Global Mapper Pro

Global Mapper Pro is an optional add-on to the Global Mapper program that provides many advanced GIS tools designed to take your work to the next level. These features include tools for lidar processing, deep-learning imagery analysis, advanced terrain analysis, workflow optimization, and more.

Many of the lidar processing tools, including the Pixels to Points tool for generating photogrammetrically derived point clouds from UAV or drone collected imagery, can be leveraged through the Lidar toolbars, with additional options that will enhance the handling of lidar and other point cloud data within the Global Mapper application. The advanced terrain and image analysis tools include manual terrain editing, automatic breakline creation, and a seamless raster vectorization tool accessed from the Analysis and Layer menus. Global Mapper Pro also includes a Script Editor dialog for working on and running scripts in the GUI, as well as support for Python script integration. Scripts written in Python can be created and run in the Global Mapper application or in a Python environment.

If you are interested in evaluating Global Mapper Pro you can request an evaluation license for it under the Help menu and to purchase, visit the purchase page on our website.  

Advanced Lidar / Point Cloud Functionality

• Lidar / Point Cloud QC for comparing point clouds to 3D control points for horizontal and vertical offset statistics reporting and fit options
• Explore vertical offset between swaths with the Create Swath Separation Image tool that aligns with the USGS Base Lidar Specification
• Lidar Strip Alignment for 3D adjustment of points
• Voronoi Density method for measuring localized point cloud density
• Expanded options in Lidar/Terrain Display Controls provide access to real-time, interactive filtering and visualization controls for point cloud data.
• Classifications can be manually applied with ease using the Manual Classification toolset
• Path/Profile Viewer allowing users to view Lidar points directly in the path profile display window. Users can also directly edit Lidar points and manipulate Lidar classifications from the path profile view.
• Change Detection between point clouds using the Compare Point Clouds tool
• Auto-alignment of point clouds using the Fit Point Clouds tool
• Custom feature extraction from point cloud data through the Path Profile view
• Additional Create Elevation Grid methods and dramatically faster gridding of point cloud data
• Automatic classification tools for unclassified point clouds, including ground, building, trees, powerlines and pole objects
• Feature extraction tools from classified point clouds. This includes buildings, trees, powerlines and poles.
• Additional Lidar format support including E57, Leica PTS and BPF
• The ability to display Lidar points by height above ground to visualize vegetation and building heights
• Support for reporting Lidar statistics via script to a text file to facility QA processes
• Colorize Lidar points from loaded imagery in memory, no export required
• Color loaded elevation data (including Lidar) with the shader using the elevation range on-screen rather the full data range. This makes it easy to see terrain differences even in flat areas while zoomed in
• Read/write and additional display support for the NIR data in LAS 1.4
• Additional Export Options for the Lidar LAS
• Support for multi-band colored Lidar points

Photogrammetry for Point Clouds, 3D models, and Orthorectified Imagery

The Pixels to Points® tool uses photogrammetry methods to create 3D point clouds, orthorectified images, or photo-textured 3D models from overlapping images from overlapping imagery typically collected from a drone / UAV / UAS.

Image Analysis

• Automatic Land Cover Classification for classifying satellite or aerial imagery into land use categories using deep learning models, including specialized models for desert and chaparral areas.
• Automatic Object Detection for identifying buildings and vehicles from high resolution imagery using deep learning models.
• Create Deep Learning Models or fine-tune the included models for Land Cover Classification or Object Detection models to your own data
• Image / Raster Paint for easy editing of imagery (lighten, darken, heal, etc.) or reassigning pixel values for palette images
• A Vectorize Raster tool to extract vector area features from pixels of equal value or similar color

Terrain Analysis and Manipulation

• Generate Breaklines from Terrain Grid and Guided Breakline Extraction for creating 3D vector line features at distinct changes in elevation or slope
• Optimized Transmitter Location / Elevation automates the process of finding optimal placement or tower height for best viewshed results
• Solar Shadow Calculations for analyzing terrain for solar potential
• Terrain Painting for manually altering digital terrain models
• Least Cost Path for finding routes between points with constraints on slope, elevation, or other avoid areas
• Elevation QC for checking elevation grids against 3D control points
• A Vectorize Raster tool to extract ranges of elevation, slope, or slope direction from terrain layers

Vector Analysis and Creation

• Create a kriged estimate grid using the Variography and Kriging analysis tool
• A Create Volumetric 3D Mesh Buffer Features tool to generate 3D mesh buffer features from existing points, lines, and polygons
• Options supporting multiple methods to Create Mesh from Selected Lidar

Scripting Tools

• Script Editor dialog with syntax coloring for building, editing, and running scripts
• Script Builder for easily generating Global Mapper Script commands based on interaction with the program user interface
• Python programming language integration