| Teledyne GeospatialCARIS Software

Vessel Setup Workflow

To better support the increasing variety of sonar installations, HIPS and SIPS 12 introduces a new vessel editor along with a new vessel file format. The new vessel setup workflow includes a setup wizard that will configure the vessel based on make/model of sonar, number of transducers and logging format. Depending on the configuration, fields will be available to define offsets, mounting angles and calibration values (patch test) to all relevant transducers.

An upgrade feature has also been built to provide an easy workflow for converting previous .hvf files to the new .vessel format. The vessel from data workflow will also continue to be available to build a vessel automatically from the offsets stored in imported sonar files.

Multiple Frequency Workflows

To address the gap of having a single unified workflow for extracting the most from multiple frequency datasets, a new workflow has been introduced to simplify extracting information from multiple frequency surveys. The new workflow supports data collected with R2Sonic, NORBIT, Kongsberg and soon Teledyne RESON. The new functionality allows the frequencies to be separated and creates unique layers per frequency in both the gridded bathymetry as well as the backscatter mosaics. A new multiple frequency backscatter mosaic format is also used which allows an RGB raster to be dynamically adjusted by changing which frequency is assigned to each of the RGB bands. Best of all, this all happens automatically when multiple frequencies are detected on import.

Additional features include adding the frequency as an attribute to each sounding, and in Subset Editor, the ability to color by frequency and turn specific frequencies on/off.

Speed Improvements

Recognizing that processing efficiency and product turnaround time are always at top of mind, HIPS and SIPS 12 introduces several enhancements to improve time for loading and processing datasets. Performance gains will vary depending on the current disk read/write speed of individual environments (disk and network speeds), with slower read/write environments positioned to see the largest performance increase. Testing has shown up to 50% decrease in computational time.

Automation Enhancements

To integrate with third party solutions or to include their own business logic, HIPS and SIPS users can now create custom processes written in python script. These processes can be used within CARIS Process Designer to add flexibility in process model design. Additionally, Carisbatch can now launch process models. With the combination of these different functionalities enhanced CARIS automation tools, it is now possible to execute automated workflows across CARIS applications.

These different tools allow users to use a single application as a hub for their automation launch.

Python support

Python scripting is a flexible way to put HIPS and SIPS to work in automation workflows, and now, users can enjoy support for version 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11. Updating to new versions of Python help safeguard IT infrastructure, so join CARIS in upgrading today.

Corrections Mode for Subset Editor

With the rising popularity of autonomous survey vehicles, the need for correcting less than perfect sonar data is also growing. CARIS removes the guesswork with the new Subset Editor Corrections Mode to help address intermittent sound speed or vertical offset issues. Working in subset editor allows users to compare and correct data between nearby lines to ensure best alignment. Multiple corrections can be made throughout the lines to address localized issues for maximum flexibility and interpolation between corrections ensures smooth transitions. Corrections can also be visualized easily for review, or discarded if users wish to revert back to original data states.

ADMIRALTY GAM

Through a partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office, Teledyne CARIS has expanded its AI driven services offered on the CARIS Mira AI platform. The ADMIRALTY GAM Service classifies sonar noise using an enhanced Generalised Additive Model (GAM). This model works through your point cloud data adapting to identify noise within your data set. The model is a cloud-based algorithm which is securely accessed directly from the HIPS and SIPS. The algorithm assigns soundings within your point cloud as noise which can be rejected whilst running the ADMIRALTY GAM Service or can be reviewed in the Subset Editor for further evaluation.

The ADMIRALTY GAM Service has been especially tailored to work with single track multi-beam sonar data such as that collected on a research cruise or voyage. This pairs perfectly with the CARIS Sonar Noise Classifier which is tailored for shallow water systematic surveys. Together the tools bring the benefit of AI for noise removal to a full range of data processing scenarios. For more information visit https://www.teledynecaris.com/en/products/admiralty-gam/

Software as a Service (SaaS) Purchasing Option

Growth of autonomous survey fleets also means licensing needs are changing for our users. CARIS is pleased to offer more flexible options for HIPS and SIPS software licensing in 11.4. In addition to CARIS' current perpetual and leasing purchase options, a new yearly SaaS offering is available at a reduced rate for those users who need to bump up their processing needs for specific projects.

