Analyzes spatial data, processes both 3D and terrain data and embeds a 3D viewer. It works both as a standalone as well as an integrated part of a larger GIS.
Global Mapper is a mapping utility that allows to edit, create and delete mapping information. This mapping tool allows many operations over different formats and layers of mapping information. It can open almost any mapping file format for modifying or simply converting it. There are many mapping formats supported by this tool: elevation types, Raster types, Vector types, Arc, ASCII text files, BMP, Binary Terrain, Cartographic Data format, GPS files, Digital Map Data Format, AutoCAD, GIS files and many more. It exports Vector Data to any of the supported formats and even it can export directly to Web formats (Google maps, Virtual Earth, World wind, etc).
The program's projection window allows adding the projection, Datum, Zone, Planar units and Elevation units. It offers a 3D view for maps, so any map with surface elevation information can be shown as a 3D model for a better perspective and analysis. Its zooming control panel has some additional controls improving the usual "zoom in" and "zoom out" functions. Any current view can be saved and centered on a certain location. Panning can be done through simple "grab and drag" operations.
The program has a Coordinate Convertor tool, which allows conversion among different coordinate systems. Another tool included is the Digitizer tool that allows modifying the existing vector information as well as creating new sets of data. Also, you can connect a GPS to your computer or laptop and the program will gather information trough that device - for you to work with this information later. Or you can even go online moving trough any loaded layer, and the information gathered by your GPS will be pasted into the layer.
The program's Search engine is excellent in finding labels, addresses, names, attributes or other information available in a map layer. The GUI is quite friendly and easy to use. The installation process is simple, and the program doesn’t need additional libraries or programs to work. It does need a registration key after the expiration of its trial period though - moreover, the trial version has some features simply disabled. The program's documentation is stored online, but you can download it in case you want to consult it offline. Global Mapper runs on Windows 98/NT/2000/ME/XP (32-64 Bit) / Vista (32-64 Bit) platforms. It can also work on Macintosh or Linux platforms by means of emulators.
v14.1 [Sep 28, 2012]
New in v14.1
A number of LiDAR processing improvements such as;
Dramatic increase in LiDAR processing and display speed, and the ability to view and process point files in the hundreds of millions range. This is beneficial for previewing the data before processing and includes rendering intensity values in a variety of ways such as; limiting import by return type, statistics display and feature attribute editing
Global Mapper Package (GMP) files are now able to store Lidar point clouds in a special compressed manner much smaller (4-10 times usually) than uncompressed LAS data in line with the best compression on the market today
Ability to render the intensity values as grayscale images, coloring by LiDAR classification, and coloring by point elevation or RGB color if present
Ability to limit import of LiDAR files by return type (like first, last, first of many, last of many return, etc.)
Added display of a large number of statistics for LiDAR data
Updated editing of LiDAR point features to have special edit dialogues for the attributes that apply to LiDAR point data
Global Mapper Package (GMP) files now being able to store Lidar point clouds in a special compressed manner much smaller (4-10 times usually) than uncompressed LAS data
New USB Dongle licensing available
Added new Analysis menu (formerly the Terrain Analysis Menu) option to compute the areas covered when you raise the water level of selected areas or a fixed elevation by some height. This is useful for modeling the rise of a flood plain by some height or by modeling sea level rise
Added option to Analysis menu to allow calculation of Voronoi/Theissen polygons for loaded point features
New File Formats: GeoMedia MDB, DWG 2013, MapBox MBTiles and RMaps SQlite files for use on mobile devices like Andriod and much more
Many new Digitizer tool improvements and bug fixes including a new option to Advanced Feature Creation submenu to create a coverage area (concave hull) for loaded or selected point features. This allows you to easily get the coverage for an irregularly shaped grouping of points, like in a Lidar data set
A new OTF reader available for an additional license fee. OTF is a special multi-function format used in war simulation that contains a variety of attribute and surface feature information useful for military work.
