SMC-Synergy

The official launch of AfriOCAT, the African Regional Cluster of WOCAT, marked the successful conclusion of a 4-day training-workshop. The event gathered over 50 representatives from governments, research institutions, CSOs, NGOs, and the private sector, representing more than 20 countries from all five African regions. The launch was organized by the WOCAT Executive team, AUDA-NEPAD, and the Water and Land Resources Center (WLRC) in Ethiopia.

Dirk Pretorius from SMC Synergy will be attending the WOCAT training and launch of AfriOCAT workshop in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) from 20 to 23 October 2025. He was one of the founding members of AfriOCAT during the WOCAT workshop in Feldafing, Germany in 2015. SMC Synergy is an Organizational Member of WOCAT and will assist with training on the use of WOCAT tools at the workshop.

Blue Marble Geographics® is pleased to announce the release of Global Mapper® v26.2, the latest update to its all-in-one GIS software. This version introduces significant usability improvements, a redesigned animation toolset, expanded lidar and terrain display options, and new support for highly requested file formats.

SMC Synergy was approached during October 2025 to assist with the processing of bathymetric survey data for the Vlugkraal dam in the Limpopo Province. The dam perimeter was surveyed with a handheld GPS while depth data was collected with a sonar instrument. Cleaning of the dataset was crucial to ensure the correct integration of the point data and conversion to a digital terrain model in GM pro. The present dam volume could be determined and the siltation status (loss of capacity) of the dam could be estimated from dam statistics.

SMC Synergy is assisting the NWU in South Africa with the implementation of the SASSCAL RIBS project. Professor Klaus Kellner who is the principal investigator of the SASSCAL RIBS project in South Africa coordinates projects that deal with bush encroachment restoration projects. The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) is a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Germany in response to the challenges of global change. SASSCAL-supported research aims to enhance the understanding of climate change and land management impacts on the natural and socio-economic environments of the southern African region. SMC Synergy is using Global Mapper to produce maps for field surveys and will be providing training in the use of Global Mapper Mobile.

Global Mapper V26.1 has been released by Blue Marble Geo - some of the changes/improvements:





Global Mapper Standard
• Quick execution of Favorite Scripts for regularly completed processing
• Favorite Sources designation and direct export in the Connect to Online Data tool
• Camera position and parameter viewing and editing in the 3D Viewer
• A Digitizer toolset to group existing toolbars into a single dockable pane
• Support for Cloud Optimized Point Clouds (COPC) files and Esri SLPK format

Global Mapper Pro
• Control point reporting and exclusion options in Lidar QC
• A new max likelihood option for Automatic Powerline Classification
• Continuous manual point cloud classification in a dedicated toolset
• Select the method for Color Harmonization in the Pixels to Points tool
• Split point cloud layers by attribute values

SMC Synergy pesented a Global Mapper training course at the North West University

SMC Synergy presented a Global Mapper training course at the North West University (NWU) on February 12, 2025. The main focus was an introduction to Global Mapper/Pro, extraction of Point Clouds from ...

New functionality in BEIMS to create PDF reports for EcoRestore and Bushmon projects

SMC Synergy and CEIT Development recently added additional functionality to the Bush Expert Information Management System (BEIMS) to create downloadable PDF reports of EcoRestore and Bushmon ...

Blue Marble Geographics Released Global Mapper v26.0

Blue Marble Geographics released Global Mapper v26.0 on September 16, 2024 with New Deep Learning Image Analysis in the Global Mapper Insight and Learning Engine™. A new Solar Shadow Analysis tool ...

Drone data processed with Global Mapper Pro successfully incorporated in Model Maker for irrigation planning

The Global Mapper (GM) Pro version was recently used to extract a point cloud from drone images and to export the data for further processing in Model Maker (MM). The data was used in MM for ...

Blue Marble Geographics receives award for groundbreaking functionality for training custom automatic point cloud classifications

Blue Marble Geographics (bluemarblegeo.com) is pleased to announce that Global Mapper's Custom Point Cloud Classification Training Tool has been selected by the team at GeoWeek and LIDAR Magazine ...

Global Mapper Mobile invaluable tool in diamond exploration

Global Mapper Mobile (GMM) Pro proved to be an invaluable tool in diamond exploration. Templates containing satellite imagery or cadastral maps as backdrops can be created in Global Mapper - it can ...

SMC Synergy became an Organisational Member of WOCAT

SMC Synergy has been accepted in 2023 as an Organisational Member of the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) Programme. The Organizational Members are collective and ...