Support for S-102 Bathymetric Surface

In support of S-100 pilot projects and operational testing by early adopters around the globe, CARIS is providing full support to generate S-102 Bathymetric Surface datasets in HIPS & SIPS Professional and BASE Editor. The workflow to generate the S-102 v2.1 (HDF5) datasets is a seamless extension of existing processes and workflows used in bathymetric compilations workflows.

Validated and combined survey data can be concurrently exported to S-102 (including tile options), BAG datasets for exchange, and modelled as contours and sounding features in one workflow, all from a single source. This workflow ensures both efficiency and consistency in the resulting bathymetry. S-102 and other raster datasets can be distributed using the CARIS Cloud web services platform.

Click here to find out more about how to access S-102 datasets in the S-100 Service presented by Canadian Hydrographic Service, Teledyne CARIS and ECC/PRIMAR. Sample datasets are also generously made available by the Canadian Hydrographic Service here. Find out more about how to participate in a free trial of both selected datasets available in the S-100 Service and the SEAiq portable pilot unit software here .

New Python Support

Python scripting is the most flexible way to put HIPS and SIPS to work automating workflows, and now, users can enjoy support for version 3.7. Updating to new versions of Python help safeguard IT infrastructure so join CARIS in upgrading today. Support will continue for Python version 3.5 in HIPS and SIPS to allow smooth transitioning for clients with custom scripts, however, Python 3.4 support has been retired. Based on in house testing, upgrading from Python 3.5 to 3.7 should have minimal impact on user scripts and the same python versions are now supported between HIPS and SIPS 11.4 and BASE Editor 5.5.

Introducing CARIS Mira AI

The Teledyne CARIS team is committed to leveraging the latest technology for our customers with the creation of the CARIS Mira AI platform.

CARIS Mira AI is a new cloud-based platform to host our current and future AI solutions. Backed by Amazon Web Services (AWS), offering a robust, scalable cloud platform means no additional desktop hardware is required to move users into the future of processing.

With these evolving technologies, our AWS-certified team is focused on the safety and security of your data while it is in our care: all data directed to the CARIS Mira AI platform is anonymized, randomized and encrypted before transmission. For additional security, no data remains stored on the cloud following the AI classification process.

AI technologies and cloud services are the new force multiplier to reduce Ping-to-Chart times. Let CARIS future-proof your processing pipeline.

Try It for Yourself

For current HIPS and SIPS or CARIS Onboard users, unleash the power of AI right now by signing up for your free 30-day trial. Once activated, provide your account credentials in HIPS 11.3+ or CARIS Onboard 2.3+ to immediately save time in your workflow.

Sonar Noise Classifier

We invite you to bring the noise with the first CARIS Mira AI offering, the Sonar Noise Classifier!

CARIS seeks to significantly reduce the need for manual cleaning and move your data swiftly from acquisition to review. The Sonar Noise Classifier automatically identifies the vast majority of sonar noise, resulting in a reduction of manual cleaning effort by a factor of up to 10x at an accuracy of 95%.

The Sonar Noise Classifier is trained to identify a variety of noise patterns from acoustic sensors. The algorithm assigns confidence values for all soundings on a scale of 0 to 100% with 100% indicating the classifier's highest confidence that the sounding is noise. Soundings can be rejected while running the Sonar Noise Classifier by setting your confidence threshold value. Subset editor can be used to review noise classification values by coloring by Confidence and editing the threshold for sounding rejection. Allow us to help you tackle your data backlog save your personnel for the tasks a machine cannot do.

Users can choose to purchase access to the Sonar Noise Classifier service on a yearly, or month by month subscription basis for a customized software solution to meet processing needs. Try it for yourself with a free 30 day trial.

For more information on the Sonar Noise Classifier, check out the Suggested Reading section on the HIPS and SIPS Product page.

Tools Window

A new use for the existing Process Designer Tools window came about during the 2019 CARIS Hackathon. Using a clever twist on a current procedure, we can help our users move quickly from task to task after porting the searchable Tools list into the main application. Adding the Tools window to your display gives you direct access to a list of all available HIPS and SIPS processes. Simply select a tool from the window or begin typing in the search field to plan your next move. Double click on the process name and you can immediately configure your options.

