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 on the bag must be the code on the 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.
Attributes of the moment
Depth, time, weather and site observations cannot be reconstructed later. Record them while you are standing there.
Two different outputs
The laboratory usually wants a table and the GIS wants geometry. Export CSV and GeoJSON from the same project instead of maintaining two parallel lists that drift apart.
When 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.
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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