New in Echoview 16 for all users

Key new features and enhancements

Modernized Mapping for Cruisetracks

New high-performance tile-based maps now default for spatial displays

Echoview 16 introduces a major upgrade to how maps are displayed in the Cruisetrack window and related spatial views. A modern tile-based mapping engine (WMTS) is now the default system, offering:

• Faster loading and smoother navigation with background maps
• Improved detail for coastal, inland, polar, and oceanic regions
• High-quality base maps provided via MapTiler services
• Ability to configure custom WMTS servers for specialized workflows
• Resilient caching and offline tile fallback handling
• Streamlined Mapping Properties interface for easier map configuration

While the legacy WMS system remains available for existing workflows, all new Echoview files now default to the enhanced tile-based system, delivering a faster, richer mapping experience across a wide range of environments.

See also: Using Cruisetracks, About WMTS maps.

Alongtrack Bubble display

Map-based bubble plots for time series

Display time series values (see New Time Series framework below) directly on the Cruisetrack as sized, colored bubbles along the vessel’s path. Bubble area and color encode the value at each interval, making hotspots and trends obvious at a glance.

• Works with Interval analysis outputs (Sv, Single targets, Bottom feature, Calibration) and qualified virtual lines.
• Configurable min/max bubble diameters and color ranges on the Alongtrack Display page.
• Map-aware interaction: smooth zoom/pan, time-windowing via the new time slider, and WMTS/WMS background maps.
• Great for survey transects: reveal gradients, outliers, and regime shifts without switching windows.

See how to configure: Using Cruisetracks – Alongtrack display.

Cruisetrack and alongtrack display changes

New customizations of the display

Enhancements have been made to improve how cruisetrack views are displayed and exported, providing smoother workflows and more consistent visuals across Echoview.

• A time slider has been added to the Cruisetrack window. Use the start/finish handles (or drag the window) to limit the visible track to a time range—handy for isolating grid or transect surveys within long runs. During live viewing the view auto-follows only if the finish slider is at the end of the data.
• The Export to Image feature is now accessible from more menus, including the main Cruisetrack menu.
• A new Mapping Properties option is available from the Cruisetrack toolbar and right-click menu, allowing you to open the EV File Properties Mapping page directly and adjust projection or background map settings without navigating through the full dialog.

Major design changes for alongtrack display make it simpler to use and allow a wider range of variables to be plotted on a cruisetrack. For further information refer to Displaying an alongtrack display.

• The alongtrack display now only supports time series variables with settings to configure an alongtrack display on the Time Series Properties dialog box.
• The alongtrack display offers line or bubble (similar to a bubble plot) options.
• Alongtrack displays now support time series from a wider range of data sources, including Sv and echometric analyses, calibration and bottom feature results, single target analyses, and virtual or sounder-detected line data.

New Time Series framework

Create, inspect, and analyze richer time-based data—without detours.

A time series is a sequence of measurements with timestamps (e.g., vessel speed, pitch/roll, calibration results). Echoview 16 introduces a more flexible framework for time series that expands what you can make, how you can view it, and where you can use it.

New data types—Analysis, Calibration, Custom, and Transmission time series—let you build virtual time series from analysis outputs, transducer characteristics, and user-defined inputs.

Why this is useful

• Inspect time series faster: View multi-series time-based data at a glance in tables and graphs for quick validation before deeper analysis.
• Streamlined workflows: Start broad, then refine to the specific series and types you need without unnecessary detours.
• Classification: Partition your data based on calculated results or other time series.
• Smoother interaction: Time series graphs and tables load measurements asynchronously to keep the user-interface responsive.
• Clearer side-by-side layouts: Time series graphs place the vertical axis on the right for better alignment with echograms.

