Spatial Operations

• Support for spatial operations and spatial predicates on layers is now included in the Global Mapper SDK. Developers may now create new layers from operations and predicate results, or create collections of matching features from predicate results
• New script commands direct execution of a sequence of spatial operations 

The Global Mapper SDK can be used to load any number of layers from almost all of the formats supported by Global Mapper. This includes nearly all imagery, elevation, and vector data formats. The SDK also supports online WMS sources, including built-in access to NED, SRTM, and Landsat7 sources. It can even load ungeo-referenced imagery by providing ground control points and projection. The toolkit will perform the rectification and display the raster layer in the appropriate projection.

The Global Mapper SDK can be used to initiate a variety of spatial data analysis procedures:

• Determine the elevation at any location from loaded elevation layers
• Retrieve information about loaded layers, including projection/datum, bounding rectangle, description, ground control points, pixel size, etc.
• Generate contour lines from loaded elevation grid layers
• Calculate cut-and-fill volumes along a given line or within an area
• Re-project loaded data to a user-specified projection/datum
• Auto-clip the collar from USGS topographic maps
• Reproject coordinates from one projection/datum to another
• Modify the drawing style and font of all loaded vector data, including custom vector layers
• Perform a position-based search of loaded vector data (similar to the Feature Info tool in the desktop version of Global Mapper)
• Calculate the volume between two terrain surfaces as well as find ridgelines in terrain data
• Pan sharpen imagery using higher-resolution panchromatic (grayscale) imagery

As well as providing access to spatial data files, the Global Mapper SDK offers the option to read and write data stored in a spatial database. Import and export data from:

• Esri ArcSDE (requires Esri license on a machine and 32-bit only)
• Esri File Geodatabase (includes raster and grid and all versions of file geodatabases, reading raster data requires Esri license on a machine and 32-bit only)
• Esri Personal Geodatabase (reading raster data requires Esri license on a machine and 32-bit only)
• MS SQL Server
• MySQL Spatial
• Oracle Spatial
• PostGIS/PostgreSQL
• SpatiaLite/SQLite

The Global Mapper SDK provides the ability to display the Global Mapper 3D view with terrain and 3D vector features, along with any other data draped on the terrain surface. It can also retrieve the elevation at any location from elevation layers and it can even perform viewshed analysis using elevation grid layers and 3D vector data (areas, lines, and points). Recent versions have added many significant updates for working with 3D data:

• Support for several 3D mesh formats
• Support for setting up and recording HD 3D fly-through videos
• Support for a Skybox in 3D, rendering a sky simulation
• Support for tracking GPS in 3D
• Pivot Axis display to improve 3D navigation
• Support for using 3D point styles to render graphically pleasing objects like trees in 3D
• Support for 3D labels

Global Mapper supports the loading of raster and gridded elevation data through user-supplied import plugins. These plugins are Windows DLLs. See the download link below for more details.

Once loaded, these imported layers can be used just like any other natively supported layer. This allows advanced users to provide support for their own custom/proprietary formats without needing to provide format information to Global Mapper or wait for us to be able to implement the format.

Download Raster Import Plugin API

Global Mapper supports exporting any loaded data to raster and gridded elevation data formats through user-supplied export plugins. These plugins are Windows DLLs. See the download link below for more details.

This functionality allows advanced users to provide support for exporting data to their own custom/proprietary formats without needing to provide format information to Global Mapper or wait for us to be able to implement the format.

Download Raster Export Plugin API

Global Mapper supports allowing external applications to control the view window bounds displayed, display point symbols and text at user-specified locations on the main map display, and add a new point, line and area features to the active Global Mapper workspace. This is accomplished through the use of WM_COPYDATA messages to pass data between Global Mapper and the external application.

The structure definitions, as well as sample C++ code for controlling Global Mapper, are provided in the download below.

Download External Control API