How to record sample points for soil, water, mining and environmental field work
A sample point looks small in the field but becomes critical in lab and reporting stages.
Field takeaways
- Sample code, coordinate, date, photo and note should stay together.
- Different sample types need different attributes.
- Approximate and precise location needs depend on the work.
- CSV and GeoJSON are useful for office analysis.
- MapLab Survey organizes sample points with layers and reports.
Traceability first
The code written on the bag must be the code on the map point. If that link breaks, the laboratory results can no longer be placed on a map, and the sampling round loses most of its value. Use short, unchanging codes that are easy to write by hand on a wet bag — something like S-2026-014.
What gets recorded at the point
Sample code, coordinate, date, time, depth or description, photo, crew and method form the core record. The extras depend on the sample: depth for soil, source type for water, an observation note for environmental work. Settle these fields before the first point; a template invented in the field comes out different for every crew.
Attributes of the moment
Depth, time, weather and site observations cannot be reconstructed later; they are recorded while you are standing there. A note completed at the office in the evening does not survive the first challenge a week later.
Field order in MapLab Survey
Open a separate layer per sample type, keep the point name identical to the bag code, and attach the photo and a short note to the point. Phone GPS positions at metre level; where a point needs a more precise position, check it with an external RTK receiver and write the method into the record.
Two outputs, one project
The laboratory wants a table and the GIS wants geometry: export CSV and GeoJSON from the same project, adding KML or a report when needed. Maintaining two parallel lists produces two versions of the truth that drift apart over time.
When the results come back
Join the results to the points by the same code and display them on the map. Only then does a column of numbers become a spatial picture — which area runs high shows on the map, not in the table.
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 sample points be recorded on phone?
Yes.
What is recorded for soil samples?
Code, depth, date, point name, note and photo.
Is RTK required?
It depends on precision needs.
Which formats are useful?
CSV, GeoJSON, KML or reports.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
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