What’s new in 16

• New visualizations. The Time Series Scatter Plot compares any two series from a collection—useful for motion analysis (e.g., pitch vs roll), bottom classification metrics, or echointegration (e.g., NASC vs water column depth).
• Broader operator support. The Smoothing filter and Code operators now work with all time series types.
• Details panel & toolbar. Time series values and names appear in the Details panel and Information toolbar, making diagnostic info easier to find while you work.
• Smarter graphs. Time Series graphs now adapt their display based on the type of series:
  • Linear series render as standard lines.
  • Circular series (e.g., Heading, Pitch, Roll) wrap smoothly, with Heading retaining N/S/E/W labels.
  • Step series display as stepped lines.
  Depth-based series automatically flip the vertical axis (depth increases downward), matching echogram convention.
• Time series collections, now easy to inspect. Create collections (e.g., from CSV or transmission characteristics) and open them directly in a Table view: one column per series with status columns for quick validation. CSV columns without a declared type appear unitless until typed via Time series select, and standard no-data values (e.g., -9.9E+37) display as no data. Columns auto-size for readability.
• Platform-aware collections & inheritance. Virtual time series collections can be assigned a Platform; time series derived from them inherit that platform, enabling alongtrack plots when the platform has GPS. Transmission time series collections take their platform from the associated transducer, with the same inheritance behavior.

Typical workflow

• Create or import: Generate time series via interval analysis/calibration, or build a collection from CSV or transmission characteristics.
• Inspect & validate: Use Table view (for collections) or time series graphs/scatter plots to verify values, status, and no-data handling before deeper analysis.
• Refine & analyze: Type collection columns via Time series select as needed, then smooth, transform (Code), plot (graphs/scatter), or display alongtrack.

See also:
About time series data
About time series collections
Time series graph
Time series scatter plot
About data types

Interval analysis operators

Generate time series directly from analysis outputs

Four new Interval analysis operators—Sv, Single targets, Bottom feature, and Calibration—produce time series variables from alongtrack analyses.

• Enable new workflows linking analysis results with time-based visualization and export.
• Outputs can be plotted in time series graphs or displayed alongtrack as lines or bubbles.
• Supersede legacy “Extract bottom feature” workflows for more consistent results.

See operator details in New operators and operator enhancements: Time series handling.

Wideband Sv integration variables

New analysis variables to explore the potential of wideband Sv integration.

Introducing optional analysis variables for integration on Sv pulse compressed wideband data. New analysis variables are displayed under onscreen integration results and optionally output with an Sv integration exporter. The analysis variables are:

• ABC_f
• NASC_f
• Sv_f_mean

To support these calculations, the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box has a setting called Window size (pulse lengths) with a default value of 2 pulse lengths.

Sv_f_mean, ABC_f and NASC_f calculations are based on methods described in Andersen et al. (2023) and Levine et al. (2025).

ICES SONAR-netCDF4

Measurement exporter and read support of the Type 5 equation for single beam Sv or TS data

Echoview introduces the ability to convert single beam Sv, TS and angular position data to files that are compatible with the ICES SONAR-netCDF4 convention using the new Measurements - ICES SONAR-netCDF4 exporter.

Values are written to an *.nc file based on Version 2 of the convention using the Type 5 conversion equation and split-aperture beam handling. Files of this type may be added to a fileset.

Object, operator, and exporter discovery/creation

It's now easier to create and configure new variables, exporters, and other objects, and to discover the different types of objects that can be created.

Introducing changes to a number of menus, and the Dataflow Toolbox that aim to improve the discovery and creation of dataflow objects, operators and exporters.

• The new item: Echogram menu, Export, New Analysis Exporter ...
• This item replaces the Echogram menu, Export, Analysis by, options.
• The new item: Dataflow window, (right-click) Shortcut menu, New, Create new object via Dataflow Toolbox
• This item replaces the Dataflow window, (right-click) Shortcut menu, New, Dataflow object list
• Dataflow Toolbox enhancements:
  • New Dataflow Toolbox categories to improve the discovery of dataflow objects, operators and exporters. Some categories are based on common stages of data processing workflow, e.g., Create and Explore, Calibrate, Clean, Detect and Classify. Objects may appear in multiple categories, and category names are now searchable.
  • New global Expand category and Collapse category controls.
  • When a search filter or selection is applied, any categories with no matching entries are automatically hidden, keeping the toolbox list concise and focused.
  • New Why Is This Not Available? option on the right-click Shortcut menu, which explains why a Toolbox item is greyed out in the current context.
  • Improved filtering when multiple variables are selected in the Dataflow window. The Toolbox now shows only the objects that can use the selected variables together, and dragging such an object into the window automatically connects it to all of them.

