SoFiA: a flexible source finder for 3D spectral line data
  We introduce SoFiA, a flexible software application for the detection and
parameterization of sources in 3D spectral-line datasets. SoFiA combines for
the first time in a single piece of software a set of new source-finding and
parameterization algorithms developed on the way to future HI surveys with
ASKAP (WALLABY, DINGO) and APERTIF. It is designed to enable the general use of
these new algorithms by the community on a broad range of datasets. The key
advantages of SoFiA are the ability to: search for line emission on multiple
scales to detect 3D sources in a complete and reliable way, taking into account
noise level variations and the presence of artefacts in a data cube; estimate
the reliability of individual detections; look for signal in arbitrarily large
data cubes using a catalogue of 3D coordinates as a prior; provide a wide range
of source parameters and output products which facilitate further analysis by
the user. We highlight the modularity of SoFiA, which makes it a flexible
package allowing users to select and apply only the algorithms useful for their
data and science questions. This modularity makes it also possible to easily
expand SoFiA in order to include additional methods as they become available.
The full SoFiA distribution, including a dedicated graphical user interface, is
publicly available for download.
