Raster (Imagery, Scanned Maps) Formats Supported by Global Mapper
- ADRG Files
- ARCS (British Admiralty) Marine Charts
- ASRP (Arc Standard Raster Product) and USRP Files
- ASTER DEM and L1A/L1B Imagery and MODIS imagery
- BIL/BSQ/BIP/RAW Imagery
- BSB Nautical Charts
- BigTIFF
- CADRG and CIB Files
- ERDAS Imagine Image Format
- ERMapper Compressed Wavelet (ECW) Format
- Erdas GIS/LAN Files
- GRIB I and II Formats
- GeoPDF® Files
- HCRF (Hydrographic Chart Raster Format) File
- Idrisi Format
- Intergraph COT Format
- JPEG Image with Embedded EXIF Position Information
- JPEG Image with World File
- JPEG2000 Files
- KML/KMZ Formats
- Landsat 7A FAST Format
- LizardTech MrSID Data
- MPR/MPH (German Topo Map) Files
- MapTech Nautical Charts (PCX Format)
- MapTech Topo Maps and Aerial Navigation Charts
- NITF - National Imagery Transmission Format
- NOS/GEO Marine Charts
- NV Verlag Marine Charts
- OziExplorer OZFx2 and OZFx3 Formats
- PCX Files
- PGM Grayscale Grid Format
- PNG Image with World File
- QCT (Quick Chart) and QED Files
- RIK (Swedish Topo Map) Files
- USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), GeoTIFF Format
- USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), JPG w/ Native Header Format
- USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), Native USGS Format
- USGS Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)
- Vertical Mapper (MapInfo) Grid/Clutter Files
- Zoomify Format
ADRG Files
Description:
ADRG is a raster format typically used by military and other government
organizations. To load ADRG files, simply load the TRANSH01.THF file from
the ADRG file heirarchy or load the ADRG data directly from a .zip file.
Global Mapper v6.02 and above can load files in this format.
ARCS (British Admiralty) Marine Charts
Description:
The ARCS marine chart format is used by the British Admiralty UKHO and others for marine
charts. They come in both encrypted and unencrypted varieties. Global Mapper v12.00 and
later can load unencrypted charts in this format. Encrypted ARCS charts are not currently
supported.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
ASRP (Arc Standard Raster Product) and USRP Files
Description:
ASRP is a raster format typically used by military and other government
organizations. The USRP varient simply uses a UTM projection rather than
unprojected lat/lon. To load ASRP/USRP files, simply load the TRANSH01.THF
file from the ASRP/USRP file heirarchy or load the ASRP/USRP data directly
from a .zip file. Global Mapper v6.07 and above can load files in the ASRP
format. Global Mapper v7.04 and later can also handle the USRP files.
ASTER DEM and L1A/L1B Imagery and MODIS imagery
Description:
ASTER is an imaging instrument that is flying on the TERRA satellite launched
in December 1999 as part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). ASTER represents
a revolution in the remote sensing community because of the availability of its
imagery and its superior resolution. ASTER resolution ranges from 15m to 90m,
depending on the wavelength. The quality of the ASTER DEM data is excellent,
equivalent in resolution to USGS 30m SDTS DEM data and has coverage
for a large portion of the Globe.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
BIL/BSQ/BIP/RAW Imagery
Description:
Various types of imagery are often distributed in simple binary formats such as
the BIL (binary interleaved), BSQ (binary sequential), BIP (binary interleaved
pixel), and RAW (PCI Geomatics raw binary) formats. These files are usually accompanied by a
header file of some kind (usually .hdr, .ers, or .aux) which describes
the layout and formatting of the file. Global Mapper requires this header file in
addition to the .bil, .bsq, .bip, or .raw data file in order to load the file.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
BSB Nautical Charts
Description:
BSB charts are high resolution full color scans of nautical charts of several
Hydrographic Offices and other producers. You will need Global Mapper v7.03
or later to load encrypted BSB charts. Encrypted BSB files are copyright
protected and cannot be exported to new files. Global Mapper v12.01 and later
can export any loaded data to a BSB raster chart KAP file.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
BigTIFF
Description:
BigTIFF is an extension to the TIFF image format allowing files larger than
4GB in size. Global Mapper v10.00 and later can both import and export
BigTIFF format files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
CADRG and CIB Files
Description:
CADRG and CIB files are raster formats typically used by military and
other government organizations. The data is stored as RPF (Raster Product
Format). To load CADRG or CIB files, simply load the a.toc file near the
root of the RPF tree. CADRG and CIB data can also be loaded from .tar.gz
and .zip archives. Global Mapper v6.00 and above can load files in this format.
