A free survey app that exports DXF, KML and Shapefile
You judge a survey app by its export list; the rest is detail.
Field takeaways
- DXF goes to CAD, GeoJSON and Shapefile to GIS.
- CSV is enough for a point list.
- DXF does not carry the coordinate system.
- Layer names survive, colours do not.
- Ask the recipient for the format before you go out.
Which format goes to whom
DXF to a designer working in CAD, GeoJSON or Shapefile to someone in GIS, CSV to anyone who only wants a point list. Sending the wrong one creates work for both sides, and that mistake is prevented by a message before you leave, not on delivery day.
The coordinate system travels beside the file
DXF stores no projection at all; Shapefile keeps it in a separate file that goes missing easily. Writing the EPSG code into the filename and the message is therefore a matter of habit.
What survives the transfer
Geometry and layer names carry over reliably. Colours, line weights and labels usually do not. That is why naming layers by object type is worth more than styling them.
The list to expect from a free app
MapLab Survey exports KML, KMZ, DXF, GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, CSV and TXT, and imports the same way. That list means the file format is not locked behind a higher tier.
The single check before delivery
Ask the recipient to open the file and confirm one known point and one known distance. That two-minute check closes every format and unit problem at once.
Try these steps on your own phone.
MapLab Survey handles RTK/GNSS point capture, drawing, area and volume calculations and coordinate conversion, then exports to DXF, KML/KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, NCZ or CSV. Capture, calculation and export work offline. Live NTRIP corrections and online basemaps need a connection.
Frequently asked questions
Which format suits CAD?
DXF, in metres, with the EPSG code communicated separately.
Shapefile or GeoJSON?
GeoJSON is a single file and does not go missing; Shapefile is more widely accepted.
Does DXF carry the coordinate system?
No, it must be stated in the filename and the message.
Is export limited in the free version?
The core export formats are available in the free version.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
Related: Free alternative checklist · Exporting field data to CAD/GIS · QGIS NetCAD AutoCAD export · MapLab Survey