Multiple Object Properties dialog

Easily apply bulk property changes to multiple selected objects (e.g., variables, operators, exporters) from the Dataflow window, Dataflow Object List, or the Fileset window—all within a powerful, streamlined dialog.

The new Multiple Object Properties dialog upgrades the Multiple Variable Properties dialog. It makes it easier to view and edit a particular setting across many objects of the same type (e.g., raw and virtual variables, time series, exporters, etc.), with a clearer interface and smarter controls.

Previously, advanced users relied on the Console for bulk changes on settings that weren't available in the Multiple Variable Properties dialog. Now, bulk changes can be made without scripting. Just select the relevant objects, choose a property, set a value, and apply.

Variables can be selected in the Dataflow and Filesets windows, and from the Objects List.

Properties irrelevant to the selected variables are greyed out. All object checkboxes start cleared, letting you explicitly choose which ones to update. The value field initially displays the setting from the first applicable object, and supports color pickers, enum lists, and object IDs, with built-in safeguards against invalid combinations.

Use quick-access buttons for default, maximum, minimum, or unit-specific options.

Exporter objects – Measurement

Configure and save reusable export settings via Dataflow.

The Dataflow window and Dataflow Toolbox now support a new family of measurement exporter objects. These objects enable you to define, visualize, and save export settings as part of your EV file—making data exports more transparent, modular, and repeatable.

This new approach replaces one-off dialog box exports with a consistent workflow that integrates directly with the Dataflow. Export settings can be stored, reused, or triggered via the Command Interface or COM scripting—streamlining automation and audit trails.

New measurement exporters include:

• Measurements – complex data
• Measurements – CSV
• Measurements – EVD
• Measurements – EVL
• Measurements – georeferenced samples
• Measurements – HAC
• Measurements – ICES SONAR-netCDF4
• Measurements – image
• Measurements – MATLAB
• Measurements – underlying data

This change reduces confusion between menu-based and script-based exports and gives you better control over how and when data is exported—especially in automated or repeatable workflows.

See also: About Exporter objects and Exporter Properties dialog box.

Performance improvements

More efficient workflow and time savings

Specific aspects of Echoview are now faster, allowing you to process your data more efficiently, which will be particularly evident when using a powerful computer.

• Track views (cruisetrack, alongtrack, bottom classification) now render more efficiently by ignoring off-screen segments, resulting in noticeably smoother zooming and panning—especially for large files or when viewing detailed areas.
• Graphs (Time Series, Line, Scatter) and Table views open, redraw, and scroll more quickly, reducing stutter during zoom/pan and value updates on large datasets.

