Offline Best Practices

Mapalyze's offline-first design means you can collect data anywhere, even in the most remote locations. But a little preparation goes a long way. Follow these best practices to make sure your fieldwork goes smoothly when there is no internet connection.

Before heading into the field

Sync your device completely

Before leaving an area with connectivity, open the Mapalyze app and ensure all data is fully synced:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
  2. Open the app and wait for the sync indicator to turn green.
  3. Open each form you will use and scroll through it to make sure it loads fully.

A full sync downloads the latest form definitions, choice lists, team data, and any records you might need to reference in the field.

Cache offline map tiles

If your work involves map-based data collection, cache the map tiles for your area of interest before you lose connectivity:

  1. Go to Settings then Offline Maps in the mobile app.
  2. Navigate the map to the area where you will be working.
  3. Choose a zoom level range (for example, zoom levels 10 through 18 for general to street-level detail).
  4. Tap Download Area.

The download size depends on the area and zoom levels selected. A typical field site might require 50 to 200 MB of map tiles. Make sure you have enough free storage on your device.

Charge your device and bring backup power

GPS, camera, and screen use all drain battery. For a full day of fieldwork:

  • Start with a 100% charge.
  • Bring a portable battery pack.
  • Lower screen brightness and close unnecessary background apps to conserve power.
  • Consider enabling battery saver mode on your device, but note that this may reduce GPS accuracy on some phones.

Download any reference materials

If your workflow requires access to reference documents, previous records, or lookup tables, make sure these are downloaded and accessible offline. Mapalyze stores recent records locally, but if you need older data, open those records while online so they are cached.

During fieldwork

Save records frequently

The Mapalyze app auto-saves your work, but it is good practice to explicitly tap Save after completing each record. This ensures nothing is lost if the app is interrupted (for example, by a phone call or low battery shutdown).

Monitor your storage

If you are collecting many photos or large media files, keep an eye on your device storage:

  1. Go to Settings then Storage in the Mapalyze app.
  2. Review how much space is used by pending uploads and cached data.

If storage runs low, consider reducing photo resolution in the app settings or being selective about how many photos you take per record.

Use GPS wisely

For the most accurate GPS coordinates:

  • Stand still for a few seconds when capturing a location to let the GPS lock stabilize.
  • Hold your device at chest height with a clear view of the sky.
  • Avoid capturing locations near tall buildings, dense tree canopy, or inside vehicles if high accuracy is needed.
  • Check the accuracy indicator on the map field. Mapalyze displays the estimated accuracy in meters.

Take advantage of auto-save

If you are in the middle of a long form and need to stop unexpectedly, your progress is preserved automatically. When you reopen the app, you can resume from where you left off. Partially completed records appear in your record list with a "Draft" label.

After returning from the field

Sync as soon as possible

When you are back in an area with internet connectivity:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi for the fastest upload, especially if you have many photos.
  2. Open the Mapalyze app and let it sync. Watch the sync indicator until it turns green.
  3. Check for any sync errors (indicated by a red icon) and address them promptly.

Verify your data

After syncing, log in to the Mapalyze web dashboard and review your submitted records:

  • Check that all records appear in the table view.
  • Open a few records to verify that photos, locations, and all fields came through correctly.
  • Look for any conflicts that may have occurred if teammates edited the same records.

Clear cached data if needed

If your device is running low on storage, you can clear synced data that has been uploaded to the cloud:

  1. Go to Settings then Storage in the app.
  2. Tap Clear Synced Data.
  3. Confirm the action.

This removes local copies of records that are safely stored in the cloud. It does not delete any pending (unsynced) data.

Summary checklist

  • [ ] Full sync completed (green indicator)
  • [ ] Offline map tiles downloaded for your work area
  • [ ] Device fully charged with backup battery available
  • [ ] Reference materials and previous records cached
  • [ ] Storage space checked and sufficient
  • [ ] GPS settings configured for your accuracy needs

Need more help? Contact our support team.

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