Quick background. I work for a company that is seasoned in LiDAR scanning from above ground mapping and modeling. We have been using Leica scanners/software for many years. Recently, we've had some customers ask us if pond and lake bed mapping is a service we would offer. So here I am trying to learn about bathymetry and what is needed to get started.

What I'm really looking for is a way to create semi detailed maps of small to medium ponds and lake beds. Having topo style maps as well as 3D visualized mapping would be ideal. This software appears to take the data and produce these results. My question is, what type of hardware is best suited for this software? There are lots of options from Hummingbird/Lowrance.

Are there any autonomous boat options that you recommend?

Does the deliverable/export from ReefMaster allow it to be imported into other software for meshing with other maps such as what is produce with photogrammetry from drones? Could you create a whole site map in this way?

I appreciate any help you folks could provide on these questions.

You can use Lowrance, HB or Garmin as hardware. I would go for Lowrance HDS or Elite (Navico).

Yes, there are offers with remote-controlled boats.

The data export allows you to export both raw data and the result. Rasters result can also be exported. You can almost certainly process all of these in Metashape, ArcGIS, QGIS or similar.

If you are in europe and are looking for professional equipment: www.maritimerobotics.com/ These guys thier Otto model is great for mapping small ponds and such.

Data wise why dont you just slap it straight into your leica software? (cyclone?)

I suppose if you want to keep it really simple you could use a lowrance unit, log the data, import the .sl(3) file in RM and export .csv. Take the .csv apart and import that into your leica software.