Global Mapper is a GIS software package developed by Blue Marble Geographics that runs on Microsoft Windows at an affordable price (single unit licensing is less than $500). It competes with ESRI ArcGIS, GeoMedia, Manifold System, and MapInfo GIS products. It has a set of applications that provides complementary capabilities to support the entire geospatial data workflow.
Global Mapper is a powerful and affordable GIS application that combines a comprehensive array of spatial data processing tools with access to an unparalleled variety of data formats. Developed for both GIS professionals and novices, Global Mapper is equally well suited as a standalone GIS data management tool or as a complement to an established GIS system. It also focuses on an extension strategy that the functionality is added to Global Mapper by the use of plug-in system. In addition, repetitive tasks can be accomplished using the built in scripting language or batch functionality.
Global Mapper has the ability to directly access the entire TerraServer-USA database of United States Geological Survey satellite imagery and topographic maps free-of-charge as well as the ability to easily access Web Map Service (WMS) data sources, including built-in access to elevation data and color imagery for the entire world, and to view elevation data in true 3D with any loaded raster imagery and vector data draped on top of it. In addition, the recent versions of Global Mapper have more processing capabilities to efficiently handle LiDAR data. Global Mapper has an active community with a mailing list and online forums which is greatly for its development and beta testing.
The Global Mapper GIS software is more than just a mapping utility. It has built in functionality for distance and area calculation, raster blending, feathering, spectral analysis, and contrast adjustment, elevation querying, line of sight calculations, cut-and-fill volume calculations, as well as advanced capabilities like image rectification, contour generation from surface data, view shed analysis from surface data, and triangulation of 3D data.
The Global Mapper GIS platform has a plug-in architecture, which means it allows third parties and customers to create add-ins to Global Mapper to extend the functionality through their own toolbars and/or menu items. The feature extensions will have access to all data loaded in the Global Mapper application instance through same Application Programming Interface (API) used by the Global Mapper Software Ware Development Kit (SDK).
Geographic information science, widely used in numerous domains. Links to information about Global Mapper’s products use in many domains is available from Blue Marble Geographics’ “industries” page.
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industries/industries.php
Commercial software, perpetual licensing. Academic and volume licensing is available. No products are available as free applications.
A listing of available products is provided at
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products/global-mapper-download.php