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Software

Cameron Bodine edited this page Oct 13, 2025 · 5 revisions

Introduction

Below is a curated list of software that we use with fishfinder sonar recordings including post-processing, mapping, modeling, etc.

Sonar Log Processing

Free

PINGMapper

Open-source interface for processing recreation-grade side scan sonar datasets and reproducibly mapping benthic habitat.

SL3Mapper

It is a tiny C# app, which is able to read SL3 sonar log files made by Lowrance & Simard devices and export the frame headers into a CSV text file.

SidescanTools

Welcome to SidescanTools, an open-source software to read andprocess data from side-scan sonar instruments. This tool can be used to create high-resolution 2D images of the sea floor. The data can be processed to reduce noise, apply slant-range correction and gain normalisation on a set of side-scan files. They can then be exported as .geotiff or simple .png files. As of now, SidescanTools can process and read data from two formats:

.jsf: open file format by EdgeTech .xtf: cross-platform readable file format

Paid

BioBase

BioBase is the premier cloud solution for the automated processing, mapping and storing of spatial aquatic data.

SonarTRX

The main focus of SonarTRX software is the generation of geo-referenced raster images from sidescan sonar recordings. SonarTRX can also be used to extract depth (echo soundings) from these recordings, for bathymetric processing with GIS or 3'rd party terrain processing utilities. SonarTRX can be part of a very affordable tool-kit for exploring & mapping the seabed from your kayak, jet ski or small boat.

Reefmaster

ReefMaster Software offers a suite of affordable, consumer-friendly Windows PC applications to help you get the most out of your sonar. Manage waypoints, trails and routes and view sonar logs from your Lowrance device with our new Waypoint Manager/Sonar Viewer for Lowrance, view sonar logs with our standalone Sonar Viewer, or create 3D bathymetric maps and sidescan mosaics using ReefMaster. ReefMaster is your complete sonar solution - ideal for marine professionals, academics and fishing enthusiasts. Get started with a free trial and experience it for yourself.

Substrate Mapping

PINGMapper

Open-source interface for processing recreation-grade side scan sonar datasets and reproducibly mapping benthic habitat.

RockMapper [Coming Soon]

Interface for predicting and mapping benthic habitat (substrates) from any side-scan sonar mosaic.

Target Detection

GhostVision [Coming Soon]

Detect & locate crab pots from Humminbird sonar recordings with ML.

Modeling

Free

Segmentation Gym

A neural gym for training deep learning models to carry out geoscientific image segmentation. Works best with labels generated using Doodler.

Roboflow

Collection of python repositories for working with Roboflow.

Paid

Roboflow

Everything you need to build and deploy computer vision applications.

Model Dataset Labeling

Free

Doodler

Doodler. A web application built with plotly/dash for image segmentation with minimal supervision. Plays nicely with segmentation gym

Paid

Roboflow

Everything you need to build and deploy computer vision applications.

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