ESRI’s ArcGIS and other open source GIS software (e.g., QGIS, Google Earth) have multiple options for creating uniform or random survey points or transect shapefiles. Typically, these are add-on extensions that can be searched and loaded from user forums (e.g., “Fishnet” for ArcGIS).
Shapefiles can be converted to GPS eXchange format files (.gpx) using a range of free third-party platforms. Save .gpx files to a memory card and insert the card into your Lowrance, Simrad MFDs. In the file page, select the file from your card and import. The point shapefile or transect will now be imported into your unit as a trail or waypoints. Although many third-party options exist for executing surveys, BioBase offers only limited support for third-party software platforms.