QField Overview: Take QGIS Data to the Field

Introduction

QGIS, a leading open source GIS software, is used by many people. Until now, however, the options for tools that make it easy to record and edit map data in the field have been limited.

QField is an app built to fill this gap. It brings QGIS functionality to smartphones and tablets, so you can enter and edit map data in the field intuitively.

This article introduces the main features of QField and how it works with QGIS.

What is QField?

QField is a mobile application for iOS, Android, and Windows. A big part of its appeal is that it is developed as open source, so anyone can use it for free. It displays maps the same way QGIS does, so you can work with a familiar view.

QField also collects, displays, and edits geospatial data offline, so you can use it at sites with no signal. Its integration with QGIS streamlines the whole workflow, from preparing a project to collecting data in the field and analyzing it.

QField features and what you can do with it

A QGIS-like experience on tablets and smartphones

QField lets you use the map settings and styles you created in QGIS as they are on a mobile device. You can also enter and edit data offline outside cell coverage, so you can work anywhere. With photos, audio, and notes attached directly to map data in the field, QField is well suited to keeping detailed field survey records.

Smooth integration with QGIS

QField's biggest strength is that it works seamlessly with QGIS. The QFieldSync plugin makes this possible.

QFieldSync converts a QGIS project to the QField format and creates a package you can use on a mobile device. When you transfer the package to the device, you can use the project in QField. You can also bring data edited in QField back into QGIS.

QField and QGIS work together as follows.

1. First, build the project in QGIS. Add the data you need, organize the layers, adjust the styles, and make the other basic settings here.
2. Next, use QFieldSync to create a package from the project and transfer it to the smartphone or tablet you will use in the field. This lets you collect and edit data in an environment that matches QGIS.
3. When the fieldwork is done, import the package containing the data you collected and edited in QField into QGIS.

In this way, you manage the project in QGIS and collect and edit field data in QField, which makes for an efficient workflow.

Manage and share data in one place with QFieldCloud

QFieldCloud is a service that manages the data edited at work sites in one place. If you upload a project to the cloud from QField, other users can download the latest data from the cloud.

Updating data between QGIS and QField requires transferring package files manually, but QFieldCloud makes synchronizing and managing data much easier.

Just synchronize the project regularly, and everyone on the team always has the latest data. Team members in different locations can then collaborate efficiently.

QFieldSync also supports QFieldCloud, so you can upload and download data easily. This makes exchanging data with the field even smoother.

QField is free to use, but QFieldCloud requires a paid plan if you need 100 MB or more of data storage or want to share projects among multiple users. For details, see the official QFieldCloud website.

QField use cases

QField is widely used for purposes such as the following.

Forestry

The Forestry Agency has adopted QField to collect and manage information in the field, aiming to make production and silviculture projects in national forests more efficient. Forest surveys and on-site checks of business plans used to take a lot of time and effort because they relied on paper maps and handwritten records. QField solves these problems, and faster, more accurate forest management is becoming a reality.

Specifically, forest management staff load business plans and other data created in QGIS onto mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and use them at sites outside network coverage. This makes navigation possible during field surveys, so moving around a vast forest and locating destinations goes smoothly.

Staff can also measure and record thinning areas and corrections to the shape of work roads on the spot. For example, while walking a planned work road, they can use QField's tracking feature to measure and record the route efficiently, and then display that data in GIS.

Urban planning

In urban redevelopment projects in Germany, urban planners use QField in the initial stage of documenting urban conditions in the field.

Specifically, planners need to collect data on building structure and quality, residential and industrial vacancy rates, road conditions, and many other defects in urban quality and structure. These data used to be recorded by hand on analog maps, but adopting QField made the work more efficient.

Archaeology

At archaeological excavation sites, paper is still the main way to keep records. With QField, you can significantly improve work efficiency.

Paper records have several problems. For example, you have to digitize what you recorded on site later, and you need space to store the paper materials. In addition, excavation sites change easily with the progress of the work and the weather, which makes it hard to determine and record the exact positions of the remains.

Furthermore, after the excavation ends, collecting and organizing the information takes a lot of time and effort. With QField, you can record digitally in real time on site, which solves these problems all at once.

Hobbies and leisure

Cherry blossom spots

Spring means cherry blossom season, but surprisingly little information is available about where to view the blossoms. With QField, you can survey the locations and blooming status of cherry trees on site and create a map that lets locals and tourists find cherry blossom spots around the area easily.

Collecting vending machine location data

Cities in Japan have vending machines in large numbers, but there are far fewer in rural areas. Many people have had the experience of running or cycling in midsummer and being unable to find a vending machine or shop nearby.

Try using QField to collect vending machine locations and share the data so that many people, such as runners, cyclists, and hikers, can use it. If you also share the locations of restrooms and stores, you can create an even more useful map.

Conclusion

QField is a mobile app that works like QGIS, and it lets you collect and edit location data in the field easily and for free. Because it works smoothly with QGIS, you can efficiently use data collected in the field for analysis and management on the desktop.

For how to use QField, see the articles collected in the following learning package.