Sonar Mapping Tools
Transforming raw data into actionable information is essential for effective aquatic resource management. Benthomap converts your raw Lowrance® sonar data (sl2 or sl3 files) into valuable insights that can support management decisions. Whether you're managing fish habitat, sediment, or aquatic vegetation, Benthomap is here to assist!
Applications of Sonar Data:
-
Average depth, surface area, and volume calculations
-
Submerged aquatic vegetation surveys
-
Herbicide treatment plans
-
Fish habitat mapping
-
Managing sediment
Bathymetry
Benthomap creates bathymetric maps through a process called interpolation. Raw data from sonar units inherently contains areas where data were not collected. Interpolation creates a model with the existing depth data and uses it to estimate depth in areas with no data.
Aquatic Vegetation
Benthomap creates aquatic vegetation maps by analyzing sonar return intensities throughout the water column. By assuming that higher intensity returns mean vegetation or other objects, we can estimate a density of vegetation in the water column. Then, interpolation fills the gaps in the sonar data to create a smoothed vegetation map.
Bottom Composition
To estimate bottom composition, Benthomap uses the sonar return intensity from the bottom that is automatically estimated by the sonar unit. Since sonar returns from harder surfaces have higher intensity values than softer surfaces, we can estimate a relative bottom composition based on these values.
