How to Import GeoPackage on iPhone & iPad
GeoPackage is an open standard from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) that packages spatial data into a single .gpkg file. Unlike shapefiles, which scatter data across four or more separate files, GeoPackage keeps everything in one place: geometry, attributes, coordinate reference system, and even multiple layers. Under the hood, it is a SQLite database, which makes it fast, portable, and reliable.
GoGIS has full support for importing GeoPackage files on iPhone and iPad. Whether you received a .gpkg from a colleague, downloaded it from a government open data portal, or exported it from QGIS, you can open it directly on your iOS device.
Why GeoPackage Over Shapefile
The shapefile format has been the default in GIS for over 30 years, but it has significant limitations. A single shapefile is actually four to seven separate files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj, and often .cpg, .sbn, .sbx) that must all be present and named correctly. Field names are limited to 10 characters. Each file can hold only one geometry type. The .dbf format has a 2 GB size limit.
GeoPackage solves all of these problems. One file. No field name restrictions. Multiple geometry types in a single container. No practical size limit. It is the format that QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, and most modern GIS tools recommend for data exchange.
Importing a GeoPackage in GoGIS
There are several ways to get a GeoPackage file into GoGIS:
- Files app — open the Files app, locate the .gpkg file, and tap it. GoGIS will appear as an option to open it.
- Share sheet — from any app that can share files (Mail, Safari, Slack, etc.), tap the share icon and select GoGIS.
- AirDrop — receive a .gpkg file via AirDrop from a nearby Mac, iPhone, or iPad. GoGIS opens automatically.
- Email attachment — tap a .gpkg attachment in Mail or any email client, then choose "Open in GoGIS."
Multi-Layer Support
A single GeoPackage file can contain multiple feature tables — points, lines, and polygons in separate layers. GoGIS reads all of them. When you import a multi-layer GeoPackage, each table becomes its own layer in the app. You can toggle their visibility independently, style them with different colors, and inspect each layer's attributes separately.
This is especially useful for datasets that package related information together — for example, a GeoPackage containing roads, buildings, and land parcels for a project area. Instead of importing three separate files, you import one, and all the data is ready to use.
Working with Your Data
Once imported, your GeoPackage data behaves like any other layer in GoGIS. Tap a feature on the map to view its attributes. Use the search function to find specific features by attribute values. Apply color-coding based on a field to visualize categories or ranges. All of this works offline — the data is stored locally the moment it is imported.
If you need to share the data later, export the layer to GeoJSON, KML, CSV, or Shapefile. GoGIS supports round-trip workflows: import a GeoPackage, add field-collected points, and export everything together in the format your team needs.
Where to Find GeoPackage Data
GeoPackage files are increasingly common in the GIS community. Here are some typical sources:
- QGIS export — QGIS can export any layer as GeoPackage via right-click > Export > Save Features As
- Government open data portals — many national and regional geoportals offer downloads in GeoPackage format
- ArcGIS Pro — export to GeoPackage from the Geoprocessing toolbox
- Colleagues and project partners — GeoPackage is becoming the preferred format for sharing spatial data between teams