SMC Synergy acquired and evaluating DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral

SMC Synergy recently acquired a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral UAV for research and evaluation purposes. The processing of the multi-spectral data in Global Mapper is currently being evaluated. It is ...

SMC Synergy tested the EOS Arrow Gold with Global Mapper Mobile Pro

During our visit to Intergeo in Berlin during October we were introduced to the EOS positioning systems by Satyam Dave from EOS Positioning Systems. Satyam arranged a demonstration model from Terry ...

Affordable 2 m DEM data available for South Africa

SMC Synergy evaluated very affordable Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data with 2 m resolution (50 cm vertical accuracy) available from GeoSmart. GeoSmart was founded by Prof Adriaan van Niekerk and is ...

Renier Balt and Dirk Pretorius attended Intergeo in Berlin during October 23

Renier Balt and Dirk Pretorius attended the Intergeo trade fair and conference in Berlin (Germany) during October 23. This was also a good opportunity to link up with Kris Berglund and his team from ...

Dirk Pretorius visited Sensys Magnetometers and Survey Solutions

Dirk Pretorius visited Sensys Magnetometers and Survey Solutions (Markus Schikorra) in Bad Saarow (Germany) during October 23. Sensys is one of the most advanced and experienced companies in the ...

Global Mapper used in the South African Bird Atlas Project

Accurate maps of bird distributions requires survey inputs from knowledgeable birders, mostly volunteer citizen scientists. The South African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2) started in 2007, and more ...

Release of Global Mapper v25.0

Global Mapper v25.0 was released on September 26, 2023 - new functionality includes:
- Image painting tool
- Python script builder
- Auto styling for vector data
- Tree cover polygon ...

Global Mapper training - Community Development project

Renier Balt presented a Global Mapper training course as part of a Community Development project near Touwsrivier in the Western Cape on the Lettas Kraal Private Nature Reserve during June 2023. ...

Tools in Global Mapper Pro to improve the vertical accuracy of point clouds and DEMs

The Quality Control (QC) tool of Global Mapper Pro is easy to use and improves the vertical accuracy of point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs) or grids dramatically. In this screen copy ...

SMC Synergy is finalising the EcoRestore information system in BEIMS with the NWU

SMC Synergy is finalising the EcoRestore Bush Restoration Information System in collaboration with the North West University (NWU). The system provides information on bush restoration projects and ...

SMC Synergy/MBV Ubumbano receives Achievement Award from Blue Marble Geographics (BMG)

During March 2023 SMC Synergy (with MBV Ubumbano as partner) received a reseller achievement award from BMG

Global Mapper training at the North West University

SMC Synergy provided Global Mapper training for students and interns of the North West University on 8 March 2023. The training focused on the functionality of Global Mapper as well as workflows ...

SMC Synergy assisting the NWU with the development of BEIMS

SMC Synergy and the North West University is finalising the Bush Expert Information Management System (BEIMS). The location of all EcoRestore case studies will be evaluated and where necessary ...

Using the View shed tool in Global Mapper in estate security analysis

Global Mapper Pro was used during December 2022 to process around 600 drone images to create a point cloud for a Country Estate in the Southern Cape. A digital terrain model was compiled from the ...

SMC Synergy assisted DFFE to capture land degradation information in the catchments draining into the Mount Fletcher dam

SMC Synergy has been appointed as an independent service provider for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and assisted the NRM Programme of the Department to capture land ...

Groen Sebenza WOCAT and GIS training

SMC Synergy presented a training seminar on the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) programme and GIS for the Groen Sebenza interns of the Department of Forestry, ...

SMC Synergy is assisting DFFE to capture Knysna fire restoration in the WOCAT Knowledge database

SMC Synergy is assisting the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment (DFFE) to capture restoration projects implemented after the destructive fires around Knysna during 2017 in the World ...

Global Mapper training during the lock-down

Global Mapper training during the Covid Pandemic provided some challenges, but also many opportunities.

SMC continued to provide professional and practical training throughout this ...

The wait is over - Global Mapper Pro is here

Global Mapper Pro®, the newest addition to the Global ...

SMC Synergy assist UNDP to evaluate bathymetric survey of silted dams

Dirk Pretorius from SMC Synergy assisted officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to evaluate the use of low cost sonar equipment and existing digital terrain data in a GIS ...