ERDAS Imagine Image Format
Description:
The ERDAS Imagine Image format is the raster data format used with the ERDAS Imagine software product line. Typical imagery includes satellite data as well as land coverages. For multi-band images and grayscale images, Global Mapper will automatically apply a two-standard deviation contrast stretch in order to generate an aesthetically pleasing image with no intervention. If present, the first 3 bands will be used the generate the image, with band 1 being red, band 2 being green, and band 3 being blue.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
ERMapper Compressed Wavelet (ECW) Format
Description:
The ECW format uses a wavelet based compression method to achieve extremely high compression ratios on airphotos and scanned topographic maps. Typical compression ratios range between 20:1 and 100:1 which maintaining a very high level of quality. In addition, ECW format data can be dynamically served over the internet using ER Mapper's Image Web Server. Global Mapper can load ECW format data both from local files and directly from Image Web Server. Several sample web served links are built into Global Mapper for the convenience of the end user.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Erdas GIS/LAN Files
Description:
Erdas GIS/LAN files are used to store raster data (i.e. imagery, scanned maps).
Global Mapper v6.00 and above can load files in the Erdas GIS format. Global
Mapper v9.00 and above can load files in the Erdas LAN format.
GRIB I and II Formats
Description:
GRIB (GRIdded Binary) is a mathematically concise data format commonly used in
meteorology to store historical and forecast weather data. Global Mapper v11.02 and
later can directly load these files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
GeoPDF® Files
Description:
GeoPDF® is a published extension (OGC 08-139r1) to the Adobe PDF file format. It is used to present GIS
and mapping data in a standard Adobe Systems PDF. This extension adds a coordinate transformation matrix
and other metadata to allow transformation of PDF coordinates to a projected Cartesian coordinate system.
GeoPDFs often include other advanced PDF features such as layers and object data which can add significant
GIS functionality to the file. Global Mapper v11.00 and later can both import GeoPDF® files and
export new Geo-enabled PDF files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
HCRF (Hydrographic Chart Raster Format) File
Description:
The HCRF file format is used by the UKHO (among others) for raster marine charts. The UKHO product using
HCRF is known as ARCS (Admiralty Raster Chart Service). Global Mapper v12.00 and later can directly load
unencrypted HCRF files. Simply select the .hdr file for the chart to load it.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Idrisi Format
Description:
The Idrisi .rst file format is the raster data format used with Clark Labs' Idrisi
software product line. Global Mapper v7.03 and later supports loading raster and
gridded elevation data from Idrisi .rst files and also exporting any loaded
raster and gridded elevation data to Idrisi .rst format files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Intergraph COT Format
Description:
This is a raster format used by some older Intergraph products. Global Mapper
v8.00 and later can import some COT format files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
JPEG Image with Embedded EXIF Position Information
Description:
With Global Mapper v10.01 and later, Global Mapper can load JPG files with embedded EXIF position information
that associates a location with the image. When loaded these create a single point feature that you can then
select with the Feature Info tool to view the JPG image. There are several cameras on the market that can
automatically embed this information in a JPG image. As an added bonus, when you export these picture
features to a KMZ file for display in Google Earth, the image itself will automatically be added to the KMZ
file, making it easy to distribute collections of geo-referenced pictures to other for viewing in
Google Earth.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
JPEG Image with World File
Description:
With the appropriate World File (typically with a JPGW extension), a JPEG image may be positioned geographically
in Global Mapper. A prime example of this is the satellite photos freely available from TerraServer. These images
can be saved along with an appropriate JPGW for later viewing.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
JPEG2000 Files
Description:
JPEG2000 is a relatively new format for storing imagery in a very highly compressed
yet high quality manner, similar to the ECW and MrSID formats. Global Mapper v6.00
and above can load files in this format and export new raster JPEG2000 files. Global
Mapper v12.00 and later can also export elevation grid JPEG2000 files, which offers
extremely high compression for your terrain data.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
KML/KMZ Formats
Description:
The KML format is the format used by Google Earth to add data for display
over the built-in data. The KMZ format is just the compressed form of the
KML format. Global Mapper v7.04 and later can export loaded vector data
to KML/KMZ files. Global Mapper v8.00 and later can import vector data from
KML/KMZ format files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Landsat 7A FAST Format
Description:
The FAST file format is used to store Landsat7 imagery, among other things.
These files can be loaded into Global Mapper v7.01 and above.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
LizardTech MrSID Data
Description:
The LizardTech MrSID image format is a raster format which uses wavelet-based compression techniques to
achieve extremely high compression ratios for raster data sets.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
MPR/MPH (German Topo Map) Files
Description:
This proprietary format is used for topographic maps published by German
land survey offices (Landesvermessungsmter) on CD/DVD as Top10, Top25,
Top50, Top100 and Top200. Global Mapper v9.02 and later supports importing
data in this format.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
MapTech Nautical Charts (PCX Format)
Description:
Maptech sells nautical charts on disc in a PCX-based format. Global Mapper v9.01
and later can directly load these raster charts by loading the .hdr files found in
the ChartHdr folder on the MapTech discs.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
MapTech Topo Maps and Aerial Navigation Charts
Description:
Maptech sells USGS topographical maps of many of the states in the 1:24,000,
1:25,000, 1:100,000, and 1:250,000 scales. They also sell some aerial
navigation charts. The file format and data storage method is proprietary.
