Users who desire to sample a very large area, but have limited resources to cover areas as intensively as recommended in small lakes, can adjust the buffer area and grid cell resolution according to survey objectives and the 1/5th rule (e.g., a survey with 100-m spaced transects would be buffered 50-m on each side and gridded at a 10-m grid cell resolution). Refer to the Trip reprocessing section and the Merge trips section described in this manual.
If the area mapped is large and homogeneous, users can increase travel speed up to a maximum of 8.5 knots (10 mph) and still get all three EcoSound map layers (Depth, Vegetation, and Composition). Savings gained by travelling faster (while still maintaining good signal) can be applied to making transects as close as possible. EcoSound will map depth as long as there is a good signal. However, EcoSound caps depth mapping at precisely 17 knots (20 mph), vegetation detection at 8.5 knots (10 mph), and bottom hardness at 8.5 knots (10 mph).