GIS-Grade Data Capture in the Field

Your field crew captures the data. Your GIS team analyzes it. The problem is the gap between those two steps — reformatting, re-projecting, cleaning up sloppy coordinates. Mapalyze captures points, lines, and polygons with full attribute data, then exports directly to the formats your GIS software expects. No transformation. No enterprise upgrade.

CORE.TECH — GIS GEOMETRY CAPTURE

Built for Spatial Field Work

Most field data collection platforms treat geometry capture and GIS export as special-case extras. Mapalyze doesn't. It lets teams capture points, lines, polygons, attributes, and photos in one workflow, with map context available whenever the job needs it.

Field crews can place features on a map, trace routes and boundaries, and review submissions in their geographic context. Managers and GIS analysts can inspect the same records with their geometry intact instead of reconstructing location later from notes, dropped pins, or separate GPS files.

This matters because much of field work has a spatial dimension even when the entire workflow is not map-led. A utility pole has a location. A pipeline corridor has a path. A habitat boundary has an area. When geometry is captured cleanly from the start, GIS analysis gets faster and data cleanup drops. Mapalyze works as a complete field data collection app with native GIS capture and open export formats.

Geometry Types

Capture the geometry that matches your real-world assets and boundaries.

Points

Capture discrete locations with GPS-derived coordinates. Each point stores latitude, longitude, altitude, and accuracy metadata automatically. The workhorse for documenting individual assets and sample locations.

  • Asset locations (poles, valves, manholes)
  • Environmental sample sites
  • Incident or observation markers
  • Tree inventories and species plots

Lines (Polylines)

Trace linear features by tapping vertices on the map or using continuous GPS tracking. Lines are stored as ordered coordinate arrays with full precision. Length is calculated automatically. Built for mapping linear infrastructure and survey transects.

  • Utility corridors and pipelines
  • Survey transects and routes
  • Road and trail assessments
  • Fence lines and boundaries

Polygons

Define area boundaries by placing vertices on the map. Polygons close automatically and calculate area in your preferred units. Attach attribute data and photos to the entire polygon or to specific vertices. Essential for mapping zones, parcels, and impact areas.

  • Habitat boundaries and zones
  • Property or parcel outlines
  • Contamination or impact areas
  • Construction site perimeters

Export to Your GIS Software

Your field data should flow directly into your analysis tools. No format conversion. No data cleaning. No enterprise upgrade to get the export you need.

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GeoJSON

The standard for web-based GIS. Open, human-readable, and directly supported by QGIS, ArcGIS, Leaflet, Mapbox, and virtually every modern GIS tool. Full geometry and attribute data preserved.

CSV with Coordinates

Tabular export with latitude and longitude columns. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or any database. Ideal when your team needs attribute data in spreadsheet format while keeping spatial reference.

Shapefile

The industry standard for desktop GIS. Opens directly in ArcGIS, QGIS, and legacy systems. Full geometry, attributes, and projection information included. No conversion steps between the field and your analyst's desk.

GIS export is available on every Mapalyze plan. No enterprise upgrade needed.

Other platforms lock GIS exports behind their most expensive tiers. We think spatial data export is a core capability, not a premium upsell.

From Field to Analysis

A clean path from GIS field data capture to analysis, with no manual data transformation in between.

1

Capture in the Field

Your team captures geometry, attributes, and photos on-site. GPS coordinates are recorded automatically. All data works fully offline.

2

Sync to Server

When connectivity returns, data syncs automatically. Photos upload in the background. Conflicts are flagged, not silently overwritten.

3

Export Your Data

Download your dataset as GeoJSON, CSV, or Shapefile. Pick the format your GIS tool expects. All geometry and attributes included.

4

Analyze in GIS

Open your export directly in QGIS, ArcGIS, or any GIS platform. Geometry renders immediately. No reformatting, no projection issues, no data cleanup.

The entire workflow runs through a single field data collection platform.

GIS Capabilities at a Glance

GPS-Assisted Capture

Automatic coordinate capture from your device's GPS. Accuracy metadata stored with every point.

Map-Based Geometry Workflows

Capture and review records on a map when spatial context matters. Geometry stays attached to the record, so teams can inspect locations, routes, and boundaries without rebuilding that context later.

Device GPS Metadata

Capture device GPS accuracy metadata and validate high-precision work against your approved survey process.

Open Export Formats

GeoJSON, CSV, and Shapefile on every plan. Your data, your format, no lock-in.

See how GIS capture supports specific industries:

Frequently Asked Questions

How does offline mode work?
Mapalyze is built offline-first. All data is stored locally on your device as you collect it — forms, photos, GPS coordinates, everything. You can work for days without any internet connection. When connectivity returns, data syncs automatically in the background. There's no special 'offline mode' to enable — it's the default behavior.
What happens when data syncs?
When your device reconnects to the internet, Mapalyze automatically syncs all collected data to the cloud. The sync engine handles conflict resolution — if two team members edited the same record offline, both versions are preserved and flagged for review. Sync typically completes in under 30 seconds, even for large datasets with photos.
Can I use Mapalyze with ArcGIS or QGIS?
Yes. All paid plans export data in standard GIS formats — CSV, GeoJSON, and Shapefile. These formats are directly compatible with QGIS, ArcGIS, and other GIS software. No additional modules or paid add-ons required.
What data formats can I export?
Depending on your plan, you can export to CSV, GeoJSON, and Shapefile formats. All exports include full metadata — timestamps, GPS coordinates, user info, and form field data. Photos are exported as referenced attachments with geotag data preserved.
Is my field data encrypted?
Yes. Data is encrypted at rest on your device and encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3 when syncing. Cloud storage uses AES-256 encryption. We follow industry-standard security practices and can provide compliance documentation for enterprise clients.
How does form versioning work?
When you modify a form template, Mapalyze creates a new version while preserving all data collected with previous versions. Historical data remains intact and queryable. You can view and export data from any form version, so you never lose records due to template changes.
Can multiple teams work on the same project?
Yes. Mapalyze supports project-based access control with role hierarchies. You can assign teams to specific projects, set permissions per role (viewer, collector, manager, admin), and maintain a complete audit trail of who collected or edited what, and when.
What if I need to cancel — can I export all my data?
Absolutely. Your data is always yours. You can export all your data at any time in open formats (CSV, GeoJSON, Shapefile). There's no vendor lock-in. If you decide to leave, a full data export takes minutes, and we keep your data available for 90 days after account closure.
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