How to query a parcel on a phone and prepare it for field measurement
Parcel query on a phone is a practical preparation step before going to the field.
Field takeaways
- Official parcel query helps locate and inspect parcel data.
- Parcel lines can be used as reference, not legal boundary declaration.
- KML/KMZ can be used as a MapLab Survey layer.
- Phone GPS helps navigate near the parcel, not set corners.
- Report the data source when measuring area and perimeter.
What a query returns
An online parcel query gives you the registered geometry and identifiers as held by the authority. It shows roughly where the boundary sits, at map accuracy.
Reference, not corners
Do not stake against queried geometry. Use it to orient yourself and to compare with what you measure on the ground.
Expect a difference
Historical cadastral work, walls built by eye and datum differences all produce gaps between the record and reality. A few per cent on a rural parcel is ordinary.
Record source and date
Note where the data came from and when you pulled it. Services update, and an old layer quietly stops matching.
See it in action
MapLab Survey | Professional Mobile GIS, GPS Surveying & Land Measurement App
Visit the YouTube channel ->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 parcel query be done on a phone?
Yes.
Can a parcel be used in MapLab Survey?
Yes, as a reference layer.
Is the screen line a legal boundary?
No.
Can a phone navigate to a parcel corner?
Approximately, not for legal setting.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
Related: Parcel query layer · Finding parcel corners · Parcel area difference · MapLab Survey