Survey Settings
The Survey Settings control field-workflow options such as data entry defaults, feature naming, distance and bearing, and what is included in exports. GPS and GNSS hardware configuration has its own dedicated screen — see GPS / GNSS Settings.
- Android
- iOS
Go to Settings > Survey Settings to access these options.
Export GPS information
Default: Off
When enabled, detailed GNSS quality metadata is included when exporting point layers. The exported data will contain additional fields such as HDOP, VDOP, PDOP, HRMS, and VRMS for each point.
This is useful when you need to document the quality of each surveyed position for post-processing or compliance reporting.
Export full picture paths
Default: Off
Controls whether attached photo file paths are exported as absolute paths or relative paths.
- On - exports the full file system path to each attached picture.
- Off - exports relative paths only.
Enable this if your post-processing workflow needs to locate the original image files on the device.
Orthometric height (MSL)
Orthometric height correction requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Default: Off
Converts GPS ellipsoidal height to orthometric (mean sea level) height using the formula:
Orthometric height = Ellipsoidal height - Geoid height
GPS receivers report height above the WGS84 ellipsoid, which can differ from the actual height above sea level by tens of metres depending on your location. Enabling this setting applies a geoid model correction to give you a more meaningful altitude value.
When enabled, the Geoid Model selector appears below.
Geoid model
Default: Embedded
Select which geoid model to use for the orthometric height correction. The embedded model provides a global approximation. Country-specific models offer higher accuracy within their coverage area.
| Model | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded | Global | Built-in, no download needed |
| EGM2008 2.5x2.5" | Global | High-resolution global model |
| RAF09 / RAF18 | France | IGN French geoid models |
| CHGEO04 | Switzerland | Swiss geoid model |
| 12B (g2012bu0) | USA | NOAA/NGS model |
| HT2 | Canada | NRCan Canadian model |
| OSGM15_GBR | United Kingdom | Ordnance Survey model |
| GEOIDSLO | Slovenia | Slovenian geoid |
| PlGeo11 / PL_EVRF2007_NH | Poland | Polish geoid models |
| PT08 | Portugal | Portuguese geoid |
| DVRM05 | Slovakia | Slovak geoid |
| External software | - | Use geoid from external GNSS app |
Country-specific models are downloaded automatically when selected. Files are stored locally and only need to be downloaded once.
GPS antenna height
Antenna height correction requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Default: 1.30 m
Enter the height of your GPS antenna above the ground in metres. This value is subtracted from the measured height to give you the ground-level elevation.
When using a survey pole, set this to the pole height. When holding the device in your hand, a typical value is around 1.30 m. Set to 0 if your receiver is at ground level.
Accuracy and GPS quality on the map
Default: Off
Displays real-time GNSS quality information directly on the map screen. When enabled, you can see accuracy values, fix type, and satellite information while surveying without opening a separate panel.
Show speed and altitude
Default: Off
Displays your current speed and altitude on the map screen. Useful during GPS tracking or navigation to monitor movement in real time.
Remember last feature
Last added as default
Default: Off
When enabled, new features are pre-filled with the attribute values from the last feature you added. This saves time when collecting many similar features in sequence - for example, surveying a row of identical poles or trees.
Keep default field values
Default: Off | Visible when: Last added as default is on
When enabled, field default values defined in the attribute schema take priority over values from the last added feature. This is useful when some fields should always reset to a standard value while others carry over from the previous feature.
Position accuracy
Minimum accuracy
Minimum accuracy filtering requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Default: Off
When enabled, positions that do not meet the accuracy threshold are rejected. Only GPS readings with accuracy better than the specified value are accepted for point collection.
Minimum accuracy unit
Choose between metres and centimetres for the accuracy threshold.
Minimum accuracy threshold
Range: 0 - 150 (in selected unit) | Default: 150
Set the maximum acceptable accuracy value. Positions with worse accuracy than this threshold are ignored. For example, setting 2 metres means only positions with accuracy of 2 m or better are used.
Position averaging
Position averaging requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Default: Off
When enabled, multiple GPS readings are collected and averaged into a single position for better accuracy. Instead of using a single GPS fix, the app takes several readings and computes the mean position.
Averaging positions
Range: 2 - 100 | Default: 2
Set the number of GPS samples to collect for each averaged point. Higher values give better accuracy but take longer. A value of 10-20 is a good balance for most fieldwork.
Distance and bearing method
Distance and bearing requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Default: Off
Enables an alternative point collection method where you specify a distance and bearing from a reference position (current GPS location, a base point, or the map cursor) to place a new point. This is useful when the target point is not directly accessible with GPS.
Bluetooth rangefinder
Default: Off | Visible when: Distance and bearing is on
Pairs a Bluetooth laser rangefinder with the app to automatically capture distance measurements. When enabled, you are prompted to select a paired Bluetooth device. The rangefinder provides the distance, and you provide the bearing to calculate the target point position.
Show base points on map
Default: Off
Displays reference base points as a layer on the map. Base points serve as known reference locations for distance and bearing calculations.
Show base points in layers management
Default: Off
Includes the base points layer in the layer management panel, allowing you to control its visibility and styling like any other layer.
