Adaptive contrast for sonar images

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to enhance sonar data by executing operations comprising:

• receiving the sonar data, wherein the sonar data provides information representative of an underwater environment around a watercraft;
• and
• performing adaptive contrast image processing to form an adjusted sonar data, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing adjusts a brightness level or color of the sonar data at one or more locations while keeping the sonar data at the one or more locations, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing considers at least one of a distance of a location from a sonar transducer assembly of the one or more sonar transducer assemblies, a brightness level or color associated with the location, water clarity associated with a location, a depth at the location, a type of object positioned at the location, or an orientation of the object, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing does not consider strength of a sonar return for the sonar data.

A method for the enhancement of sonar data, the method comprising:

• receiving the sonar data, wherein the sonar data provides information representative of an underwater environment around a watercraft;
• and
• performing adaptive contrast image processing to form an adjusted sonar data, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing adjusts a brightness level or color of the sonar data at one or more locations while keeping the sonar data at the one or more locations, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing considers at least one of a distance of a location from a sonar transducer assembly of the one or more sonar transducer assemblies, a brightness level or color associated with the location, water clarity associated with a location, a depth at the location, a type of object positioned at the location, or an orientation of the object, wherein the adaptive contrast image processing does not consider strength of a sonar return for the sonar data.