Top New Features in Global Mapper Pro v24.1

The newest “dot release” of Global Mapper Pro contains new tools and additional functionality for existing features. The Pro version of Global Mapper 24.1 includes the features found in the standard version and more, such as a new and improved pole classification, a wizard to guide user’s settings in Pixels to Points, a new viewer in the Mobile Data Management tool, and Convolution filters. Some other updates include the ability to save Pile Volume calculation results as feature attributes, a new feature in the Script Builder to record online source imports, and much more! 

Here are three of the top new features in Global Mapper v24.1 Pro. This blog is part one of two. Keep an eye out for the next blog, covering the new features in the Standard version. Updates to the standard version are also included in Pro, but not vice versa! 

New Lidar Pole Classification 

Further enhancing Global Mapper Pro’s suite of lidar classification tools, version 24.1 includes an update to the power pole classification workflow. Using segmentation, a method of spectral partitioning and cluster analysis, power poles can be automatically detected and classified with a new option in the Non-Ground Classification tool. The tool already has the ability to classify buildings and vegetation, and it now also includes the option for power poles. 

Under the hood, this method classifieds poles by identifying cylindrical patterns in the point cloud, similar to how flat plane structures are identified in buildings. Unlike the myriad of settings in the full segmentation tool, here, the ability to find cylindrical features is baked in, so you only need to set one setting, Pole Diameter.

Once poles are classified, they can be extracted as vector features with Global Mapper’s existing Lidar Feature Extraction tool. Once the poles have been extracted, you can automatically count the number of individual poles in a dataset or run a proximity search to look for potentially hazardous objects within a certain distance of the poles.

Pixels to Points Wizard

For new users, and sometimes even experienced users, choosing optimal settings in the Pixels to Points tool to best fit your goal output can be a bit daunting. To help automate this process, we’ve created a Pixels to Points Wizard. The new Wizard allows users to choose from a variety of predefined project types to refine processing settings based on  their desired output.

After loading your images into the Wizard and determining where you want the generated files to be saved, you will be presented with a dropdown menu of the different output types. Choose the output that your work is primarily focused on; point cloud, orthoimage, or 3D mesh. Don’t worry; you can still generate all three options at once; this just chooses the best settings for a particular output. Click Next to be taken to the original pixels to Points dialog, where you can choose to add the other output types if desired, and click Run. 

Convolution filters 

Don’t be convoluted by the title; these filters for raster data are straightforward. Earlier versions of Global Mapper had the ability to apply a filter to an existing layer from the Raster Options Display Tab under Resampling. This new tool lets users create new layers with the filters. Found in the Analysis dropdown menu, the Apply Convolution Filter to Layer tool takes any single raster layer (image or terrain) and applies a filter that can be used to sharpen, blur, enhance, or help detect edges. 

Convolution filters work by using a weighted kernel (3×3, 5×5, etc.), to recalculate a pixel’s values based on the pixels around it. In the image below, compare examples of Horizontal and Vertical Sobel filters. The Kernels are described as a grid matrix, where the cell being calculated is located in the center. A pattern of weighted values, and zeros to ignore certain values, in the kernel helps to emphasize patterns depending on what cells are emphasized and by how much. 

This feature is also supported in Global Mapper’s native scripting language with the APPLY_CONVOLUTION command. Read more about it in the Knowledge Base. 

Mobile Data Management Viewer

The Mobile Data Management tool is a streamlined, all-in-one tool for formatting and sending mobile data to an external device, then managing the new and multiple files on import. To make it even easier to merge existing files together, the import tool now includes a 2D viewer. With this viewer, users can visually inspect and compare data that has been gathered in Global Mapper Mobile. Two viewers will load and are navigationally synced together to allow direct comparisons between the two files. Click on a layer or feature in the table view to see it in the viewer.

Additionally, you can now merge field data (as .gmmp files) with already loaded data for more efficient data management. This means that you no longer have to export the original or master data out of the workspace before merging the new or collected data.

To check out the exciting new functionality in Global Mapper standard and Pro v24.1, download a free 14-day trial today! And to see the new tools in action, register to attend a GeoTalks Express webinar hosted by some of Blue Marble’s Global Mapper experts on Wednesday, March 1st. If you have any questions, please contact us!