Export range finder measurement details
Default: Off
Includes the raw distance and bearing measurements from the rangefinder in exported data. Useful for quality assurance and post-processing verification.
Accuracy as HRMS
HRMS accuracy display requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Set accuracy as HRMS
Default: Off
When enabled, accuracy is reported as Horizontal Root Mean Square (HRMS) instead of the standard Android accuracy value. HRMS is a common accuracy metric used in professional surveying.
HRMS multiplier
Default: 1.00 | Visible when: Set accuracy as HRMS is on
A multiplication factor applied to the HRMS value. Common values:
- 1.00 - 1-sigma (68% confidence circle)
- 1.96 - 95% confidence circle
- 2.00 - approximate 95% confidence
- 2.45 - 2DRMS (95-98% confidence)
Go to Settings > SURVEY > Survey to access these options.
The iOS Survey screen covers field-workflow configuration only. GPS hardware, source selection, accuracy thresholds, antenna height, position averaging, and tracking intervals are all in the separate GPS / GNSS screen — see GPS / GNSS Settings.
Data Entry
Use last added as default
Default: Off
When enabled, new features are pre-filled with the attribute values from the last feature you added. This saves time when collecting many similar features in sequence — for example, surveying a row of identical trees or poles.
Feature Name Prefixes
Set the default name used when you create a new point, line, or polygon feature. The app appends a running number to the prefix — for example, with the default Point prefix you get Point 1, Point 2, Point 3.
| Field | Default | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix for Point feature | Point | Point 1, Point 2, ... |
| Prefix for Line feature | Line | Line 1, Line 2, ... |
| Prefix for Polygon feature | Polygon | Polygon 1, Polygon 2, ... |
Change these to match your naming convention — for example Tree, Pipe, or Plot.
Distance & Bearing
Distance and bearing requires a Mapit Pro subscription.
Enable distance and bearing
Default: Off
Enables an alternative point collection method where you specify a distance and bearing from a reference position to place a new point. This is useful when the target point is not directly accessible with GPS.
Base Points
Show base points on map
Default: Off
Displays reference base points as a layer on the map. Base points serve as known reference locations for distance and bearing calculations.
Show base points in layer management
Default: Off
Includes the base points layer in the layer management panel, allowing you to control its visibility and styling like any other layer.
Orthometric Height
Orthometric Height correction requires a Mapit Pro Plus subscription. Free and Pro users see the toggle but tapping it opens the paywall.
Enable orthometric height
Default: Off
Converts GPS ellipsoidal altitude to orthometric altitude (mean sea level, MSL) using a geoid grid. When enabled, corrected altitude values are stored in the GeoPackage and shown in the map header.
This setting only affects altitude from external GNSS receivers connected via Bluetooth (MFi), Bluetooth Low Energy, or TCP/IP NMEA. The iPhone's built-in GPS already reports orthometric altitude internally via CoreLocation — enabling this toggle has no effect on the internal GPS.
Geoid model
Visible when: Orthometric Height is enabled
Shows the currently active geoid model as a trailing label (for example, EGM96 (embedded)). Tap this row to open the Geoid Models picker where you can download and select a national high-accuracy grid.
The default model when Orthometric Height is first switched on is the EGM96 grid, which is embedded in the app and requires no download.
Export
Include GNSS metadata in exports
Default: Off
When enabled, detailed GNSS quality metadata is included when exporting point layers. The exported data contains additional fields such as HDOP, VDOP, fix type, and accuracy values for each surveyed point.
This is useful when you need to document the quality of each position for post-processing or compliance reporting.
GPS source selection (Internal / TCP NMEA / BLE / External Accessory), TCP configuration, accuracy threshold, antenna height, position averaging, and tracking intervals are configured in the GPS / GNSS screen. See GPS / GNSS Settings.
Platform comparison
The survey settings are organised differently on each platform. GPS and GNSS hardware settings moved to a dedicated GPS / GNSS screen on iOS in v1.3+.
| Setting | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| GPS source selection | External GNSS settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Auto-start GPS | External GNSS settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Connection status / Fix quality | External GNSS settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| TCP/IP configuration | External GNSS settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Bluetooth Classic / BLE configuration | External GNSS settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Accuracy threshold | Survey settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Position averaging | Survey settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Antenna height | Survey settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| GPS tracking intervals | Miscellaneous settings | GPS / GNSS Settings |
| Remember last feature | Survey settings | Survey settings (Data Entry) |
| Feature name prefixes | Miscellaneous settings | Survey settings (Feature Name Prefixes) |
| Distance & bearing method | Survey settings | Survey settings |
| Base points on map / in layers | Survey settings | Survey settings |
| Include GNSS metadata in exports | Survey settings (Export GPS information) | Survey settings (Export) |
| Orthometric height / Geoid model | Survey settings | Survey settings → Geoid Models (Pro+, NMEA receivers only) |
| Accuracy & GPS quality on map | Survey settings | - |
| Show speed & altitude | Survey settings | - |
| Export full picture paths | Survey settings | - |
| Accuracy as HRMS | Survey settings | - |