General changes

• NMEA GPVTG or INVTG variables are no longer used as the default heading variable for a platform.
• Added Exclude_above_line_depth_mean and Exclude_above_line_range_mean analysis export variables as options for Analysis by Cells and Analysis by Regions by Cells, ensuring consistent reporting across export types.
• A new option has been added to the Echoview Configuration dialog box allowing users to select a default color scheme for all newly created raw acoustic variables. Virtual variables continue to inherit color schemes from their input operand, and angular data still require specialized schemes.
• Invalid dynamic names are now handled by removing the braces around the invalid property name.
• Bottom classification plot values and names now appear in the Details panel. Time series values now also appear in the Information toolbar.
• The legacy Delta Sv algorithm has been removed from Echoview. EV files and scripts using this algorithm now default to Maximum Sv, with relevant warnings shown.
• In the Dataflow Window, the Speed variable object now uses the Movement category color (orange), matching Position and Distance variables.
• The Output section of the Analysis page of the Exporter Properties dialog box now reflects the settings in the EV File Properties dialog box when "Override the output settings specified within the EV File Properties dialog" is deselected.
• When exporting echogram images with file splitting enabled, the exported image is now consistently named with a numbered suffix (e.g., exportedImage_0001.jpg), even if only one image is produced.
• Variables exported to Echoview Data Format (.evd) now use the source name (if available) rather than the default name.
• The Echoview Data Format (EVD) minor version increased to 2.3. Files written as 2.3 open in Echoview 16 and will not open in earlier versions.
• When working with single target echograms that do not contain angular position information, the Calibration Assistant now automatically selects Drop in TS from maximum value (dB) as the On-Axis Definition. Angle-based options are disabled, and the relevant option is activated by default to prevent invalid results.
• Operators no longer inherit thresholding or filtering settings from the Data or Filter Targets pages of the Variable Properties dialog box. This change reduces the risk of unintended processing effects in a workflow.
• Improved CSV export dialogs for matrix variables with clearer file filter labels (e.g., Comma-separated matrix Sv values (*.sv.mmb.csv)).
• When changing a transducer’s Z - vertical offset or rotation elevation, Echoview now shows adjustment guidance for regions and/or lines only if they exist in the EV file. The popup message has been clarified and includes guidance for users working with multiple transducers.
• Standardized terminology in the Filesets window: All data files now use Records and Record type headers in the Data File Information dialog box and Details dialog box, replacing previous terms like "Datagrams", "Tuples", and "Frames".
• Right-click menus now offer direct shortcuts to open the same data in another compatible view. For example, on an echogram you can choose Table; in a table you can choose Echogram; and when you right-click a variable in the Dataflow window you can open Table, Graph, or Echogram. Only valid options are shown, and the target view opens focused on the same data/selection—making it faster to switch between echograms, cruisetracks, tables, and graphs.
• When opening the Console window, the cursor is now automatically placed at the prompt, allowing you to begin typing immediately.
• Exporting echograms to images via COM now produces results consistent with the user interface for the same settings. For line-referenced echograms, export extents are adjusted using the reference line so the requested data is visible. If called on a non-acoustic or otherwise unusable variable, the method now returns False and writes an explanatory message to the scripting log instead of crashing.
• A new setting for the Vegetation analysis exporter, called Start interval numbering from the first ping. When selected, this setting outputs a vegetation analysis where the interval numbering begins at the first ping.
• Creating an editable line from the Dataflow Toolbox now uses selected: if a depth/range line is selected it is preselected as the basis for the new line, and if an acoustic variable is selected the dialog defaults to Pick from current variable. You no longer need to clear selections first.
• Echoview now shows a warning when a variable’s dynamic name refers to a deprecated property name.
• Graphs handle very small values more cleanly: the Graph Properties Y-axis Min and Max fields now accept up to 8 decimal places, and for ABC data the axis tick labels automatically use scientific notation to three decimal places (other data continue to use standard decimal formatting).
• In graph windows, footer ranges and hover tooltips now adopt the precision of the underlying variable type—matching Table views and exports. For variables without a defined precision, values default to 6 decimal places.
• ExportEchogramToImageCustom now accepts WidthInPixels = -1 and/or HeightInPixels = -1 to produce 1:1 exports (one pixel per ping/sample), matching the Export one pixel per sample option in the Export to Image dialog box.
• All direct print options have been removed across Echoview. Use Export to Image from relevant menus (including the Cruisetrack menu) for consistent, configurable output.
• Analysis exporters: checkbox labels updated to Override the analysis variables specified within the Echoview File Properties dialog and Override the output settings specified within the Echoview File Properties dialog. When the override is cleared, the Output section shows the global settings from EV File Properties as a read-only preview. See Exporter Properties dialog box for changes to specific analysis exporters.

