Generic Mapping Tools
Encyclopedia
The Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) are an open-source collection of computer software tools for processing and displaying xy and xyz datasets, including rasterisation
, filtering and other image processing
operations, and various kinds of map projection
s. The software stores 2-D grids as COARDS-compliant netCDF
files and comes with a comprehensive collection of free GIS data, such as coast
lines, river
s, political border
s and coordinates of other geographic objects. Users convert further data (like satellite imagery
and digital elevation model
s) from other sources and import them. GMT stores the resulting maps and diagrams in PostScript
(PS) or Encapsulated PostScript
(EPS) format.
Users operate the system from the command line: this enables scripting and the automation of routine tasks. More or less comprehensive graphic user interfaces are available from third parties, as well as web application
s, bringing the system's functionality online.
Paul Wessel and Walter H. F. Smith originally created GMT in 1988, releasing it under the GNU General Public License
. Besides its strong support for the visualisation of geographic data sets, the software includes tools for processing and manipulating multi-dimensional datasets. Most GMT users are geoscientist
s.
Rasterisation
Rasterisation is the task of taking an image described in a vector graphics format and converting it into a raster image for output on a video display or printer, or for storage in a bitmap file format....
, filtering and other image processing
Image processing
In electrical engineering and computer science, image processing is any form of signal processing for which the input is an image, such as a photograph or video frame; the output of image processing may be either an image or, a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image...
operations, and various kinds of map projection
Map projection
A map projection is any method of representing the surface of a sphere or other three-dimensional body on a plane. Map projections are necessary for creating maps. All map projections distort the surface in some fashion...
s. The software stores 2-D grids as COARDS-compliant netCDF
NetCDF
NetCDF is a set of software libraries and self-describing, machine-independent data formats that support the creation, access, and sharing of array-oriented scientific data. The project homepage is hosted by the Unidata program at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research...
files and comes with a comprehensive collection of free GIS data, such as coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
lines, river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s, political border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
s and coordinates of other geographic objects. Users convert further data (like satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
and digital elevation model
Digital elevation model
A digital elevation model is a digital model or 3-D representation of a terrain's surface — commonly for a planet , moon, or asteroid — created from terrain elevation data....
s) from other sources and import them. GMT stores the resulting maps and diagrams in PostScript
PostScript
PostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
(PS) or Encapsulated PostScript
Encapsulated PostScript
Encapsulated PostScript, or EPS, is a DSC-conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions which is intended to be usable as a graphics file format...
(EPS) format.
Users operate the system from the command line: this enables scripting and the automation of routine tasks. More or less comprehensive graphic user interfaces are available from third parties, as well as web application
Web application
A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. The term may also mean a computer software application that is coded in a browser-supported language and reliant on a common web browser to render the application executable.Web applications are...
s, bringing the system's functionality online.
Paul Wessel and Walter H. F. Smith originally created GMT in 1988, releasing it under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. Besides its strong support for the visualisation of geographic data sets, the software includes tools for processing and manipulating multi-dimensional datasets. Most GMT users are geoscientist
Geoscientist
*For the Geological Society Magazine see Geoscientist *For Geoscientist see Earth science...
s.