Surfer
Surfer is a full-function 3D visualization, contouring and surface modeling package that runs under Microsoft Windows. Surfer is used extensively for terrain modeling, bathymetric modeling, landscape visualization, surface analysis, contour mapping, watershed and 3D surface mapping, gridding, volumetrics, and much more.
Surfer’s sophisticated interpolation engine transforms your XYZ data into publication-quality maps. Surfer provides more gridding methods and more control over gridding parameters, including customized variograms, than any other software package on the market. You can also use grid files obtained from other sources, such as USGS DEM files or ESRI grid files. Display your grid as outstanding contour, 3D surface, 3D wireframe, watershed, vector, image, shaded relief, and post maps. Add base maps and combine map types to create the most informative display possible. Virtually all aspects of your maps can be customized to produce exactly the presentation you want. Generating publication quality maps has never been quicker or easier.
Visualize Data
You work hard gathering your data. Don’t settle for subpar visualization. Utilize Surfer’s extensive modeling tools to display your data the way it deserves while maintaining accuracy and precision. Clearly communicate information with Surfer.
Surfer appears to have been designed by people who really understand what scientists like myself want to do. This allows me to look at data and ask questions without being concerned with the technicalities of how to load, manipulate and map data.
Barry Gardiner, Senior Scientist
Image courtesy of Alain Paillou, Amateur Astronomer
Analyze Data
Discover the depths of your data with Surfer’s numerous analysis tools. Adjust interpolation and gridding parameters, assess the spatial continuity of data with variograms, define faults and breaklines, or perform grid calculations such as volumes, transformations, smoothing, or filtering. Surfer quickly transforms your data into knowledge.
The wide variety and functionality of the interpolation/extrapolation algorithms, as well as the geostatistical functionality, is simply awesome!
Grant van Heerden, Principal Coal Geologist
Snowden Mining Industry Consultants
Communicate Results
Communicate your hard-earned findings with confidence. Whether it is for your project manager, thesis advisor, or client, Surfer facilitates a complete and thorough understanding of data.
You make awesome products that give me the ability to present data in clear, concise, visually appealing ways to help my clients understand the concepts we are presenting.
Jeff Mattson
Trusted Since 1983
Surfer has withstood the tests of time. See for yourself why thousands of scientists and engineers across the globe trust Surfer to display their data.
Surfer is actively used in the following industries:
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System Requirements:
- Windows 7, 8 (excluding RT), 10 or higher
- 32-bit and 64-bit operation system support
- 1024x768 or higher monitor resolution with minimum 16-bit color depth
- At least 500 MB free hard disk space
- At least 512 MB RAM
Create Professional Maps
Easily communicate both simple and complex spatial data. Surfer gives you the tools to create high-quality maps to clearly deliver your message to coworkers, clients, and stakeholders.
Surfer Map Types
Image courtesy of Igor Yashayaev, Bedrod Institute of Oceanography, Canada
Model Data in Multi-Dimensions
Gain deeper insights into your data when viewed in three-dimensional space. Surfer’s 3D viewer makes it easy to model, analyze, and understand all aspects of your data. Switching between Surfer’s 2D and 3D perspectives ensures you discover all of your data’s patterns and trends.
Achieve a 360⁰ Perspective
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LiDAR Point Clouds
LiDAR is an increasingly popular data collection method used within many fields including archaeology, surveying, GIS, and more. Use Surfer’s extensive LiDAR processing and visualization features to take advantage of all that LiDAR has to offer.
Surfer's LiDAR Point Cloud Features
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Surfer's LAS/LAZ Filtering Options
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Streamlined Workflows
You will be up and running in matter of minutes. Surfer’s user interface was designed to take the guesswork out of learning a new program. We worked hard to streamline workflows so you don’t have to.
Surfer User Interface Features
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Enhance Maps & Models
Surfer gives you the tools to visualize and model all types of data, but it doesn’t stop there. Surfer’s extensive customization options allow you to convey complex ideas in an easy to understand manner. Enhance your maps and models with a variety of customizations options.
Surfer Customization Options
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Full Grid Control
Surfer gives you extensive control over grid files. Create isopach maps for structural geology, calculate volumes for inventory management or derivatives for terrain analysis, and even create site suitability models all with grid files. Achieve a complete understanding of your underlying data.
Surfer Grid Features
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Edit Contours
Edit contour lines down to the finest detail. Surfer’s grid editor lets you quickly adjust contour lines by interactively editing the underlying grid file. Brush, warp, smooth, push down or up, and erase grid nodes, and immediately see the changes to your grid-based maps.
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Grid Data with Certainty
Have complete confidence in the accuracy of your model. Surfer provides numerous interpolation methods to grid regularly or irregularly spaced data onto a grid or raster, and each interpolation method provides complete control over gridding parameters. Plus, no time is wasted with multithreaded gridding!
Surfer Gridding Methods
Surfer Interpolation Features
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Make Meaningful Decisions
Get answers to your questions with Surfer’s geoprocessing tools. Process your data and analyze relationships. Narrow down areas of interest, highlight important intersections, or perform mathematical calculations on the underlying data to make informed decisions.
Surfer Geoprocessing Tools
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Surfer Symbology
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Immediate Access to Online Data
An abundance of data is at your fingertips waiting to be visualized. Surfer gives you immediate access to worldwide aerial imagery, Open Street Map imagery, worldwide vector data, and terrain data. If you have your own favorite data servers or access to a private data server, include a custom link to that source for easy access. Surfer makes it easy to access the surplus of online data.
Supported server types:
- Web mapping server (WMS)
- Open Street Map server (OSM)
- Web coverage server (WCS)
- Web feature server (WFS)
Work Seamlessly with all Coordinate Systems
Your job is to transform data into valuable visualizations. Surfer’s job is to make it easy for you. Surfer effortlessly manages unreferenced data and data projected in different/multiple coordinate systems. It really is that easy.
Surfer Coordinate System Features
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Image courtesy of Eric Dickenson, Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Colorado School of Mines.
Complete Compatibility
Seamlessly visualize and analyze data from multiple sources. Surfer natively reads numerous file formats including SHP, DXF, and XLSX. Surfer also supports all popular export formats. An extensive set of data management tools are at your disposal for complete compatibility.
Collaborate with Confidence
Quickly share your work with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients. Surfer models are ready for printed publication with the high quality export formats including PDF or TIF. Alternatively, share your work online with web compatible formats like JPG or PNG. If you are preparing for a presentation, simply copy and paste your map or model into presentation tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Word.
PDF snippet courtesy of Alecos Demetriades, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration.
Demetriades, A., 2011. The Lavrion urban geochemistry study, Hellas. Chapter 25 In: C.C. Johnson, A. Demetriades, J. Locutura & R.T. Ottesen (Editors), Mapping the chemical environment of urban areas. Wiley-Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, U.K., 424-456.