New operators and operator enhancements

Crop samples

New operator to remove samples by sample number, depth, or range

The Crop samples operator allows you to remove entire samples from single beam data that fall outside specified bounds based on sample number, depth (m), or range (m). Unlike the Resample by operator family, this operator does not perform any interpolation or averaging—it simply excludes out-of-range samples while leaving the remaining data unchanged.

This lightweight cropping method offers improved clarity and performance for workflows where you only want to discard irrelevant samples rather than regrid or resample data. Cropping is based on the sample midpoint and supports heaved data. No-data padding is not used.

The Crop samples operator requires the Essentials module.

Time series handling

A suite of operators to create/edit time series and time series collections

New and updated operators that handle time series include:

• Code operator

• The Code operator now accepts Time Series variables as operands 2 and beyond. This enhancement allows you to incorporate navigational, environmental, or any other time series information into your custom Python script when processing acoustic data. The first operand must still be an acoustic variable, as it defines the output geometry.

  A new Python class, TimeSeriesMeasurement, is now used when accessing operand measurements from time series variables in Code operator scripts. This class includes fields such as datetime, value, and status, and replaces the use of Measurement in this context.

• Collate time series
• This operator creates a time series collection.
• Copy - Time series
• This operator copies a time series.
• Interval analysis - Bottom feature
• This operator outputs a bottom feature calculated for a specified grid interval. It supersedes the deprecated Extract Bottom Feature operator.
• Interval analysis - Calibration
• This operator extracts a Calibration setting from an acoustic variable over a specified grid interval.
• Interval analysis - Single targets
• This operator outputs a calculated single target analysis variable over a specified grid interval.
• Interval analysis - Sv
• This operator outputs a calculated Sv analysis variable over a specified grid interval.
• Smoothing filter

• The Smoothing filter operator has been extended to support any Time Series variable, not just those based on depth measurements. This makes it possible to smooth values such as heading, speed, impedance, and other derived time series using moving average, median, or custom kernels.

  No changes were made to the operator’s settings or calculation method.

• Time series range bitmap

• The Line range bitmap operator has been renamed to Time series range bitmap and enhanced to support a wider range of time series variables—not just depth-based lines.

  This operator now evaluates any time series variable (such as impedance or analysis features) against a specified value range and outputs a Boolean result accordingly. The settings are now unitless and renamed to Minimum in-range value and Maximum in-range value.

• Time series set status
• This operator assigns all datapoints to a specified Status value.
• Time series select
• This operator selects a time series from a custom time series collection.
• Transmission time series select
• This operator selects a transmission characteristic time series from a transmission time series collection, to explore impedance measurements. It is also the new name for the deprecated Extract transmission characteristic operator.

Code operator

Class name change and new Ping class attributes

The Echoview Python package has been updated to 2.0.0 with the name for Ping class replacing the name for Measurement class. Existing scripts that used the name Measurement class should be updated to use the name Ping class.

Ping class now supports the attributes: decimation_factors and decimation_filters for use with wideband data.

Type conversion

Enhanced support for Linear output and wideband data handling

The Type conversion operator now supports linear as an output type, alongside existing options (Sv, TS, Unspecified dB, power dB), and as an input operand data type. This makes it easier to work directly with linear variables without relying on formula operator workarounds.

In addition, the operator now respects the selected output type for wideband data. In earlier versions (e.g., Echoview 15.1), wideband inputs such as Wideband TS would force the output type to TS regardless of the selected setting. Files created in previous versions may therefore display different results or operator colors (e.g., green → blue) when opened in Echoview 16.

Older EV files with Type conversion operators may open differently in Echoview 16. In some cases, variable outputs and operator colors can change because the selected Output type is now honored for wideband data. Review affected variables and re-save projects as needed.

The OutputType setting previously labeled 'Other dB' has been renamed 'Unspecified dB' to align the console and user interface terminology. This change applies only to the Type conversion operator.

Range limit handling updates

Consistent Min/Max entry and warnings across operators

Minimum and maximum in-range values can now be entered in any order for the following operators. If the values entered exclude all data, a warning is shown and the operator proceeds.

