Custom Data Collection Forms for Mobile GIS

How to build field data entry forms that eliminate typos, enforce consistency, and keep your crew moving.

The biggest problem with field data collection isn't the technology — it's the data quality. Send a crew into the field with free-text forms and you'll get back six different spellings of "concrete," timestamps in three formats, and half the required fields left blank. The fix isn't more training. It's better forms.

GoGIS lets you design custom attribute forms that constrain input where it matters and streamline entry where it doesn't. Every observation is GPS-stamped and tied to a feature on the map, so there's never a question about which record goes with which location.

What You Can Put in a Form

GoGIS supports several field types that cover the range of what field crews typically need to record:

Pick Lists (Drop-Down Selection)

Define a list of valid values and let the user pick one. No typing, no typos, no ambiguity. Use these for anything with a fixed set of options: material type, condition rating, land use classification, pipe diameter, tree species.

Pick lists are the single biggest improvement you can make to field data quality. If your current workflow has people typing "PVC," "pvc," "Pvc," and "polyvinyl chloride" into the same column, a pick list fixes that instantly.

Multi-Select Pick Lists

When a feature can have more than one value — multiple damage types on the same structure, several species observed at a plot, or a combination of land uses — use a multi-select pick list. The user taps all the options that apply, and the selections are stored together in the attribute field. Same data quality benefit as a single-select pick list, but without forcing a single answer when the reality is more complex.

Date & Time Picker

A native calendar and clock picker for recording dates, times, or both. Tap the field and scroll to the right date — no typing, no format confusion, no "was that MM/DD or DD/MM?" debates. Use it for inspection dates, scheduled follow-ups, permit expiration dates, or any temporal data. The value is stored in a standard format that imports cleanly into any GIS or database.

Text Fields

Free-text entry for notes, descriptions, addresses, or any value that can't be predicted in advance. Use these sparingly for things that genuinely need free input — the more you can constrain with pick lists, the cleaner your data.

Barcode & QR Code Scanning

Tap the scan button on any text field and point your camera at a barcode or QR code. The decoded value populates the field automatically. Use this for sample bag IDs, asset tags, equipment serial numbers, or any pre-printed label.

Radio Buttons

When a pick list has just a handful of options and you want them all visible at once, use a radio button field. Instead of tapping to open a drop-down, all choices are right there on the form — tap one and move on. Ideal for condition ratings (Good / Fair / Poor), status fields (Open / Closed / Pending), or any short list where speed matters.

Yes / No Toggle

A simple binary switch for fields that only have two states: present or absent, accessible or blocked, compliant or non-compliant. One tap, no ambiguity. Use these for inspection checklists, permit compliance, safety checks — anywhere a yes/no answer is all you need.

Rating Scale

A visual star or numeric rating input for subjective assessments. Rate pavement condition from 1–5, give a site a cleanliness score, rank vegetation health. The rating is stored as a number in your attribute table, ready for analysis and comparison across sites.

Photo Capture

Attach one or more photos to any feature. The camera opens directly from the form, the photo is GPS-tagged, and it's linked to that specific record. When you export, photos are bundled into the ZIP alongside your spatial data. No more matching loose photos to field notes after the fact.

Field Drawing

Sometimes a photo isn't enough — you need to sketch what you're seeing. The field drawing tool lets you draw directly on a photo or blank canvas: mark up damage locations, diagram a site layout, annotate a cross-section. The drawing saves as an image attached to the feature, just like a photo.

Signature Capture

For workflows that require sign-off — delivery confirmation, chain-of-custody documentation, inspection acknowledgment — add a signature field. The user signs on the screen with their finger, and the signature is saved as part of the record.

Edit Existing Attributes

Forms aren't just for new data. Tap any existing feature on the map to open its attributes and edit them directly. Imported a shapefile from the office and need to update field conditions? Tap the feature, change the values, and save. Need to add photos or a signature to a record that was started earlier? Open it and pick up where you left off. Every edit is saved locally and included when you export.

Why Forms Beat Spreadsheets in the Field

You could hand your crew a phone with a spreadsheet app and tell them to fill in rows. Here's why that doesn't work well:

• No input validation — a spreadsheet accepts anything in any cell. A pick list only accepts valid values.
• No spatial link — a spreadsheet row has no connection to a point on the map unless someone manually enters coordinates.
• No photo attachment — photos end up in the camera roll with no link to the record they belong to.
• No offline reliability — cloud-based sheets fail when you lose cell signal. GoGIS works entirely offline.
• No barcode integration — scanning a barcode into a spreadsheet requires a separate app and manual copy-paste.

Export Your Data

Everything you collect exports cleanly. Choose shapefile, GeoJSON, CSV, or KML. Photos are bundled into the ZIP file alongside your spatial data. Open the results in QGIS, ArcGIS, Excel, or upload to your organization's GIS portal. The data arrives exactly as structured in your form — no cleanup required.