Geolocation Settings

Accurate geolocation is fundamental to field data collection. Mapalyze gives you fine-grained control over how GPS coordinates are captured, displayed, and stored. This article walks through all the geolocation settings and helps you configure them for your specific use case.

Device location permissions

Before Mapalyze can capture GPS coordinates, your mobile device must grant location permissions:

On iOS

  1. Open Settings then Privacy & Security then Location Services.
  2. Make sure Location Services is turned on.
  3. Scroll to Mapalyze and select While Using the App.
  4. For best results, also enable Precise Location.

On Android

  1. Open Settings then Location.
  2. Make sure Location is toggled on.
  3. Tap App Permissions and find Mapalyze.
  4. Select Allow only while using the app.
  5. Make sure Use precise location is enabled.

If Mapalyze cannot access your location, GPS fields in your forms will show an error message instead of coordinates.

GPS accuracy settings

Mapalyze lets you set accuracy thresholds to ensure your location data meets quality standards.

Minimum accuracy requirement

You can configure a minimum accuracy threshold for location fields:

  1. Open the Form Builder on the web dashboard.
  2. Click the location field you want to configure.
  3. In the right panel, find Accuracy Threshold.
  4. Set the maximum acceptable accuracy in meters (for example, 10 meters).

When collecting data, if the GPS accuracy exceeds your threshold, the field displays a warning. The user can wait for accuracy to improve or override the warning and save the current position.

What affects GPS accuracy

Several factors influence how accurate your GPS readings are:

  • Clear sky view -- GPS works best with an unobstructed view of the sky. Dense tree canopy, tall buildings, and indoor environments reduce accuracy.
  • Number of satellites -- More visible satellites means better accuracy. Wait a few seconds for the device to lock onto additional satellites.
  • Device quality -- Newer phones generally have better GPS hardware. Survey-grade accuracy requires specialized external receivers.
  • Atmospheric conditions -- Heavy cloud cover or solar activity can slightly affect GPS signals, though modern devices compensate well.

Coordinate display format

Mapalyze supports multiple coordinate display formats. Choose the one that matches your workflow:

  • Decimal Degrees (DD) -- Example: 40.7128, -74.0060. The default format and the most common for digital systems.
  • Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) -- Example: 40 42' 46.08" N, 74 0' 21.6" W. Traditional format often used in surveying and navigation.
  • Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM) -- Example: 40 42.768' N, 74 0.360' W. Common in marine navigation.
  • UTM -- Example: 18T 583960 4507523. Used in military and some engineering applications.

To change the display format:

  1. Go to Settings then Preferences in the Mapalyze app or web dashboard.
  2. Under Coordinate Format, select your preferred format.

This setting affects how coordinates are displayed in the app and on the web. Internally, Mapalyze always stores coordinates as decimal degrees in WGS 84, so changing the display format does not affect data accuracy or export compatibility.

Auto-capture vs. manual placement

Location fields can be configured for two capture modes:

Auto-capture (default)

The GPS position is captured automatically when the user reaches the location field. The map shows a pin at the device's current position. The user can tap Refresh to update the position.

Best for: Scenarios where the field worker is standing at the location they are documenting, such as utility pole inspections, sample collection, or incident reporting.

Manual placement

The user places a pin on the map by tapping. The map can be panned and zoomed to find the exact location.

Best for: Scenarios where the feature being documented is visible but not at the user's exact position, such as documenting a distant landmark, mapping a building from across the street, or placing points from aerial reference imagery.

To switch modes, open the location field settings in the Form Builder and toggle Capture Mode between "Auto" and "Manual."

Altitude capture

Mapalyze can record altitude (elevation above sea level) alongside latitude and longitude:

  1. Open the location field settings in the Form Builder.
  2. Enable Capture Altitude.

When enabled, the altitude reading from the device GPS is stored with each coordinate. Be aware that GPS-derived altitude is generally less accurate than horizontal position -- typical accuracy is 10 to 20 meters vertically, compared to 3 to 5 meters horizontally.

For applications requiring precise elevation data (such as surveying or flood mapping), consider using an external GNSS receiver with barometric altimeter support.

Map base layers

You can choose which map style is shown in location fields:

  • Street Map -- Standard road map with labels. Best for urban environments.
  • Satellite -- Aerial imagery. Best for rural areas, construction sites, and environmental work.
  • Terrain -- Topographic contours and elevation shading. Best for mountainous or varied terrain.

Set the default base layer in Settings then Preferences then Default Map Style. Users can also toggle between layers on the fly by tapping the layers icon in any map view.

Tips for accurate geolocation

  • Wait 5 to 10 seconds after opening a location field for the GPS to settle before saving.
  • If accuracy is poor, try moving to a more open area away from buildings and tree cover.
  • For survey-grade accuracy, connect a Bluetooth GNSS receiver and configure it in the Mapalyze app settings under External GPS.
  • Always check the accuracy reading displayed on the map before accepting a position.

Need more help? Contact our support team.

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