Global Mapper product information

[PeterC]

Global Mapper is from Blue Marble Geographics.

[Chris E]

This is a great piece of software. It is not free, but it certainly does not cost '000s of pounds (or dollars) to purchase a license like some GIS software packages do. I have used this for a number of years now and it has a couple of really useful features in the context of O-P-S. Firstly it will import and read almost any GIS data format, which of course makes it very flexible. Once you have a created a map that you are happy with it has an 'export to web' feature, where it will generate a mini web map of your data (against a Google Maps backdrop for example). This can then be incorporated into a web page relatively easily. The support forum is excellent too. This may sound like I work for their sales team - certainly not the case, just providing due credit for good software. 

[PeterC]

Hi Chris, Thanks for this first-hand experience. Looking at their website I understand that Global Mapper would cost $499 for a single installation, plus another $499 if you wanted the LIDAR aspect?
Peter

[Chris E]

Ah - ok - their prices have gone up a bit since I last looked! 
With the weak pound at the moment now is probably not the best time to purchase either.
It's fair to say that Globalmapper does a lot of other things too, much more than what an entry-level mapping enthusiast would need, but certainly worth keeping in mind if you are regularly creating a lot of mapped outputs