S-100 ENC Support

Users can now open S-101 ENC files for use as background data in HIPS and SIPS. When opening the S-100 or H20 files, updates in the same directory as the main file are now also loaded and applied. Teledyne CARIS is proud to be leading the industry with our S-100 support in our full production suite.

SIPS Backscatter

CARIS has been advancing the SIPS backscatter engine to make creating artifact-free and robust backscatter products a simple and autonomous process. Following the release of a new multi-mode beam pattern in HIPS and SIPS 11.1, we are pleased to release a new backscatter gridding engine in HIPS and SIPS 11.2. The new engine implements a weighted moving average (WMA) gridding technique which better handles the geometry of multi-sector systems, prevents over-interpolation of data, and allows smoothing the mosaic by adjusting the radius of influence for each cell. Along with the WMA gridding engine, an industry-first area-based AVG correction is also introduced.

Traditional AVG corrections are applied line-by-line with a rolling filter, causing different results to be applied to neighboring lines, which introduces artifacts when the type of sediment changes across-track. As a result, line-based approaches require cosmetic filters to blend the differences to give the appearance of an artifact-free mosaic. In the SIPS backscatter engine, CARIS has implemented an area-based AVG correction which uses any overlapping information to apply an area-based correction computed purely on the physics of seabed acoustic reflectivity. The new area-based AVG correction allows high quality backscatter mosaics to be produced by running a single process.

Reson T-50 Normalized Backscatter Imagery  Source: Environment Agency 

Expanding Extents

With the increasing use of multiple platforms on a single survey, it is becoming common to bring multiple datasets together into a single project. To support this workflow, the CSAR format has been updated to allow the extents to automatically expand when new data is added to the coverage. This functionality allows a single surface to be used and maintained as new data from different locations and sources are brought together in the project.
Note: If a coverage is created with fixed extents, the CSAR file is fully backwards compatible. However, if you need to use an expanding-extents CSAR in previous versions of CARIS software you can right click→ 'Save As' on the coverage to create a fixed extent copy once all data has been added to the coverage.

The new extents widget allows the user to set fixed extents to clip data to a specific area, or use automatic extents to dynamically adapt with the incoming data.

Time-dependent transformation

HIPS and SIPS now supports time-dependent transformations. These coordinate reference system (CRS) transformations have an epoch component that allows for more precise positioning of data.

Additional Support for Drag and Drop Processing

With HIPS and SIPS version 11.1.5, you can now process HSX data by simply dragging and dropping the files onto the Application. This new workflow also allows you to fully customize the processing applied to your data.

Drag and Drop Processing

Following on the introduction of Drag and Drop processing in HIPS and SIPS 11.0, HIPS and SIPS 11.1 now offers the ability to completely customize the workflow applied when sonar files are dropped onto the application. With the ability to customize a separate workflow for each sonar format, you can easily automate your organization's specific workflow to be run through the HIPS Drag and Drop functionality. Through the Options dialogue you can configure HIPS file creation, Import, Georeference Bathymetry and surface generation.

SIPS Backscatter

Understanding the increasing importance of quality backscatter products to our users, CARIS has been working to advance the backscatter processing capabilities of the SIPS Backscatter engine, while maintaining a fully autonomous approach. During most surveys, the focus is on collecting quality depth information using multi-sector sonars with roll pitch and yaw stabilization to ensure consistent coverage, and adjusting settings such as pulse length to ensure the best range and resolution are being achieved. However, these dynamic capabilities in real-time survey can be problematic when processing the backscatter intensity into consistent, usable products. 

The Beam Pattern Estimation process in HIPS and SIPS 11.1 for SIPS Backscatter has been enhanced to automatically handle dynamic steered sectors and changes in pulse length / waveform throughout a survey by creating a unique beam pattern for each mode and sector of a multi-sector system. This enhanced technique produces a consistent backscatter image, regardless of the dynamic settings during survey. 

Stay tuned as we continue to work throughout the year on introducing further improvements to the SIPS Backscatter Engine.

New Licensing Technology

HIPS and SIPS 11.1 incorporates new licensing technology which will bring several benefits to our end users. Please note that the new license technology is not compatible with previous versions of the software, and your existing license configuration is still required for those versions. Please contact Teledyne CARIS customer support to receive your new license.

