Users’ Manual

The Global Mapper User’s Manual is available here.

YouTube Channel

Getting Started with Global Mapper

Working with Terrains in Global Mapper

• Accessing Terrain Data
• Terrain creation
• Contour generation
• Line-of-sight analysis
• Viewshed analysis
• Volume calculation
• Terrain flattening
• Watershed modeling
• Slope analysis

Tutorial

The Global Mapper website provides a tutorial for beginners. Registration is required, but the tutorial is free and only requires access to a license.

The contents of the tutorial are listed below:

Section 1 - Introduction to the principles GIS

• Importing/accessing data
• Creating and editing vector features
• Adjusting the appearance of vector features
• Working with raster layers
• Querying and filtering data
• The basics of spatial analysis
• Methods for sharing data

Section 2 - Generating a terrain surface and creating contours using LiDAR data

• LiDAR importing
• LiDAR editing/processing
• Data visualization
• Creating a gridded surface model
• 3D modeling
• Shader options
• Contour generation

Section 3 - Creating a thematic map

• Creating and managing attribute data
• Joining attributes from an external file
• Performing a calculation to create new attributes
• Applying a shading pattern to reflect recurring text values
• Applying a shading pattern to reflect numeric ranges
• Designing page layout elements including a legend and map title
• Printing the map or exporting to a geospatial PDF

Section 4 - Rectifying an image file

• Importing a base map for rectification
• Using field-collected ground control for rectification
• Modifying the projection
• Choosing a rectification method
• Adjusting the properties of the rectified map

Section 5 - Extracting vector features from a raster layer

• Vectorizing a specific color from a topographic map
• Vectorizing a range of colors to delineate features in from and aerial image
• Delineating an elevation range from a digital elevation model
• Outlining areas within a slope angle threshold

Section 6 - Creating a watershed model

• Creating a drainage network from a digital elevation model
• Outlining the watershed boundaries for a defined area
• Adjusting the watershed boundaries based on area and flow variables
• Creating a water drop analysis model
• Delineating the catchment area for a defined location