Feature Highlights in version 5

Here are the top new features in the latest release of Bathy DataBASE.

MAR 18, 2019

Usability enhancements for point editing

Increasingly, Subset Editor is used not just to validate but to clean, classify and identify features in georeferenced data points from both sonar and lidar surveys. New options are provided to bring efficiencies to this workflow including:

• Colouring based on the data range of the current subset, or the full data range of the sources,
• Colour maps automatically adjusting as data points are flagged, and
• Drawing flagged points, such as Designated, Outstanding, and Examined points, as larger spheres to improve the visual cues for decision-making.

Time-dependent transformation

BASE Editor is the first CARIS software solution to support time-dependent transformations. These coordinate reference system (CRS) transformations have an epoch component that allows for more precise positioning of data.

Commute a license for travel

The License Manager can now be used to check out licenses from a network license server for a defined period of time. These commuted licenses are temporary local licenses that can be used during surveying when the network license server cannot be accessed.

OCT 30, 2018

New automated techniques for generalizing bathymetry

Building on BASE Editor's industry leading bathymetry compilation toolkit, two new surface preparation techniques have been added along with several workflow improvements.

A new surface smoothing method called Restrained Laplacian was added that is generally less aggressive and results in less smoothing in X,Y and Z planes than our original (Cumulative) Laplacian smoothing. The effect is that the shape of sloped areas such as along a dredged channel remain largely in place with minimal narrowing of the channel.

The surface smoothing processes can now be run on elevation data that has been simplified in advance using a new Rolling Coin technique. This technique was developed by the Finnish Transport Agency as way of achieving an unambiguously safe for navigation contour set by imposing a pixel-based mask that pushes elevations into the shoaler depth ranges. The effect of the Rolling Coin is a double-buffered surface that produces contours that are greatly reduced in number and complexity than from the original dataset.

The Rolling Coin technique produces the best results when used in conjunction with Laplacian Smoothing and/or vector Contour Smoothing processes. These processes work together in a manual or fully-automated workflow to produce topologically sound, ‘chart ready’ and safe for navigation contours. These results hold even for high resolution contours such as on bathymetric ENC (bENC) overlays where there is little tolerance for topology issues or cartographic manipulations requiring manual adjustments.

Further enhancing the bathymetry compilation workflow are the additions of a new option to directly model shoal-biased thinned points as Sounding features in automated workflows, new safe-guards against producing crossing contours with vector Contour Smoothing and enhanced error reporting.

New Licensing Technology

Bathy DataBASE is the first CARIS release to incorporate our new licensing technology. This upgraded licensing is softkey based, so no physical dongles are required; a license Entitlement will be created for software activation.

Key benefits of this new technology include:

• Convenient and easy softkey activation
• The elimination of physical hardware removes the possibility of damage or loss
• No more need of a separate licensing tool
• Faster software purchase and setup
• Improved license usage transparency for network license users

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

MAY 03, 2018

All featured new enhancements of the Bathy DataBASE 5 series release can be found on the What's New page. A full list of enhancements is available to subscription members on the CARIS Customer Support site.