Global Mapper 14.1 Features Lidar Processing Capability

Blue Marble Geographics has announced the release of Global Mapper version 14.1. This update to the company’s desktop GIS translation software offers many new and improved features and functions, including a significant improvement in the ability to process massive amounts of Lidar point cloud data.

Global Mapper 14.1 provides an 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 creating a gridded surface model and includes several options for filtering the data during import and for rendering the point cloud to reflect return type or intensity. Improved metadata access provides a detailed statistical breakdown of the point cloud and customisable point size improves on-screen display. Global Mapper Package (.GMP) files are now able to store Lidar point clouds in a special compressed format, much smaller than uncompressed LAS data and on par with the best compression available today. This allows Lidar data to be efficiently archived or shared with other Global Mapper users.

Version 14.1 also introduces a host of new functionality to the digitiser tool including a new option to create a coverage area (concave hull) for loaded or selected point features, a tool for creating a line 'skeleton' from area features, and many additional enhancements and improvements. Also included in this release, is a new water level analysis function for better flood plain modelling and a tool for creating Voronoi/Thiessen polygons for the spatial analysis of loaded point features. Global Mapper 14.1 includes support for many new file formats such as GeoMedia MDB, DWG 2013, MapBox, MBTiles, and RMaps SQlite files for use on Android mobile devices. There is also a new OTF reader available for an additional license.

Blue Marble’s president Patrick Cunningham commented that version 14.1 feels like a major version release. It is a first step in the company's commitment to high-end Lidar functionality. He stated that Blue Marble is pleased to be offering these updates to its customers combined with the flexibility of the new USB dongle licensing. 

Blue Marble’s geospatial data manipulation, visualisation and conversion solutions are used worldwide by thousands of GIS analysts at software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying, and technology companies, as well as governmental and university organisations.