Global Mapper is a fully functional GIS application has been steadily gaining an eager and dedicated worldwide following among geospatial professionals. Recent development work has focused on the visualization and analysis of 3D data, especially LiDAR and other point cloud formats. The software played an essential role in LIDARUSA’s stream morphology project with the automatic ground point detection process providing the necessary data intelligence to allow non-required points to be quickly and easily removed from the point cloud.
An innovative cross-sectional viewing function in Global Mapper is used to display a cutaway view of a swath of points and to allow manual reclassification or removal of erroneous points. The extent of the swath from a defined linear path is adjusted to allow a more focused view of a target area. Global Mapper’s powerful gridding tool is then used to convert the ground points into a terrain model, forming the basis for the terrain analysis, volume calculation, and change detection functions.
Global Mapper and the accompanying Global Mapper LiDAR Module were chosen by LIDARUSA because they include all of the required point cloud processing capabilities and they provide the means to maximize the return on investment in LiDAR data.
“Global Mapper is easy to use and constantly being updated. If there is something we need to do with the LiDAR data we collect, there usually is a tool or feature in the software that will make it easier,” stated Daniel Fagerman, Chief Technology Officer at LIDARUSA. “The automated ground classification tool is worth its weight in gold for classifying data in a timely and stress free manner.”
As part of an ongoing analysis process, additional data will be captured over a prescribed time series and incremental changes in the stream morphology will be measured and analyzed to instigate erosion control procedures.
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About Blue Marble Geographics: Blue Marble Geographics of Hallowell, Maine, is a leading developer and provider of software products and services for highly accurate geospatial data conversion solutions. Blue Marble is known for their coordinate conversion and file format expertise and is the developer of The Geographic Calculator, GeoCalc SDK, Global Mapper, Global Energy Mapper, and Global Mapper SDK. The company has been writing GIS software tools and solutions for over twenty years and currently serves hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.
About LIDARUSA: Based in Alabama, LIDARUSA employs a variety of airborne and terrestrial data collection and processing technologies to provide clients with accurate terrain models and volumetric measurements. The company builds economical mobile mapping systems that push technology to the edge using the latest tools for scanning, imaging, and navigation.