This upgraded licensing is softkey based, so no physical dongles are required; a license Entitlement will be created for software activation. This presents several benefits:

• For all users:
  • Convenient and easy activation (online or offline)
  • No separate licensing tool
  • Faster software purchase and setup
  • The elimination of physical hardware removes the possibility of damage or loss
• For current users in a network license environment, a new license manager is available:
  
  • Server can be hosted from any computer on the network
  • Convenient and easy server activation
  • Improved license usage transparency: easy to track which licenses are in use, and who is using them
  • New "Commute" function allows user to seamlessly check-out a license from the server for offline use, without needing to switch to a hardware dongle
• For users traditionally sharing a USB dongle among multiple computers, we recommend that they switch to a network license environment and leverage the “commute” functionality to distribute licenses, including the new check out / check in option for offsite use. This avoids the risks or delays involved with shipping dongles to vessels or remote employees, while keeping control where the licenses are used.
• If users prefer to stay on the local license environment, the entitlement can be deactivated on one computer and transferred to another computer if needed. Users will need to contact Teledyne CARIS customer services to get assistance in this process.

 For more information about the new licensing technology and how it will affect your organization contact Customer Services, or visit License FAQ.

Drag and Drop

For the users looking for the easiest way to open and process their data, HIPS and SIPS now supports Drag and Drop for sensor files. When you Drag and Drop raw sensor files onto the application, the raw sensor data is automatically processed into a georeferenced point cloud and a gridded surface.

Through Drag and Drop the processing steps outlined below will be automatically applied:

• Auto-create HIPS File: The HIPS File will be automatically created
• Conversion: The raw data files will be converted in to the new HIPS File
• Vessel File From Data: For the most popular formats the installation parameters will be automatically converted from the raw data files and used during processing. For formats which do not store the installation parameters, a zero vessel file will be used
• Georeference Bathymetry: The soundings will be processed through to a georeferenced point cloud.
• Gridding: A surface will be created, using a new Automatic Resolution option.

For users who would like more customization, the new combined Import Sensor Data dialogue is available. By using the same automation built for Drag and Drop, importing sensor data is now easier then ever, and by exposing several options the Import Sensor Data dialogue provides flexibility to support.

One Step Processing

HIPS and SIPS 11.0 also introduces a new process to correct and georeference their sensor data. The new Georeference Bathymetry process is a single process which replaces Sound Velocity Correction, Load Tide, Compute GPS Tide, Merge and Compute TPU. With Georeference Bathymetry, the same trusted algorithms from the previous processes are still applied, however there are several benefits to the user by combining the algorithms into a single process:

• A simplified user interface with fewer options
• Simplified workflow with fewer decisions regarding when different processes need to be applied
• No need to concatenate Sound Velocity Profiles into a single file, simply select several separate profiles, or point to a folder and use all profiles in the folder.

Trackline Layers

HIPS and SIPS 11.0 introduces several user interface changes which improve the user experience while interacting with data. The new application interface provides a consistent user experience across the CARIS product line when filtering, grouping, and setting up display properties. Some of the improvements you will see are:

• Selection and draw order are controlled from a single window
• Layer grouping, with the ability to uniformly change display settings for all layers in a group
• Improved Properties and Attributes windows

HIPS and SIPS 11.0 introduces the ability to create Dynamic or Static layers for tracklines. This allows users to create a rule based layer using any of the trackline attributes with the option for the layer to be static (the tracklines in the layer will not change) or dynamic (as new lines are added or the trackline attributes change, the layer will update). These layers can then be used to drive the editors, display and can be used as the input to a process.

For example, a dynamic layer could be created for all lines which are outdated. As lines become outdated they will be automatically added to the dynamic layer. At any time Georeference Bathymetry can be run on the layer, updating all of the outdated lines in the project.

Process Designer

It is now possible to include a Process Model inside another Process Model using File > Insert Model. This makes it easier to manage complex Process Designer models by defining common capability once and re-using it multiple times. In the example below, a Process Model for Creating or Updating a Surface has been inserted into the main Process Model, which is clearly identified by its teal colour.

Validation has been built into the Process Designer, making it clear to a user if they have not defined a required parameter or connection. In the example below, the process is showing that it requires a connection for the "Track Line(s)" input.