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About the Echoview Data File Format

About the Echoview Data File Format

The Echoview Data File Format (EVD) offers an Echoview-defined data file type for storing echosounder and sonar data, as well as supporting measurements. The EVD file format enables hardware manufacturers and Echoview users to create Echoview-compatible files containing data from hydroacoustic systems that are not currently supported by Echoview.

The Echoview Data File Format supports the following data types:

Single beam: Power, Sv, TS, Unspecified dB and Angular position
Multibeam: Sv, Magnitude, Unspecified dB and Angular position
Heading, Pitch, Roll, (GPS) Position, (Vessel log) Distance and Line

Optional parameters, such as calibration settings, can also be included.

Variables from almost all file formats that are currently supported by Echoview can also be exported (written) to EVD files, and then added to Echoview for further processing. This provides several performance benefits:

Some users prefer to perform some initial data processing steps in Echoview (such as noise removal), then export data to HAC or text (CSV) files, and continue data processing on the exported data. Use the EVD format instead of HAC or CSV files to achieve gains in efficiency and stability.
Some data file formats require extra initial time to read into Echoview, especially Simrad EK80 wideband data. Read the raw data, export to EVD, and then process the resulting EVD files for improved efficiency compared to working with the original data files.
Note: Currently, wideband data can only be written to EVD files by Echoview from Simrad EK80 files and Kongsberg EA640 files. Other wideband echosounders are not supported and cannot yet be processed in Echoview via the EVD route.

We suggest using the Automation module for export/EVD processing, because scripting these steps is very simple and can save considerable time.

You can view a current version of EchoviewDataFileFormat.pdf in your browser or download the document from the Echoview website under Technical Support, Downloads, Echoview Data File Format.

The Echoview Data File Format will continue to evolve in future versions of Echoview. We look forward to receiving feedback or suggestions for future revisions of the file format.

About the Echoview Data File Format

See also