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Global Mapper’s Origin | GEOTalks Ep. 5
You may know the Global Mapper software suite, but do you know how it was created? Mike Childs created Global Mapper — known then as dlgv32 — as an intern at the USGS in 1997. This version had a fraction of the power of the Global Mapper we know today, however, it boasted great GIS mapping functionality for the time.
Mike Childs joined the GEOTalks team to unpack Global Mapper’s origin story and discuss what’s made it such a fulfilling project to develop.
YouTube: https://ow.ly/Zi3i50SFgYK
Spotify: https://ow.ly/Kemz50SFgu7
Apple: https://ow.ly/ejAa50SFgwR
Timestamps
[00:00] – Intro
[00:37] – Introducing Mike Childs
[01:27] – What’s new in Global Mapper (2024)
[03:34] – The Global Mapper Origin Story (dlgv32)
[06:37] – Global Mapper’s debut
[08:34] – User-driven software development
[10:15] – Global Mapper as a commercial software
[11:07] – Mike Childs leaves his day job to develop Global Mapper
[12:38] – Cool projects from users over the years
[13:51] – Upcoming contests!
[14:42] – Global Mapper and Mike join the Blue Marble Geo team
[18:30] – Mike shares how the software has changed
[20:02] – The first Global Mapper logo and finding the map inside
[21:26] – Point cloud processing in Global Mapper
[23:09] – Favorite Global Mapper developments over the years
[25:09] – A 20-Year Crash Course in GIS
[26:18] – GIS Trivia Challenge for the Global Mapper Guru
[28:55] – Wrap-up
[29:58] – Outro
Resources
Creating valuable resources for Global Mapper software users is a vital part of what we do at Blue Marble Geographics. Our resources include:
– Global Mapper: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/global-mapper-pro/
– Annual User Conference: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/geotalks-2025/
– Instructor-led training courses: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/gis-training/public-gis-training/
– Tutorials and webinars on YouTube: http://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=BlueMarbleWebinars
– Blogs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/
– Industry Showcases: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industry-showcases/
– Academic Programs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/
– Python Scripting in Global Mapper Pro: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/python-scripting-in-global-mapper-pro/
View all episodes
By Blue Marble GeographicsYou may know the Global Mapper software suite, but do you know how it was created? Mike Childs created Global Mapper — known then as dlgv32 — as an intern at the USGS in 1997. This version had a fraction of the power of the Global Mapper we know today, however, it boasted great GIS mapping functionality for the time.
Mike Childs joined the GEOTalks team to unpack Global Mapper’s origin story and discuss what’s made it such a fulfilling project to develop.
YouTube: https://ow.ly/Zi3i50SFgYK
Spotify: https://ow.ly/Kemz50SFgu7
Apple: https://ow.ly/ejAa50SFgwR
Timestamps
[00:00] – Intro
[00:37] – Introducing Mike Childs
[01:27] – What’s new in Global Mapper (2024)
[03:34] – The Global Mapper Origin Story (dlgv32)
[06:37] – Global Mapper’s debut
[08:34] – User-driven software development
[10:15] – Global Mapper as a commercial software
[11:07] – Mike Childs leaves his day job to develop Global Mapper
[12:38] – Cool projects from users over the years
[13:51] – Upcoming contests!
[14:42] – Global Mapper and Mike join the Blue Marble Geo team
[18:30] – Mike shares how the software has changed
[20:02] – The first Global Mapper logo and finding the map inside
[21:26] – Point cloud processing in Global Mapper
[23:09] – Favorite Global Mapper developments over the years
[25:09] – A 20-Year Crash Course in GIS
[26:18] – GIS Trivia Challenge for the Global Mapper Guru
[28:55] – Wrap-up
[29:58] – Outro
Resources
Creating valuable resources for Global Mapper software users is a vital part of what we do at Blue Marble Geographics. Our resources include:
– Global Mapper: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/global-mapper-pro/
– Annual User Conference: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/geotalks-2025/
– Instructor-led training courses: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/gis-training/public-gis-training/
– Tutorials and webinars on YouTube: http://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=BlueMarbleWebinars
– Blogs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/
– Industry Showcases: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industry-showcases/
– Academic Programs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/
– Python Scripting in Global Mapper Pro: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/python-scripting-in-global-mapper-pro/