How to Export Field Data to GIS in 3 Steps
One of the most common questions we get: "How do I get my field data into my GIS?" Here's the quick answer — it takes three steps and works on every paid Mapalyze plan.
Step 1: Select your project
Open your Mapalyze dashboard and navigate to the project containing the data you want to export. You can export an entire project or filter to specific forms, date ranges, or team members.
Step 2: Choose your format
Click Export and select your format:
- GeoJSON — Best for web mapping tools, Mapbox, Leaflet, and QGIS. Lightweight and human-readable.
- Shapefile — The industry standard for ArcGIS. Includes .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj files bundled in a .zip.
- CSV — Universal tabular format. Includes latitude/longitude columns for easy import into any spreadsheet or database.
All formats include your GPS coordinates, form field data, timestamps, and photo attachment URLs.
Step 3: Import into your GIS
QGIS
Drag and drop the GeoJSON or Shapefile directly into QGIS. Your field data appears as a vector layer with all attributes intact.
ArcGIS
Use Add Data > Browse and select the Shapefile. The .prj file ensures your coordinate system is recognized automatically.
Google Earth
Convert your GeoJSON to KML using a free online converter, or import the CSV with lat/long columns directly.
That's it
No enterprise plan required. No special plugins. No data transformation scripts. Just collect in the field, export when you're ready, and analyze in the GIS tool you already use.
Get started with Mapalyze — your first project is free.
