How to record a GPS track for routes, lines and field logs
Sometimes points are not enough. A GPS track records how the crew moved and how a line actually runs across the ground.
Field takeaways
- A GPS track is a time-ordered set of positions.
- Phone GPS is useful for reconnaissance and approximate line measurement.
- Recording interval affects file size and line detail.
- Offline work needs cached basemaps and local recording.
- MapLab Survey connects tracks with layers, notes, photos and export.
Where a track earns its place
Footpaths, stream lines, temporary access roads, in-field irrigation lines, power line reconnaissance, mine site tours, archaeological field walking, daily site rounds. A track is a simple, strong answer to a question that otherwise gets forgotten: "which way did we go?" But a track is not a measured line — it is a continuous log of where you went, wobbles included, which makes it good for routes and access and poor for boundaries.
Choosing the recording interval
Too dense an interval bloats the file and writes GPS noise into the line; too sparse an interval cuts corners and misses small bends. On a straight road record sparsely, on a winding path or stream line record densely — and rethink the interval again in a vehicle, where speed changes everything.
Track length is not route distance
The recorded length includes the zigzag of GNSS noise, so it usually exceeds the true distance walked. Do not quote it as a road length without cleaning the line at the office first.
Where phone GPS is enough
Scouting, route sharing, approximate lengths, field diaries and visual reports — the phone handles all of these well. Pipeline stake-out, official measurements, property boundaries or centimetre-grade construction need an external RTK receiver and control points.
The practical flow
Download the base map before leaving, name the project and layer before recording, and drop a waypoint with a photo at junctions, gates and obstacles — those points are what make the track usable by someone else. Afterwards, share it as KML/KMZ, move it to GIS as GeoJSON, or check it as a CSV/TXT table. A good track is more than a line; it is the day's field diary.
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
What is a GPS track?
A time-ordered route or line made of position points.
Can it be exported as KML?
Yes, KML/KMZ and GeoJSON are practical options.
Is phone distance precise?
Good for approximate work, not precise surveying.
Can tracks be recorded offline?
Yes, with cached basemaps for context.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
Related: Offline field surveying · Field survey checklist · How to measure land · MapLab Survey