Dolphin Explorer GitHub

HYDROGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE

Turn survey data
into decisions.

One workspace for hydrographic survey data—from vessel-based acquisition to post-survey analysis. Import sonar, inspect quality, interpret the seabed, and turn raw data into deliverables with repeatable processing.

Explore the platform Supported formats View source
DOLPHIN EXPLORER / WORKSPACEPRODUCT CONCEPT
Illustrative Dolphin Explorer software mock-up with bathymetric mapping, survey tracks, and sonar panels
From the first survey line to a clearer picture.Map · Inspect · Process
01 Ingest02 Validate03 Process04 Explore
Index-first
activate layers without full-file waits
Quality control
inspect data during and after acquisition
GPU-native
explore dense coverage at full speed
Automation
repeat validated workflows on every line

Survey workflows

From the field to the final review.

Work with data from crewed survey vessels and USVs, inspect incoming lines during acquisition, or revisit recorded surveys in the office. The same workspace supports quality control, interpretation, and processing throughout the survey workflow.

IMPORTRecorded + incoming dataLoad survey files or monitor a folder
REVIEWNavigation + sonar + coverageInspect during acquisition or afterward
PROCESSSaved processing graphProduce repeatable results and exports
  1. 01

    Bring in your survey

    Import recorded XTF, JSF, and SEG-Y files, or monitor a survey folder for incoming lines during acquisition. Organize sources and layers in one project.

  2. 02

    Inspect and interpret

    Review navigation, coverage, sidescan imagery, and sub-bottom profiles. Use quality-control tools while collecting data or during a detailed review back in the office.

  3. 03

    Process and deliver

    Apply saved processing graphs to survey data, reuse cached results, and export derived products for further analysis and reporting.

Explore survey capabilities

Platform

Performance where the survey demands it.

A native C++20 and Qt 6 foundation keeps dense spatial data responsive while the processing engine takes repetitive work off the operator.

Concept preview of the survey map, sonar imagery, and inspection panelsILLUSTRATIVE WORKSPACE

01 / Spatial context

See the survey as a whole.

Bring survey tracks, rasters, and sonar imagery into one workspace, with GPU rendering for dense spatial data.

Explore the workspace →

02 / Inspection

Get closer to the detail.

Sidescan waterfall and sub-bottom views support interpretation alongside the map.

Explore quality control →

03 / Processing

Repeat the work that works.

Save processing recipes and reuse cached results when inputs have not changed.

Try the processing example ↓

GPU rendering

The 3D map and sidescan waterfall draw through OpenGL, so survey coverage, rasters, and sonar imagery stay responsive as you explore.

Automated pipelines

Build processing as a node graph once, save it as JSON, and run it again on the next survey. Validation catches broken graphs before they run.

Workers with contracts

Processing, QC, and reporting run as workers with typed inputs and outputs, so each step knows exactly what it consumes and produces.

Incremental by default

Workers cache results and run only when their inputs are dirty. Change one parameter and only the affected branch recomputes.

Automation

Make every workflow repeatable.

Correction, filtering, enhancement, and export nodes chain into a graph that runs in dependency order, with cached steps skipped automatically.

PROCESSING LAB / INTERACTIVE EXAMPLESIDESCAN CLEANUP

One change. Only the work it affects.

Choose an edit, then run the example to trace its effect through the graph.

Simulated workflow
  1. 01InputCached
  2. 02CorrectionCached
  3. 03FilterRecompute
  4. 04EnhancementRecompute
  5. 05ExportRecompute
2cached steps reused
3steps affected
Previewexample status

Changing the filter preserves input and correction results. The filter, enhancement, and export need to run again.

Illustrates dependency tracking. No survey data is processed in this example.

How automation works

Roadmap

A platform ready for its next interface.

Every action already flows through typed services and serializable graphs, the foundation for driving Dolphin Explorer with language and agents.

Current foundation

Native workspace · Processing graphs · Typed services

Review project status →
  • In development

    Dolphin assistant

    An in-app conversation panel for asking Dolphin to open a layer, run processing, or change a setting in plain language.

  • Planned

    MCP server

    A Model Context Protocol interface so AI agents and external tools can drive projects, run graphs, and read results programmatically.

Formats

Reads the files your survey already produces.

Raster I/O is backed by GDAL, and coordinate transforms by PROJ.

Format details

Explore

Go deeper.

Quickstart

Build from source.

Set up the Windows toolchain, compile the source, and open your first survey. The docs walk through each step.

Full setup guide
01
Prepare your machine

MSVC, Qt, CMake, and geospatial dependencies

↗02
Build Dolphin Explorer

Clone the source and compile with Ninja

↗03
Launch your workspace

Deploy runtime files and open a project

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