SMC Synergy and UAV Technologies testing drone magnetometer

During the week of 15 October 2020 SMC Synergy and UAV Technologies tested a drone based magnetometer at a test site near Pretoria. Results of this survey will be evaluated through a comparison with ...

Mount Fletcher dam - UAV survey

SMC Synergy and UAV Technologies conducted a UAV survey (including LiDAR) of the Mount Fletcher dam area during March 2020 as part of a project for DEFF NRM.

The UAV survey had the following ...

SMC Synergy attends the LifeWatch ERIC meeting in Rome, Italy

During February 2020 Dirk Pretorius of SMC Synergy was requested by Dr. Christo Marais (Chief Director NRM Programmes) to attend the LifeWatch ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) ...

SMC Synergy partners with UAV Technologies

SMC Synergy today signed a partnership agreement with UAV Technologies, a SACAA registered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) service provider. This partnership will expand SMC Synergy's services ...

SMC Synergy delivers the upgraded Bush Expert Information Management System

SMC Synergy was contracted by the North West University (funding from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries) to upgrade the first version of the Bush Expert Information ...

Global Mapper exhibits at AfricaGIS 2019 in Kigali

SMC Synergy in collaboration with Blue Marble Geographics will be exhibiting Global Mapper GIS software at AfricaGIS in Kigali, Rwanda from 18 - 22 November 2019. AfricaGIS is the largest Geospatial, ...

Almost Real-time weather data in Global Mapper

EUMETSAT's almost realtime weather data is freely available through a Web Map Service (WMS) in Global Mapper. The link to the WMS can be added in GM through the "Connect to ...

Global Mapper v21 release

Blue Marble Geographics released Global Mapper 21 this week. Some of the new functionality:

•  The Global Mapper MangoMap Extension for publishing maps directly to a ...
  
  
  
  

Biomass Expo Otjiwarongo Namibia - August 2019

Renier Balt and Dirk Pretorius attended the Biomass Technology Expo on August 9, 2019 in Otjiwarongo, Namibia. The Expo was arranged by the Namibian Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG). SMC Synergy ...

WOCAT - TerrAfrica publication on Sustainable Rangeland Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

WOCAT and TerrAfrica released a digital version of guidelines on Sustainable Rangeland Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. SMC Synergy was involved in the logistical arrangements of the Writeshop in ...

Got a Drone? Now What? — Using Global Mapper with Your UAV

The rapid growth of UAV ownership has resulted in an interesting dilemma for some would-be pilots. Having purchased the hardware and collected some data, many are often unclear as to what exactly ...

SMC Synergy visit Blue Marble Geographics in Hallowell, Maine, USA

Renier Balt from SMC Synergy recently visited the mapping software company Blue Marble Geographics (BMG) in Hollowell, USA. Apart from the excellent social interaction with the BMG team Renier also ...

Where in the World? - The Monthly Blue Marble Geo-Challenge

Think you know your way around the world? Why not take the Blue Marble Geo-Challenge. Each month they provide five images captured in Global Mapper showing a city, country, or some other geographic ...

SMC Synergy visit Blue Marble Geographics at Intergeo in Frankfurt

Dirk Pretorius from SMC Synergy attended the Intergeo Trade Fair in Frankfurt, Germany during October 2018. Some of the highlights include:

•  Visit the Blue Marble Geographics ...
  
  
  
  

LiDARUSA uses Global Mapper on Expedition Unknown

Did you catch Global Mapper on television over the summer? In an episode of the Travel Channel show, “Expedition Unknown,” the production crew visited Guatemala in search of Mayan ruins. A team ...

Global Mapper Advanced Training - 28 to 29 August 2018

During August 2018 a Global Mapper advanced training course (including LiDAR data processing) was presented to Birane Dia from Senegal (SMC Synergy GlobalMapper reseller partner in Senegal), various ...

SMC Synergy collaboration with the North-West University

SMC Synergy is currently collaborating with the North-West University (NWU - School of Biological Sciences) on a bush encroachment project (funded by DEA NRM) as well as training of students in the ...

Global Mapper Training - 23 to 27 April - ACGT from the Congo

Another successful Global Mapper advanced training event was hosted by SMC Synergy at the City Lodge Hotel (Lynnwood Bridge) in Pretoria. The training course presented by Renier Balt included an ...

New SMC Office in George

SMC Synergy moved one of our offices from the Northwest Province to George in the southern Cape. We will be able to service our clients in this area more directly, in addition to the online support ...