GPS World

Tag: Patrick Cunningham

  • Blue Marble Geographics updates Global Mapper GIS software

    Global Mapper v.20.1 offers a new zoom tool in the path profile view. (Photo: Blue Marble Geographics)
    Global Mapper v.20.1 offers a new zoom tool in the path profile view. (Photo: Blue Marble Geographics)

    Blue Marble Geographics has released Global Mapper v.20.1, the latest version of its GIS software. According to the company, version 20.1 offers a wealth of new and updated geospatial tools, as well as performance improvements throughout the application.

    Enhancements to version 20.1 include a new zooming function in the path profile window, a digitizer tool for automatically closing gaps between features and, for lidar module users, a point proximity query function.

    Global Mapper’s path profile tool, which is used to create a cutaway view of a terrain layer or point cloud, now offers a simple way to zoom in the view for a close-in perspective of a specific area, the company said. It also now includes a new legend display that differentiates each individual layer when multiple overlapping surfaces are displayed.

    The software’s digitizer now includes a simple tool for eliminating slivers or overlapping areas from adjacent features, ensuring the topological integrity of the data. In addition, users can now use an added option that allows the establishment of a default projection, with every imported layer automatically reprojected to adhere to this system.

    Finally, version 20.1 release offers new and upgraded functionality in the lidar module. The module now features a proximity search function that highlights points of a particular classification within a certain distance of other point types or line features.

    “The release of version 20.1 of Global Mapper provides a perfect illustration of Blue Marble’s unique, user-focused development philosophy,” said Blue Marble’s President Patrick Cunningham. “Each of the major new features and functions, including the new Path Profile tools and lidar proximity querying, is directly attributable to specific requests from our customers. We encourage all Global Mapper users to continue this line of communication to ensure that the software is meeting everyone’s needs.”

  • Blue Marble releases 2019 Geographic Calculator

    Logo: Geographic Calculator 2019Blue Marble Geographics has launched its 2019 Geographic Calculator, which features a universal copy and paste function, a new angular unit conversion tool, support for NADCON 5.0 and updated seismic survey conversion functionality.

    According to Blue Marble, the foundation of the Geographic Calculator’s geodetic data processing functionality is the embedded GeoCalc datasource, which is continually revised and improved with updates through the online GeoCalc Geodetic Registry. The datasource included in the 2019 release mirrors the most current EPSG database definitions.

    The calculator’s copy and paste function can be used to quickly capture data for use in a third-party application or to insert new coordinate values in an existing job. The latest version also includes a new tool for accurately converting between various angular units and offers expanded seismic survey conversion capability with improved P1/11 format support and additional SEG-Y format handling for coordinate scalar values, the company added.

    The 2019 Geographic Calculator also includes support for NADCON 5.0 from the National Geodetic Survey, providing 3D coordinate transformations within the National Spatial Reference System, as well as several new projection methods.

    The calculator also boasts a refreshed interface with new icons and graphic elements for various jobs and tools, as well as optimized architecture for the Windows 10 environment.

    “With the imminent approach of the North American Terrestrial Reference Frame in 2022 the need for highly accurate geodetic tools has become more important than ever,” said Patrick Cunningham, president at Blue Marble. “Geographic Calculator continues to lead the way in this field and as is evident in release of the 2019 edition, we are continually raising the bar by providing ever more powerful tools combined with the world’s most expansive geodetic database.”

    Blue Marble Geographics is a mapping software company based in Hallowell, Maine. The company offers a number of GIS software solutions, including data conversion, software development kits, low cost GIS, educational resources, 3D analysis, coordinate transformation and GPS.

  • Blue Marble Geographics adds NEXTMap as an online service

    Blue Marble GeographicsLogo: Blue Marble Geographics added NEXTMap worldwide elevation data — which includes Intermap’s newest generation of NEXTMap One — as an online streaming service within Global Mapper.

    According to Blue Marble, NEXTMap One, developed by Intermap Technologies, offers both digital terrain model (DTM) and digital surface model (DSM) datasets at one-meter resolution for detailed analysis. With an active NEXTMap subscription, Global Mapper users can quickly and easily render these 3D datasets for an area of interest and make sure of the software’s extensive terrain and 3D analysis capabilities for contour generation, viewshed analysis, volume calculation and more, the company added.

    The addition of NEXTMap elevation data as an online service complements Blue Marble’s 3D functionality. By offering immediate, on-demand access to the latest DSM and DTM datasets, geospatial professionals throughout the world can now efficiently conduct high-quality terrain analysis procedures without the need for locally collected data, Blue Marble said.

    NEXTMap elevation data is available to Global Mapper users as a global dataset at one- to 10-meter spatial resolution. The DSM version contains both natural and man-made features, and the DTM is a clean bare earth model.

    “Global Mapper users throughout the world often ask us about the availability of high-quality elevation data for their location and the inclusion of NEXTMap meets their needs perfectly,” said Patrick Cunningham, president at Blue Marble. “This data effectively expands the reach of Global Mapper by providing the opportunity for more and more uses to utilize the software’s 3D analysis functionality.”