Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about supported devices and data, offline mapping, field capture, transfer, positioning and the boundary between the standard App Store build and custom integrations.
Platform, data & field use
Is Field Data Collector a TAK app?
Yes. It is a TAK-capable iOS field app for a COP / SA / C2/C3 solution: TAK Server when a path is available, Meshtastic mesh when teams are off-grid, and one shared marker store on the map.
How much does the app cost?
This promo is 100% free, including features that were previously premium in-app purchases.
Where do I connect a TAK Server?
Use Tech Maven’s TAK Server at teamtrack.techmaven.net.
Which devices and operating systems are supported?
The current app targets iOS 17 and runs on iPhone and iPad. Android and Windows are not current release targets; Tech Maven welcomes those requirements for potential custom work.
Which offline GIS formats can I load?
The core offline formats are raster and vector MBTiles, GeoPackage raster tiles and vector features, GeoJSON features, and GPX tracks or waypoints.
Can I load GeoTIFF, SID, JP2, ECW or GeoPDF directly as a basemap?
Those source rasters are not direct basemap inputs. Package imagery into raster MBTiles or a compatible GeoPackage tile table before field deployment. Map tiles use the Web Mercator map-tile workflow.
What coordinate system is used for collected features?
GeoJSON field geometry is stored as geographic WGS 84 coordinates (EPSG:4326). The map-tile display workflow uses Web Mercator (EPSG:3857).
Do I need an Esri FeatureServer or a back-end database?
No. Local mapping, offline layers and ad-hoc field capture do not require an Esri FeatureServer or a new enterprise database. Connected form, AOI, conversion, search, transfer and TAK workflows are separate capabilities.
Which languages are available?
The current interface is English. Coordinate values, map symbols and standard geospatial formats remain broadly usable, but a localized UI is not included in the standard build.
Geometry, attributes and existing data
Which geometry types can I capture?
The app supports point, line and polygon capture. Use a server-driven form for standardized work or the ad-hoc attribute editor for fast capture without a predefined form.
Does the form system support conditional logic, subforms or chained selects?
Those advanced behaviors are not part of the current standard form model. They are appropriate candidates for a custom version with organization-specific validation and workflow logic.
Are related tables supported?
Not in the standard ad-hoc schema. Related records and parent-child form designs can be scoped for a custom implementation.
Can I import a Shapefile or File Geodatabase directly?
File Geodatabase is not a direct input. The in-app connected vector-conversion workflow accepts zipped WGS84 Shapefile, KML, GPX, CSV and WKT and returns GeoJSON. Desktop GIS or GDAL is better for large or complex conversion jobs.
Can existing GIS data be automatically matched to a form?
GeoPackage and GeoJSON attributes can be browsed in grids, but automatic schema-to-form field matching is not a current standard workflow.
Can I collect non-spatial form data?
The built-in capture experience is map-centered. If a program needs records with no geometry, dedicated non-spatial tables or related records, Tech Maven can design that flow as a custom version.
Working in and out of coverage
Does the app support an external GNSS receiver?
The current Mapbox app uses device Core Location. A Bluetooth/NMEA/RTK module exists in a related MapLibre repository, but it is not wired into that Xcode target or this app. External-receiver support should not be treated as released until it is integrated and verified with hardware.
What GNSS and coordinate tools are available now?
Current capabilities include device position, altitude, course and speed, latitude/longitude, MGRS, GARS, true bearing, go-to coordinate, coordinate conversion and background GPX track logging.
How can I share field data?
Supported paths include Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, FTP, WebDAV, local Wi-Fi browser sharing, native iOS sharing and email, along with app-specific export workflows.
What offline basemap options are available?
Load your own raster or vector MBTiles and compatible GeoPackage tiles. The GeoRequest AOI service can also package selected data such as OpenStreetMap tiles and other configured reference sources for an area.
How does the app handle massive geospatial datasets?
It uses tile-based delivery rather than requiring one huge in-memory overlay. GeoPackage feature tables can be rendered into raster tiles dynamically, while cached PBF / MVT vector tiles can be read from MBTiles and GeoPackage vector-tile tables. GL JSON stylesheets connect compatible sources, layers, sprites and glyphs for display.
Can the app create reports?
The repository includes PDF and map-image export paths. The exact output depends on the active workflow; custom report layouts and back-end QA/QC reporting can be scoped separately.
Can I order custom features or a white-label version?
Yes. Tech Maven offers custom development, white-label opportunities and source-code licensing discussions for specialized workflows, forms, integrations, dashboards, databases and output formats.