Export MapLab Survey data to QGIS, NetCAD and AutoCAD
Field capture is only half the job. The data must open in QGIS, NetCAD or AutoCAD in the right place, layer and CRS.
Field takeaways
- KML is for quick viewing, DXF for CAD, GeoJSON for GIS and CSV for tables.
- CRS should be in the file name and report note.
- Layer names should preserve meaning.
- Open exports again before delivery.
- MapLab Survey helps produce multiple formats from one project.
Match the format to the destination
DXF is the natural handover for AutoCAD and NetCAD, GeoJSON or Shapefile for QGIS and other GIS software, CSV for point lists, stake-out targets and table checks; MapLab Survey also exports NCZ for Netcad users. Sending the wrong format breaks nothing — it just creates conversion work at the other end, and conversion work invites mistakes.
Attributes survive only in GIS formats
DXF carries geometry and layer names but drops field values. If the notes, form fields and photo links matter, send a GIS format such as GeoJSON alongside the drawing.
Before you export
- Is the project coordinate system and EPSG code known?
- Are the layer names understandable to the recipient?
- Are points, lines and polygons separated correctly?
- Does the filename carry the date, the project and the CRS?
The projection travels separately
DXF has nowhere to store its coordinate system, so the file cannot explain itself. Write the EPSG code into the filename and the message that delivers it; the classic failure — a drawing that opens far from where it should, caused by a wrong CRS, a metre/degree mix or a swapped X and Y — usually starts with that missing note.
Verify after import
Open the exported file in the destination software and check a known point before calling the handover complete. A one-minute look in QGIS, NetCAD or AutoCAD catches the error while it is still yours to fix quietly.
The full delivery package
A good handover ties KML, DXF, GeoJSON, CSV, the PDF report and the photo notes to the same job name. Whoever opens it should understand what was measured, in which system, and how it was collected — without phoning you.
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
Can MapLab Survey export to QGIS?
Yes, through formats such as KML, GeoJSON and CSV.
Which format for CAD?
DXF is usually preferred.
Why does CAD data appear shifted?
CRS or coordinate order issues.
What should delivery include?
Formats, reports and notes required by the receiver.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
Related: NetCAD QGIS AutoCAD export · Open DXF on phone · Field delivery package · MapLab Survey