Operators that this applies to are:

• Time series range bitmap
• Motion range bitmap
• Time series set status

TS Substitution

Change in properties to substitute.

The TS Substitution operator no longer supports the use of custom columns from single target CSV files, in Populate with values from lists.

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 window to immediately interact with the Command interface. Use a script to execute batch commands.

Support includes:

• New ExportConsoleText Action writes the full contents of the Console — including commands, results, and errors — to a plain text file.
• Selected 3D School Detection settings (from the 3D Schools Detection Properties dialog box) are now accessible via the Properties action under the Page3DSchoolsDetection list of the Ev File object.

Note: We strongly recommend checking that any scripts written for previous versions of Echoview that include EvApp.Exec content still works as expected. We also recommend you incorporate built-in scripting safeguards that will report any errors that may occur.

Date/time inputs for COM exports

String timestamps now accepted (MATLAB-friendly)

ExportEVDRange and ExportEchogramToImageCustom now accept date/time as either COM VT_DATE or a string timestamp (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.s, fractional seconds optional). This improves compatibility with MATLAB and other COM clients. For MATLAB, we recommend passing timestamps as strings.

Additionally, for ExportEVDRange with ping ranges, whole-number doubles are accepted for ping indices.

See also: ExportEVDRange, ExportEchogramToImageCustom, and Scripting with COM objects.

Support for ICES SONAR-netCDF4 data exports

Echoview adds COM support for two types of ICES SONAR-netCDF4 data exports.

The new single beam data export to an ICES SONAR-netCDF4 file format is supported by:

• VariableAcoustic.ExportICESSONARNetCDF4 and VariableVirtual.ExportICESSONARNetCDF4

The Furuno FSV-30 Sv omnisonar data export to an ICES SONAR-netCDF4 file format that outputs FSV-25 data has changed to a clearer COM name.

• VariableAcoustic.ExportFSV25 and VariableVirtual.ExportFSV25

Enums

Updates to variable types/data types, and new members for operators & exporters

In Echoview 16, EVariableType no longer includes separate values for Pitch, Roll, Heading, Distance, Bottom Feature, Transmission, Vessel log, or Line. These variables are now reported as Time Series.

• Variables of these kinds now return eVariableTypeTimeSeries or eVariableTypeTimeSeriesCollection.
• EVariableDataType remains unchanged (for example, eDataTypePitch, eDataTypeRoll, eDataTypeHeading, eDataTypeDistance).
• Update scripts to check EVariableDataType instead of the removed EVariableType members.

New in 16: enum additions and revisions for recent operators (EOperator) and export types (EExportType), aligned with the new operators and the measurement exporter family introduced in this release. For full reference, see EVariableType and EVariableDataType.

Documentation changes

SeaBat 7000

Record types updated

Updated the Reson data files help page to include additional supported record types for SeaBat 7000 series (.s7k).

BlueView data files

File path limitations clarified

Added a note to the BlueView data files and International character support help pages clarifying that .son files cannot be loaded from paths or filenames containing non-Latin characters due to a third-party library limitation.

Panels, panes and docking

Improved explanation among features

Updated the Navigating Echoview help page with clearer definitions of panels, panes, and windows, a new labeled screenshot, better section headings, and improved guidance on docking and layout management.

Echoview Data File Format

Variable support clarified

Updated the Raw variables derived from Echoview Data File Format files help page to explicitly list all supported variable types, including single beam, multibeam, wideband, Boolean, unspecified dB, Speed, Length, and Single target variables. The list was also reordered and a clarification added regarding unsupported multibeam types (e.g., color image, raw beam).

Video playback improvements

Updated guidance for codec installation and playback support

We’ve revised our guidance for troubleshooting video playback in Echoview. The Video problems and tips page now recommends the K-Lite Codec Pack as the first solution for codec issues, and encourages users to enable Windows Media Player (Legacy) for improved compatibility with DirectShow-based playback.