene object is selected in the Dataflow window or when a Scene window is active.
• The Dataflow variables Roll, Pitch, Heading and Vessel Log now have drag and drop nodes.
• The Details dialog box lists ping details for variables specific to Echoview Data File Format files.
• An Apply button for the Fileset Properties dialog box.
• The Welcome screen now supports the use of &, [ and ] characters in file names.
• A Reset button on the Variable Properties and Line Properties Notes page to reset the variable name. Optional Short names for variables has been removed. Variable and dataflow object name uniqueness accompanies these changes and existing EV files may be affected.
• Color legend display range values can now be set to three decimal places.

• ECS file wideband table array values may be delimited by space or a semicolon.

  This facilitates copy-paste from a calibration data file to an ECS file.

Habitat classification

Vegetation analysis export is licensed under the Habitat Classification module.

Enhancements for the Habitat classification module.

Echoview Essentials

The Beam median filter 3x3 operator is now licensed under the Echoview Essentials module.

Previously, the operator was licensed under the Advanced Operators module.

A change in operators for the Echoview Essentials module.

New Operators and Operator enhancements

Line range bitmap

Introducing the Line Range Bitmap operator. The operator creates a bitmap where data points in each output ping will be true if the line range at the time of that ping is within the limits specified, and false otherwise.

A flexible bitmap operator that accepts line depth.

Threshold offset

Introducing the Threshold offset line operator that uses a threshold to detect a boundary relative to a specified line. Vegetation, ring down, surface bubbles or shadow zones can cause such boundaries in the water column.

Vegetation lines can be used with the new Vegetation analysis export.

A new virtual line tool.

XxY Statistic

The XxY Statistic operator offers new statistics:

• Standard deviation
• Variance
• Mean absolute deviation
• Coefficient of variation
• Kurtosis

Upgraded operator features.

XxYxZ convolution

The XxYxZ convolution operator accepts multibeam variables and offers algorithms similar to the XxY convolution operator.

Convolution for multibeam data.

Calibration subset

The Calibration subset operator outputs a variable containing the subset of pings whose specified calibration setting is within a range of values.

Extended subset choice.

Wideband frequency select

The Wideband frequency select operator extracts the echogram for a single frequency within the frequency range of a wideband acoustic variable.

Support for variables derived from wideband data.

Wideband frequency subset

The Wideband frequency subset operator suppresses frequency components that lie outside a defined frequency range of a wideband acoustic variable.

Support for variables derived from wideband data.

Multibeam target detection

New sample-edge midpoint properties define a tighter target perimeter. New target properties include:

• Target perimeter edge midpoints
• Target area edge midpoints
• Target compactness edge midpoints

The target properties are available under the multibeam target detection operator and with single target data exports.

Expands the suite of multibeam target properties.

Single beam convolution

The single beam convolution adjacent ping suitability test is updated to check for matching start range and sample thickness. The operators affected include: XxY Convolution, XxY Statistic, nxn Convolution, Dilation, Erosion and Median.

Updated convolution algorithms.

Expanded operator support for wideband data

Additional data type support for the:

• Mask operator: Pulse compressed complex Sv, Pulse compressed complex TS, Complex angular position, Complex power dB, Complex Sv, Complex TS, Pulse compressed complex Sv, Pulse compressed complex TS and Pulse compressed complex power dB.
• Target bitmap operator: Pulse compressed complex Sv, Pulse compressed complex TS, Complex power dB, Complex Sv, Complex TS and Pulse compressed complex power dB.
• Target samples bitmap operator: Pulse compressed complex Sv, Pulse compressed complex TS, Complex power dB, Complex Sv, Complex TS and Pulse compressed complex power dB.
• Processed data operator: Complex power dB, Complex Sv, Complex TS, Pulse compressed complex power dB, Pulse compressed complex Sv and Pulse compressed complex TS.

Greater data processing flexibility with wideband data

Data type change

The Complex single targets data type was found to be unnecessary and is removed.

Simplification.

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.

ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponse

ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponseForRegion

Support for the export of wideband frequency response data from Single target detection - Wideband echograms using the new methods in EvVariableAcoustic and EvVariableVirtual:

• ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponse
• ExportSingleTargetWidebandFrequencyResponseForRegion

ExportEVD

Introducing additional Echoview Data File format binary data compression support under EvVariableAcoustic.ExportEVD, EvVariableVirtual.ExportEVD and EvVariableBase.ExportEVD.

GoToPing, GoToPingRange, GoToRegion

Support for the display of a ping, ping range or region using the new methods in EvVariableAcoustic and EvVariableVirtual:

• GoToPing
• GoToPingRange
• GoToRegion

Properties

Get acoustic variable Properties of the current variable with:

• EvVariableAcoustic.Properties
• EvVariableVirtual.Properties

EvVariablesCollection

The FindByName search for names can consider names with or without the name of the fileset.

Wideband Frequency Response graph

Variable Name changes

The variable name uniqueness change introduces these changes:

• EvVariableBase.Name is read-only. FullName and ShortName are deprecated.
• EvVariableAcoustic.Name is read-only. FullName and ShortName are deprecated.
• EvVariableVirtual.Name is read-only. FullName, ShortName and SetFullName are deprecated.
• EvVariablesCollection. FindByShortName is deprecated.

64-bit video codecs

Updated information for viewing videos under Echoview 64-bit.

Calibration terminology

Updated the definitions for Major-and Minor-axis Angle Offset and Major-and Minor-axis Angle Sensitivity.

Direction horizontal, Direction vertical

Updated Beam geometry: Directions with a note about Direction vertical and Direction horizontal calculations. A 7 decimal place comparison is used for angles very close to cardinal points. High precision is used for all other angles.

 Multibeam target overlay

Updated documentation with two tips about the display of the target overlay data.

 QPS SD note

Added a note about QPS SD file size and display performance.

 3D school detection

Correction to the documentation of stage 1 of the basic 3D school detect algorithm; the correction only affects the documentation.

Kongsberg - unlisted file support

Added a note about file support for Kongsberg EM series echosounders.

Variables

Updated documentation about editable variables.

Windows Vista

Removed documentation for Microsoft Vista support as Vista is no longer supported by Echoview.

Known issue

The Region by Cells analysis export outputs incorrect Density number values.

Bug fixes

Graphs

Graphs respond correctly to changes in Z - vertical offset and Echogram mode (Depth or Range). Previously, some graphs were not updated immediately.

Dataflow Groups

Dataflow window Groups are now handled in a consistent way. Previously, spurious Groups could appear/disappear and Group Property name could be inconsistent with the Group name.

Display of regions

Regions created on Alongtrack windows are unaffected by Echogram display limit changes. Previously, regions created on Alongtrack windows were displayed incorrectly on the Echogram when the display limits changed from Manual to Automatic.

Selection movement

Fixed an issue where echogram selections moved unexpectedly, while scrolling vertically.

Cruise tracks

Fixed an issue where vessel tracks passing over 180 degrees longitude were plotted incorrectly on the cruise track.

Variable properties

Issue with Region class display fixed.

Dataflow copy/paste

Improvement to performance when copying and pasting Dataflow objects. Previously, copying a large number of variables could cause crashes.

Formula operator

Improved invalid formula element checks and warning messages. Previously, invalid formula elements could cause crashes.

Kongsberg M3 range calculations are now consistent under Echoview 32 and 64-bit versions.