CARIS is pleased to announce the release of HIPS and SIPS™ 9.1. This new version includes an alternative method of processing backscatter data which produces high quality mosaics and is based upon industry-recognized algorithms and techniques.

The SIPS Backscatter engine is a single additional step at the end of a traditional multibeam bathymetry workflow. It is a fresh approach to acoustic imaging by considering both the geometric and radiometric aspects in order to get a fully processed imagery mosaic. It also factors in environmental conditions as well as seafloor topography in the computation. The user can also choose to apply an Angle Varying Gain correction for angular sediment response.

"The addition of the SIPS Backscatter processing engine marks an industry shift from research to standard implementation. This robust algorithm, based on well-established research, will add value to the everyday hydrographic chain with a one-step mosaic within a single application," said Burns Foster, Product Manager - HIPS and SIPS.

In a user friendly way, this new mosaic creation method has been implemented into the standard HIPS and SIPS workflow, with many of the required parameters being captured directly from raw data files.

Other improvements within version 9.1 include a simplified user experience for imagery products and additional support for converting Klein bathymetry data. This version also offers a notably faster import of many formats into CARIS HIPS and SIPS, and in some cases the data conversion if 50-100% faster.