Global Mapper v7.03 and later can import these files directly.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
NITF - National Imagery Transmission Format
Description:
NITF is the digital imagery standard for the US intelligence community and is
widely used by the U.S. military commands, other U.S. Government departments and
agencies, as well as international organizations such as NATO. The NITF format is
also being adopted by civilian organizations as a standard for commercial imagery.
The NITF standard provides a common basis for the storage and interchange of images
and facilitates the use of multiple imagery sources and annotations. NITF files can
contain multiple images as well as other information such as graphics and text.
Global Mapper v8.00 and later can import NITF format imagery. Global Mapper v10.01 and
later can export loaded data to new NITF files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
NOS/GEO Marine Charts
Description:
The NOS/GEO marine chart format is used by Softcharts for marine charts. Global Mapper
can load charts in this format.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
NV Verlag Marine Charts
Description:
The NV Verlag marine charts are encrypted raster marine charts. Global Mapper v11.02
and later can load charts in this format that you have installed on your machine.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
OziExplorer OZFx2 and OZFx3 Formats
Description:
The OziExplorer OZFx2 and OZFx3 formats are raster formats used by the OziExplorer
application to store mapping data. Global Mapper v11.02 and
later can directly load these files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
PCX Files
Description:
PCX files are occasionally used to stored scanned maps. Global Mapper v9.00 and
above can load files in this format. Global Mapper also has the special
capability to automatically position PCX files generated by Marta Systems, Inc.
applications without requiring positioning by the user.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
PGM Grayscale Grid Format
Description:
A PGM image represents a grayscale graphic image. There are many psueudo-PGM
formats in use where everything is as specified herein except for the meaning of
individual pixel values. For most purposes, a PGM image can just be thought of an
array of arbitrary integers, and all the programs in the world that think they're
processing a grayscale image can easily be tricked into processing something else.
With Global Mapper v8.01 and later you can export any loaded gridded elevation
data to a PGM format file with the "grayscale" values actually being elevation
values.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
PNG Image with World File
Description:
With the appropriate World File (typically with a PNGW extension), a PNG
image may be positioned geographically in Global Mapper.
QCT (Quick Chart) and QED Files
Description:
The QCT and QED file formats are used for very highly compressed scanned maps (QCD) and elevation data( QED)
files, mainly on portable devices like PDAs and handheld GPS devices. Global Mapper v11.00 and later can read
both QCD and QED format files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
RIK (Swedish Topo Map) Files
Description:
This format is used in maps issued by the Swedish organization Lantmateriet
(the National Land Survey of Sweden). Global Mapper v9.01 and later supports
importing versions 1, 2 and 3 of the RIK format, but only 8 bits per pixel.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), GeoTIFF Format
Description:
DOQs are aerial photographs that have been rectified to have the scale and geometry of a map, and joined or cut to cover the same area as USGS topographic map quadrangles. These images typically have a ground resolution of 1 meter. They are packaged in quarter-quad format (four physical files to one 1:24,000 scale quadrangle) because of the very large file sizes. The GeoTIFF version of this product is exactly the same image as the native format.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), JPG w/ Native Header Format
Description:
DOQs are aerial photographs that have been rectified to have the scale and geometry of a map, and joined or cut to cover the same area as USGS topographic map quadrangles. These images typically have a ground resolution of 1 meter. They are packaged in quarter-quad format (four physical files to one 1:24,000 scale quadrangle) because of the very large file sizes. Most DOQs are 8-bit grayscale images, but 24-bit color images are also available in some areas. The native format of these files is a JPEG encoded image with an accompanying header file to provide metadata.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ), Native USGS Format
Description:
DOQs are aerial photographs that have been rectified to have the scale and geometry of a map, and joined or cut to cover the same area as USGS topographic map quadrangles. These images typically have a ground resolution of 1 meter. They are packaged in quarter-quad format (four physical files to one 1:24,000 scale quadrangle) because of the very large file sizes. Most DOQs are 8-bit grayscale images, but 24-bit color images are also available in some areas. The native format of these files is a ban-interleaved-by-line (BIL) image with a keyword text header at the beginning of the file.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
USGS Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)
Description:
Scanned images of USGS topographic quadrangles, georeferenced to the Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Images are in TIFF 6.0 format with either GeoTIFF extensions or an accompanying TIFF world file (TFW).
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Vertical Mapper (MapInfo) Grid/Clutter Files
Description:
The Vertical Mapper application stores elevation data in GRD files and clutter files in GRC files.
Global Mapper v11.00 and later can import GRD and GRC files and export new Vertical Mapper GRD format
files.
Web Pages and FTP Sites:
Zoomify Format
Description:
The Zoomify image tiling format describes a standard way to generate fast displaying
collections of images from very large data sets. Global Mapper v11.00 and later
can export your loaded data to a set of Zoomify-compatible tiles for displaying with
the Zoomify web client.
Web Pages and FTP Sites: