From RockGeo to QGIS: How to Export Your Field Data to Desktop GIS
To transfer your geological fieldwork from RockGeo into QGIS, open your project, tap the Export menu, select your preferred spatial format (GeoJSON or Shapefile for georeferenced vectors, or CSV for coordinate spreadsheets), and transfer the file via USB, cloud, or email. In QGIS, drag and drop the exported file directly into the map canvas or use the Data Source Manager. Your field stations will plot instantly in WGS 84 (EPSG:4326), preserving outcrop labels, lithology, notes, and structural links.
Choosing the optimal GIS export format
RockGeo exports multiple standardized spatial formats on-device without needing internet connectivity or external converters:
- GeoJSON (Recommended for QGIS): preserves full-length attribute field names without 10-character limits, supports native UTF-8 character encoding, and encapsulates coordinates and geological properties into a single portable file.
- ESRI Shapefile (.shp / .dbf / .shx / .prj): legacy GIS industry standard. Keep in mind that DBF column headers are truncated to 10 characters.
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values): clean tabular list containing Latitude, Longitude, Elevation, and notes, ideal for spreadsheet validation or custom Python/pandas analysis.
- DXF: direct CAD vector format for AutoCAD and Civil 3D workflows.
Exporting from the RockGeo Android app
From your Android smartphone with RockGeo running:
- Open your active geological field project.
- Tap the project menu button and select Export Data.
- Choose Export Vectors and select GeoJSON (or Shapefile packaged in a .zip archive).
- Android's native share sheet will appear: save directly to Google Drive, send via email, or copy to your local device storage.
Importing GeoJSON into desktop QGIS
On your workstation with QGIS open:
- The fastest approach: locate the exported file (e.g.,
Field_Survey_Stations.geojson) and drag and drop it directly onto the QGIS map canvas. - Via menu: navigate to Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer and browse to the file.
- QGIS immediately parses the vector geometry and accurately sets the spatial reference to EPSG:4326 (WGS 84 geographic).
Inspecting the attribute table and lithological fields
Right-click the imported layer in the QGIS Layers panel and select Open Attribute Table (or press F6).
- ID / Name: station identifier (e.g.,
P-001). - Latitude & Longitude: geographic coordinates captured by device GNSS.
- Elevation: altitude above sea level in meters.
- Lithology: primary rock unit classification assigned at the outcrop.
- Description: detailed macroscopic observations and structural notes.
Styling field stations by rock unit
To generate an intuitive preliminary geological map:
- Double-click the layer in the Layers panel to open Layer Properties.
- Navigate to the Symbology tab and switch from Single Symbol to Categorized.
- Set Value to the
lithologycolumn. - Select a palette or assign standard geological survey colors (e.g., pink/red for granites, yellow for quartzites/sandstones, grey for gneisses).
- Click Classify and then Apply. Your stations now display distinctive colored markers representing their respective lithological units.
Connect your field observations to GIS seamlessly
Eliminate error-prone paper transcriptions. Capture data on your Android device in the field and load clean vector layers into QGIS in minutes.