Lowrance introduces the Insight Genesis map production tool

by Andrew Golden on 2 Oct 2012 Lowrance, announced today a revolutionary personal mapping generation tool, Insight Genesis. A powerful service that uses sonar recordings from Broadband Sounder™ and StructureScan® sonar imaging transducers connected to Lowrance HDS multifunction displays, Insight Genesis empowers boaters with the ability to create custom contour maps of their favorite fishing and boating areas. Whether mapping previously uncharted waters or ensuring surveyed water details are accurate and current, Insight Genesis delivers a new level of personal cartography and situational awareness for boaters.

Designed for use in both salt and fresh water environments, Insight Genesis transforms the Lowrance HDS charting experience. To create free custom maps, simply activate the standard sonar logging feature of any HDS multifunction display to record all subsequent sonar data collected to an SD card. Once recorded, a PC application is used to upload the sonar log file to the Insight Genesis cloud service, where it is converted into a map. Once complete, a notification is sent via email that the chart is available to view online. The chart and related sonar log can be viewed for free using an embedded web viewer. An option is also available to purchase a download of the personalized map for use on a compatible multifunction display. Downloads of the Insight Genesis maps can be purchased on an individual-map basis or through an annual subscription service.

'Insight Genesis brings an exciting, new level of functionality to Lowrance HDS users,' said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. 'Boaters can create personalized charts to complement our extensive Insight library and supported Navionics cartography options. Whether using Insight Genesis to refine existing details due to shifting sand bars, recent dredging or to mark an uncharted rock, or for creating charts of bodies of water that have not been surveyed, Insight Genesis is the key to getting the most up-to-date specifics on fishing and boating areas, anytime and anywhere.'

The Insight Genesis service offers four options for viewing and downloading personalized maps. Access to the online service and web viewer is free.

In addition, a map download can be purchased one of three ways: (One) a single-map download purchase includes pre-set contours, depth soundings and depth shading, which can be viewed on a PC and one registered chartplotter; (Two) a standard one-year subscription adds the ability to adjust contour intervals, merge multiple uploads into a single map, save maps in an online account for future retrieval, submit up to four hours of sonar data per map – instead of two -- and view the personalized map on up to four registered devices; and (Three) a premium one-year subscription adds the ability to overlay bottom hardness and vegetation outline layers, analyze changes over multiple recordings with trend-analysis tools and increases the number of registered devices on which the map can be viewed from four to six.

All downloaded Insight Genesis maps can be saved on SD cards for use in the card reader slot on a compatible registered Lowrance chartplotter or multifunction device.

An incredibly powerful tool, the Insight Genesis cloud-based server provides a convenient, secure location to store trips and maps, as well as the ability to merge multiple data files into larger maps without saving and managing data on a personal computer. Data can be recorded and saved during multiple boating trips -- giving individuals the abilty to build a map over time to increase the coverage and quality of each map. In addition, the Insight Genesis free web viewer allows individuals to review Broadband Sounder and DownScan Imaging sonar logs, and view their trails and corresponding maps overlaid on a Bing satellite map.

The Insight Genesis website will be available in November and will generate maps compatible with the new Lowrance HDS Gen2 Touch multifunction displays. Support for Lowrance HDS Gen 2 and select Elite models is expected in early 2013. A one-time map purchase, standard subscription and premium subscription are priced at $19.95/download, $99.95/year and $299.95/year, respectively. For more information on Insight Genesis please insightstore.lowrance.com/insightgenesis. For more information on the complete line of Lowrance marine electronics, please visit Navico website